Specialist mortgages for real life
Self-employed, complex income, adverse credit or turned down by the high street? We work with specialist lenders the big banks don't talk about — the ones built for real-life situations, not tick-box criteria.
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We compare +20,000 mortgage products
Including the specialist lenders the high street doesn't tell you about.
Why specialist borrowers pick Montgomery
Real people, real circumstances. We find lenders who look at the story, not just the score — in three simple steps. It’s why we’re rated 5.0 on Google.
Tell us your situation — warts and all
Self-employed, contractor, CCJ, missed payment, complex income? We want the full picture. Ten minutes over the phone or on WhatsApp.
We match you to the right specialist lender
Specialist lenders don't advertise to the public. Each one has its own niche — 1 year's accounts, CCJs settled 12 months ago, contract day-rates, retained profit. We know which one says yes to what.
A real human handles the whole case
No call centres, no retelling your story to three different people. One dedicated adviser from first call to completion. Free 20-minute call, same-day slots.
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Why specialist mortgages matter
Not everyone fits neatly into a standard mortgage box, and that's okay. If you're self-employed, have multiple income streams, or have a less-than-perfect credit history, many high-street lenders may struggle to see the full picture. That doesn't mean you can't afford a home — it just means you need the right mortgage.
Specialist mortgages are designed for real-life situations — taking a more flexible view of income, affordability and circumstances. At Montgomery, we combine whole-of-market access with advisers who actually know the specialist lender criteria, so we can look beyond the basics and find options that work for you.
Discover your options →Who we help
If a high street bank has said no — or you know you won't fit their tick-box rules — there's almost certainly a specialist lender who'll say yes. Here's who we work with most.
Self-employed mortgages
1 year's accounts consideredLimited companies, sole traders, partnerships. Specialist lenders use retained profit, latest year's income, and accountant's references — not just the 2-year rule the high street insists on.
Contractor mortgages
Day rate × 48 weeksIT contractors, locum doctors, CIS workers. Right lenders assess your day rate as gross annual income — not just basic pay — unlocking far more borrowing than the high street.
Multiple income streams
Bonus, commission, dividends, rentalIf your income is part salary, part bonus, part dividends, part rental — high street affordability calculators chop most of it. Specialists take the whole picture into account.
CCJs & defaults
Historic credit blipsCCJ or default settled 12+ months ago? Missed a payment years ago? There are specialist lenders who look at the context — not just the computer-says-no verdict.
DMP, IVA or bankruptcy
Rebuilding your creditOut of a DMP, IVA or bankruptcy 3+ years ago? Specialist lenders re-open the door once you've been discharged — with honest rates, not eye-watering ones.
Expat mortgages
UK property, overseas incomeLiving abroad but buying or remortgaging UK property? We work with specialist expat lenders who accept foreign-currency income and overseas employment.
Mortgages into retirement
Lending past 65, 70, 85High street lenders often stop at 70 or 75. Specialist lenders offer terms that run to 85 — or interest-only retirement mortgages — taking pension and investment income into account.
Unusual construction
Timber-frame, flat-roof, above shopNon-standard construction, ex-council, flats above commercial, listed buildings, holiday lets — we know which lenders are comfortable with what property types.
The ultimate specialist mortgage experience
Specialist lender panel
Kensington, Pepper, Vida, Precise, Aldermore, Bluestone and more — the specialist names the general public can't access direct.
Soft credit searches first
We only submit an application once we know you'll get a yes. No pointless hard-footprint hits chipping away at your credit score.
Dedicated adviser
One human from first call to completion — no call centre, no account handoffs, no retelling your story three times.
We know the criteria
Each specialist lender has its own niche. We know — which saves weeks of "we'll need to look into that" and dead-end referrals.
WhatsApp updates
Real-time progress from us and the lender. No chasing, no email ping-pong, no "we'll call you back next Tuesday".
Straight talk, no sales
If your case isn't placeable right now, we'll tell you — and set out what needs to change so it is in six or twelve months.
Don't take our word for it
Specialist mortgage FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear every week from borrowers the high street said no to.
Ask a real person →The bank declined me — is there any point trying again?
Almost always yes — just not with another high street lender running the same tick-box criteria. Specialist lenders look at cases individually. We identify why you were declined, match your case to the right lender, and only apply where we expect a yes.
Are specialist mortgage rates much higher?
Not always. For straightforward self-employed or contractor cases, specialist rates can be within 0.3–0.8% of high-street equivalents. Where credit history is more complex, rates are higher — but often only for the first 2–3 years, with the option to remortgage to a mainstream deal once your profile improves.
I'm self-employed with only 1 year's accounts — can I get a mortgage?
Yes. Several specialist lenders accept one year's accounts (plus SA302s and tax overviews) — or even projected income from an accountant for newer businesses. Director's salary plus retained profit is also considered by specialist lenders, which often gives a much better borrowing figure.
How old can a CCJ or default be and still be an issue?
It varies. Small satisfied CCJs over 3 years old rarely block a high street application. Larger or unsatisfied ones can stay an issue for 6 years. Specialist lenders look at satisfied vs unsatisfied, value, recency and context — we'll tell you which lender fits your exact profile.
Will applying with a specialist lender hurt my credit score?
No more than any other application. We use soft searches and decision-in-principle checks where possible, so we only submit a full (hard-footprint) application once we know you'll get a yes. One hard search has minimal, short-term impact.
Do you charge a fee for specialist cases?
Our advice is free for the initial consultation. If we take the case on, a broker fee is typically charged on complex specialist cases — we always tell you exactly what it is before you commit, and it's only payable on completion.
Let's find the lender who says yes
Free 20-minute call with a Montgomery specialist mortgage adviser. No commitment, no jargon — just honest advice on whether your case is placeable, and how.
Talk to an adviser today →