Most employed applicants will be able to prove their income by reference to their payslips and an end-of-year P60. However if you have additional income that is:

• Seasonal or contract work
• Casual labour
• Erratic bonus, commission or overtime payments

Then you can apply for a self certified mortgage. You need only declare that you have the additional income required to be able to repay your mortgage.

This will limit the number of lenders available to you but should allow you to borrow a larger amount (just make sure that you can afford the repayments on the higher loan). Your adviser will be able to give you more information.

The principle of a self certification (or self cert) mortgage is simple. If you work for yourself, you cannot rely on a regular salary, payslips or a P60 to prove your income – so you don’t. You declare what you earn and the lender will lend you a sum accordingly, without you having to provide proof of income such as audited accounts.