The number one thing that slows down a mortgage application? Missing paperwork. I see it all the time — someone finds the right property, gets excited, puts in an offer, and then spends a stressful week hunting for payslips and bank statements while the estate agent chases them for proof of funds.
Don't be that person. Get this lot together before you start looking at properties, and everything will run much more smoothly when it matters.
Documents everyone needs
Whether you're employed, self-employed, buying on your own, or buying with a partner — everyone needs these:
Proof of identity
Valid passport or full UK driving licence
Proof of address
Utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement from the last 3 months
3 months of bank statements
For all current accounts — showing your name, address, and the full period
Proof of deposit
Savings account statement showing the funds. If it's a gifted deposit, a signed letter from the person gifting it
Credit commitments
Details of any loans, credit cards, car finance, or other regular payments
If you're employed
Last 3 months of payslips
Consecutive months — if you're paid weekly, the last 12 payslips
Latest P60
From your current employer, showing your annual earnings and tax paid
Employment contract
Some lenders ask for this, especially if you've recently changed jobs
If you earn overtime, commission, or bonuses
Lenders treat variable income differently. Some will use an average, others will ignore it entirely. I can help you find a lender that counts as much of your income as possible — it makes a real difference to how much you can borrow.
If you're self-employed
Yes, there's more paperwork. But it's not as bad as people think, and I deal with self-employed clients all the time. Here's what you'll typically need:
2–3 years of accounts
Prepared by a qualified accountant. Some lenders accept 1 year if the figures are strong
SA302 tax calculations
For the last 2–3 years — you can download these from your HMRC online account
Tax year overviews
Also from HMRC — confirms the SA302 figures are correct
Business bank statements
Last 3 months, in addition to your personal bank statements
Company accounts (if limited company)
Last 2–3 years of filed accounts, plus confirmation of your shareholding
Quick tip: Download your SA302s and tax year overviews from HMRC now, even if you're not ready to apply yet. It takes 5 minutes and saves a lot of chasing later. Log in at gov.uk/personal-tax-account.
If you're applying jointly
Both of you need to provide everything listed above — individually. If one of you is employed and the other is self-employed, you'll each need the relevant set. My advice? Sit down together one evening, get it all sorted in one go, and save it in a shared folder. It'll save you a lot of back-and-forth later.
Common mistakes I see
Bank statements with gaps
Lenders need 3 consecutive months. If there's a gap, they'll ask for it again. Download them all in one go.
Screenshots instead of proper statements
Most lenders won't accept screenshots of your banking app. You need the official PDF statement from your bank — usually available in the "statements" or "documents" section of your online banking.
Expired ID
Check your passport expiry date now. If it's expired, some lenders won't accept it. Renewing a passport takes 3–10 weeks.
Gambling transactions on statements
Lenders do look at your spending. Regular gambling transactions — even small ones — can raise flags. If this applies to you, it's worth being aware of before you apply.
Get ahead of the paperwork
Honestly, the best thing you can do is spend half an hour this weekend downloading everything, saving it all in one folder, and then forgetting about it until you need it. When the time comes, you'll be ready to go while everyone else is still chasing their bank for statements.
If you're not sure whether you've got everything, just send me what you have and I'll let you know if anything's missing. That's my job.
