Mortgage Force

Apply Now
Apply Now

Mortgage Force Case Studies

Real clients, real solutions

From self-employed applicants with one year of accounts to clients with arrears or poor credit, these case studies show how the right guidance can turn a declined application into a successful mortgage offer.

Bridging Loan and Mortgage Solution for Concessionary Property Purchase in the UK

Our clients came to us seeking a mortgage to purchase their parents’ property as their main residence in the UK. The agreed purchase price was £2.6 million, but the transaction was a concessionary purchase, meaning the property was being sold at full value with the equity gifted by the parents. As a result, no deposit was required—a scenario often referred to as a gifted deposit mortgage.

The clients required a £1.5 million mortgage to complete the transaction. However, they encountered a common challenge: while they were financially sound, their income came from a newly established business with limited trading history. Because of this, proving the necessary income for such a high-value mortgage was not possible at the time through traditional lending criteria.

To overcome this, we arranged a 12-month bridging loan for the full £1.5 million, structured on an interest roll-up basis. This type of bridging finance for property purchase allowed the clients to buy the home immediately without making monthly repayments, giving them the time needed for their business accounts to develop and demonstrate sustainable income.

Over the course of the year, the business generated strong financial performance, and the company accounts were sufficient to support long-term mortgage borrowing. At the end of the bridging loan term, we refinanced the debt into a standard residential mortgage, covering the original £1.5 million loan plus £132,000 in rolled-up interest—resulting in a total mortgage of £1.632 million.

This case is a perfect example of how bridging loans and concessionary purchases can work hand-in-hand to provide flexible, time-sensitive solutions in complex mortgage scenarios. By structuring a bridging-to-mortgage strategy, we helped our clients secure a valuable family home without delay, while aligning the finance with the future success of their growing business.

Whether you are looking to purchase a family property through a gifted equity transaction or need a bridging loan to buy a home with limited proof of income, our team has the experience and solutions to support you every step of the way.

Read All Collapse

2 Million Mortgage for UK Property Owned by International Student

A client based in the United States approached us after purchasing a £5 million property in the UK outright for his daughter, who was studying at a UK university. The property had been purchased in his daughter’s name for UK tax planning purposes, and she was living in the home as her main residence while completing her studies.

After the initial cash purchase, the client wanted to raise £2 million against the property to replenish his own funds. While this may seem like a straightforward refinance, several complex issues needed to be addressed.

Firstly, the property was held solely in the daughter’s name, who was a full-time student with no income, making a traditional mortgage application unfeasible. Secondly, the father needed to be on the mortgage to satisfy affordability requirements, but could not be listed on the property deeds due to the tax structure that had been set up. Thirdly, the father’s income was entirely derived from the US, he had no UK accountant, and we had to rely exclusively on IRS tax returns. Both father and daughter had limited UK credit history and no significant UK financial footprint, adding to the complexity of the case.

To solve this, we worked with a private bank experienced in international lending and complex ownership structures. We arranged the Family mortgage on a joint borrower, sole proprietor (JBSP) basis. This meant that although both the father and daughter were on the mortgage, only the daughter was on the property title, which preserved the tax benefits of the original ownership structure.

The bank was able to assess affordability based on the father’s US income and IRS tax filings, and was comfortable with the limited UK presence of both parties due to the strength of the overall financial profile and the value of the property.

This case is a prime example of how tailored lending solutions can unlock capital even in complex international scenarios. Whether you’re an overseas buyer, an expat, or supporting a family member studying in the UK, we have the expertise and lender relationships to structure solutions that work within your financial and legal requirements.

Read All Collapse

Self employed / 1 year self employed mortgage approval

Many self-employed borrowers believe it’s impossible to get approved for a mortgage with only one year of accounts, but this case shows what is possible with the right lender and expert mortgage advice.

Our client was a first-time buyer wanting to purchase a home for himself and his family. He had worked in the farming industry for several years as a sales representative, but around 12 months before applying, he became a sales director of a company in which he held more than 25% shareholding. Because of this, lenders classed him as self-employed, and the business only had one year’s accounts to prove his income.

To secure the loan he needed, we had to find a lender willing to:

✔ Accept 100% of his income based on just 1 year of self-employed accounts
✔ Approve a gifted deposit from a family member
✔ Offer a competitive mortgage for a first-time buyer with limited trading history

Despite the challenges, we successfully placed the application with a mainstream high street lender. They accepted his full income from the first year’s accounts and approved the mortgage, allowing the client and his family to buy their first home.

This case demonstrates that self-employed mortgages with only 1 year of accounts ARE possible — you just need the right lender and the right guidance.

Read All Collapse

Mortgage prisoner / arrears / poor credit mortgage approval

Many homeowners believe they cannot get approved for a new mortgage if they are classed as a mortgage prisoner, have had arrears, or struggle with poor credit, but this case proves that solutions do exist with the right approach and lender expertise.

Our clients were stuck with a lender that had stopped offering new mortgages — a situation affecting thousands of homeowners across the UK. This meant they were trapped on a standard variable rate of 9.5%, far higher than average market rates. Their existing loan was also on an interest-only basis with only two years remaining on the mortgage term, leaving them with no long-term repayment solution.

In addition to being mortgage prisoners, the clients had recent mortgage arrears, which had been cleared through an arrangement to pay. This had taken place within 14 months of their application, making many lenders hesitant. They needed a new mortgage that would:

✔ Repay their existing high-rate mortgage
✔ Consolidate a second charge loan secured against the property
✔ Move them onto an affordable repayment plan

Despite the challenges, we successfully placed the application with a mainstream high street lender. They were prepared to accept the previous arrears as long as the clients’ credit score met their criteria. This enabled the clients to switch onto a repayment mortgage, giving them peace of mind knowing their home would be fully repaid by the end of the term.

This case demonstrates that mortgage prisoners, borrowers with arrears, and clients with poor credit CAN still secure a new mortgage when the application is matched with the right lender and supported by expert advice.

Read All Collapse

First time buyer / low deposit / gifted deposit mortgage approval

Many first-time buyers believe they cannot get a mortgage if they have no deposit of their own, rely entirely on a 100% gifted deposit, or have unsatisfied defaults on their credit file. This case shows that even with significant credit issues, the right lender can still help make homeownership possible.

Our client was a first-time buyer who urgently needed to move because his landlord was selling the property he was renting. He had no personal savings, but a family member was willing to provide a gifted deposit to help him buy his first home.

The client worked as a personal trainer, but during COVID he lost a major portion of his employed income when the gym he worked at closed and later made him redundant. As a result, he fell behind on financial commitments and ended up with multiple defaults — including:

✔ A £20,000 personal loan default
✔ A £44 Tesco Mobile default
✔ The most recent default registered less than 36 months before the mortgage application
✔ All defaults were unsatisfied at the time of applying

Most high-street lenders would decline a first-time buyer with recent unsatisfied defaults, but after reviewing his situation carefully and matching him to a specialist lender, we were able to secure full mortgage approval. The lender accepted the gifted deposit and approved the mortgage despite the adverse credit history.

Read All Collapse

Adverse credit / poor credit / first-time buyer mortgage approval

Many first-time buyers believe they will never be approved for a mortgage because of heavy adverse credit, multiple defaults or historic financial difficulties. This case study shows that with the right lender, the right explanation, and expert broker support, a mortgage is still possible — even with significant credit issues.

Our client had multiple defaults across credit cards and personal loans, all linked to a recent life event that had made it extremely difficult to stay financially stable while renting. Despite wanting to buy their first home, their credit report made most high-street lenders unwilling to consider their application.

Instead of relying on automated lending systems that often result in instant declines, we discussed the case in detail with one of our specialist adverse credit lenders. They agreed to manually underwrite the application, allowing a real person — not a computer — to assess the client’s circumstances.

Because we understood what the underwriter would need to see, we:

✔ Gathered full documentation and evidence explaining the adverse credit
✔ Presented clear context around the life event that caused the defaults
✔ Demonstrated that the client was now financially stable and ready for homeownership
✔ Structured the application to highlight affordability and positive credit behaviour since

With this level of preparation and specialist support, the lender approved the mortgage — allowing the client to purchase their first home and move forward with confidence.

This case proves that heavy adverse credit does not automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage, especially when your application is handled by experts who know which lenders can take a flexible, human approach.

Read All Collapse