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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Kensington helps out the self-employed

Specialist lender Kensington Mortgages has launched a new mortgage range targeted at self-employed customers who can't get a standard deal.

The new deal, launched on Monday, is aimed at sole company directors and their partners.

It is designed to reflect the true earnings of successful entrepreneurs who choose to keep some profit in their business rather than draw it all down as salary.

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When assessing affordability, Kensington will take into consideration a company director’s share of net profits in addition to their salary.

The move will help expand options for the UK’s 4.5 million self-employed in a market which has struggled due to restrictions on lending to borrowers who are not in full-time employment.

Kensington’s own research among brokers shows 37% say self-employed borrowers struggle to prove their income compared with just 3% of employed customers.

It is common practice for many small business owners to take only the salary they need in order to be tax efficient.

But while leaving profit in their business is a good way to strengthen the company balance sheet, it can also reduce their chance of getting a mortgage.

The vast majority of lenders will only consider salary and dividends when assessing the affordability of self-employed customers and Kensington is the only lender that is able to consider both profits and salary based on a customer’s previous year’s accounts.

Keith Street, head of Kensington, said: “This is a significant step in the way we approach lending to the self-employed and it is just one of the ways that Kensington is reacting to the shifting employment trends amongst our customers to ensure we are able to make responsible decisions without penalising those customers who do not fit a standard mould.“

Andrew Montlake, director at Coreco Mortgage Brokers, said: "It is refreshing to see lenders such as Kensington listening to the needs of self-employed clients, who have been somewhat underserved by lenders in recent years.

"This new policy is a real winner which should help a wide range of potential borrowers."

Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at John Charcol, said: "It is really encouraging to see we are at last getting a few criteria improvements in the market, especially for the type of borrower who has been disproportionately affected by tighter lending conditions and regulations over the last few years.

“This criteria enhancement will be warmly welcomed by brokers and their self-employed clients and should help some of the mortgage prisoners. Some may now even be able to think about moving home."

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