When The Bank Says No

14/10/2026

Your business is doing well. So why is getting a mortgage complicated?

Being self-employed doesn't mean your income is straightforward on paper.

You might have a profitable business, regular income and years of experience, but lenders can assess that income differently.

Some look at salary and dividends. Others may consider retained profits, depending on their criteria.

“The good news? Not every lender looks at self-employed income the same way.
The key is knowing which lenders understand how you earn.”

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

09/10/2026

Everyone has an opinion on mortgages. Your uncle. Your mate from work. That person at a wedding who’s “been through it.”

Some of it is helpful. A lot of it is out of date, or worked for them and wouldn’t work for you. Rates, lender criteria and deposits all change, and what suits one person can be completely wrong for the next.

A conversation about your own situation will always beat general advice. We look at your income, your deposit, your plans, and what lenders are actually offering right now.

So by all means, listen to your uncle. Just check with us before you act on it.

Got a question that’s been bugging you?

Tell us in the comments: what’s the worst mortgage advice you’ve been given?

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

07/10/2026

Plot twist: a short work history doesn't automatically rule you out of getting a mortgage.

The "3 years in the job" idea comes from how some high street lenders score applications. Plenty of others look at things differently, like your contract, whether you're staying in the same line of work, how stable your income looks, and the rest of your financial picture.

Every lender has its own criteria, which is why the same application can get a different answer depending on where it goes. That's where a broker earns their keep: knowing which lenders are relaxed about what.

Changed jobs recently, started a new career, or only just went self-employed? We'll talk through where you stand.

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

05/10/2026

House prices are slowing down — but is buying actually getting easier?

Annual UK house-price growth slowed to 0.8% in September, down from 1.6% in August.

That might sound like good news for buyers, but the price of a property is only one part of the picture.

Your deposit, income, existing borrowing, monthly commitments and lender affordability checks can all affect what you’re able to borrow.

So while house-price growth may be slowing, affordability isn’t quite as simple.

The real question is: what does buying look like for you? 🏡

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

30/09/2026

You can search what a remortgage is.

You can read about bridging finance.

You can compare mortgage products, rates and criteria.

But your circumstances are rarely as simple as a search result.
Your income.
Your existing borrowing.
Your property.
Your plans.
Your timescales.

That’s where the real conversation starts.

Because understanding the product is one thing.

Understanding whether it works for you is another.

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

28/09/2026

Last Friday, our team spent the day at Barclays in Manchester, hosted by Tony Rimmer and we managed to fit quite a lot in!

Tony took us through new products in the mortgage market, Alex Buttle shared the Motorway journey, and Emma Jones spoke about the growth of When The Bank Says No and where we’re heading next.

There were some really productive conversations, a few games, and some very interesting facts about the team.

We finished the day with food and drinks, feeling grateful for the time together and excited about what’s ahead.

A big thanks to everyone who made the day so engaging and enjoyable especially Alex and Emma for their brilliant sessions.

23/09/2026

Everyone’s posting their plans for the year.

A new job. A big trip. A fresh start.

And you’re scrolling through thinking: “I just want the keys to a place that’s mine.” 🔑

Maybe you’ve been renting for years. Maybe you’ve been looking at homes online but haven’t dared to find out what’s possible yet.

You don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step. Speak to us about where you stand, and let’s see what your route to homeownership could look like.

What’s stopping you from starting? 🏡

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

22/09/2026

Mortgage rates are moving again and this time, they’re heading upwards. 📈

Barclays and Halifax have announced another round of increases, with some mortgage rates rising by as much as 0.30 percentage points.

Emma Jones, shared her thoughts with the Liverpool Echo on what these changes could mean for borrowers.

If your current mortgage deal is ending soon, or you’re preparing to buy, waiting for rates to fall could mean that today’s available deal disappears.

That doesn’t mean you should rush into the wrong mortgage. It means you should understand your options now, so you can make an informed decision.

Read the full article: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/barclays-halifax-costs-rise-today-34652628

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Experts have warned people to take action or risk losing out

21/09/2026

Found the perfect property? Great.

Now imagine making an offer, only to discover you can’t borrow as much as you expected. 😬

Your income, credit history, existing commitments and even the property itself can affect what a lender is willing to offer.

That’s why it’s worth understanding your mortgage position before you start viewing not after you’ve fallen in love with a home.

Speak with an adviser and know your buying power before you make an offer.

📞 01615 038 603
🌐 whenthebanksaysno.co.uk

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

16/09/2026

You passed the credit check. Then common sense left the building.

A mortgage application doesn’t stop being assessed just because you’ve received an Agreement in Principle or even a mortgage offer.

Taking out car finance, increasing credit-card balances, missing a payment, changing jobs or moving unexplained money between accounts could affect the lender’s decision.

Until you collect the keys, speak to your adviser before making a significant financial change.

Already made one? Be honest about it. It may change the lender, product or amount available but it doesn’t automatically mean the mortgage is over.

When The Bank Says No is a trading style of Alder Rose Mortgage Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 923776). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.