As recorded in Q4 of 2025, 4.38 million workers in the UK were self-employed, with many more falling into the non-standard category for mortgage lending criteria. Self-employed workers, people with non-standard income and those with adverse credit can face challenges when looking for suitable mortgage deals.
At James Leighton Financial Services, we have helped thousands of clients by finding specialist mortgage solutions tailored to their unique circumstances. We work with lenders who provide non-standard mortgages, such as applicants with adverse credit, shared ownership properties and a huge range of different scenarios.
What are specialist mortgage solutions?
Specialist mortgage solutions are a range of mortgage products that are designed to meet the needs of people who typically struggle to qualify for standard mortgage deals. For example, people who have irregular income, poor or limited credit history or are self-employed may find it more difficult to find mortgage deals. Specialist mortgages allow these people to secure mortgages to buy a property or re-mortgage.
The benefits of using a specialist mortgage broker
Applying with multiple mortgage lenders and being declined can be frustrating and in some cases, it can affect your credit score if hard searches are conducted. Using a specialist mortgage lender has many benefits, including:
- Access to deals not available on the high streetBrokers liaise with lenders, packaging the application to explain specific circumstances, which can lead to greater lending flexibility.
- Brokers use their market knowledge to identify the lenders whose criteria will be met before applying.
- Using an experienced broker can speed up the application to help ensure you don’t miss out on a property due to delays.
