Documents you need for a mortgage
Every mortgage application needs proof of identity and address, recent bank statements, and evidence of your deposit and where it came from. The income evidence then depends on how you are paid: employed applicants give payslips and a P60; self-employed give accounts or SA302 tax calculations; contractors give a current contract and bank statements. Getting these ready early makes the application far smoother.
Everyone needs these
- Proof of identity (passport or driving licence) and proof of address.
- Recent personal bank statements (often the last three months).
- Evidence of your deposit and its source (savings, sale proceeds, or a gifted deposit letter).
- Details of your outgoings, credit commitments and any dependents.
By borrower type
| You are | Income evidence lenders usually want |
|---|---|
| Employed | Last 3 months of payslips and your latest P60 (more history for bonus or commission) |
| Self-employed | 2 to 3 years of accounts, or SA302s and tax-year overviews, plus business statements (some accept 1 year) |
| Company director | Company accounts and personal SA302s; may be assessed on salary plus dividends or retained profit |
| Contractor | Current contract showing the day rate, work history and recent bank statements |
| CIS subcontractor | CIS payment and deduction statements and bank statements |
Indicative checklist. Exact requirements vary by lender and case.
A tip that saves weeks
Tidy your bank statements before you apply. Lenders read them closely, so avoid gambling transactions, undisclosed loans or unexplained large credits in the months before applying, and make sure any gifted deposit is clearly traceable. Clean, well-evidenced paperwork is the difference between a smooth underwrite and a string of queries.
Common questions
What documents does every applicant need?
Proof of identity and address, recent bank statements, evidence of your deposit and its source, and details of your outgoings and any debts. On top of that, lenders need proof of income, which is where the requirements differ by how you are paid.
What do employed applicants provide?
Usually your last three months of payslips and your most recent P60. If you have bonus, commission or overtime, more history helps a lender count more of it.
What do self-employed applicants provide?
Typically two to three years of accounts signed by a qualified accountant, or your SA302 tax calculations and tax-year overviews, plus business bank statements. Some lenders accept one year. Company directors may also be assessed on retained profit.
What do contractors provide?
Often a copy of your current contract showing your day rate, your CV or work history, and recent bank statements showing the contract income arriving. Many contractor lenders assess the annualised day rate rather than full accounts.
Self-employed? See the self-employed hub. Need a definition? Check the glossary.
Founder, MortgageExplained, MortgageExplained
Adam spent nearly a decade as a mortgage adviser at Just Mortgages, with further experience in commercial finance. He is CeMAP and CF qualified. He built MortgageExplained to do one thing well: explain mortgages in plain English, then introduce you to a regulated broker when you are ready. Every page is written and reviewed by Adam.
Last reviewed: 21 July 2026