Ask the experts

About our experts...

At John Charcol, we are constantly asked for advice by borrowers on what they should do when it comes to mortgages.  As such, we created this section so that you can submit your questions to our experts.  The answers are provided by a number of people who have years of experience in the mortgage market.  The team is led by Peter Woodward who works in our technical department.  Peter spent his formative years as an underwriter with one of the major UK lenders so what he doesn't know, quite frankly, isn't worth knowing...

So please do submit your question and we will do all we can to answer it as quickly as possible

Please be aware that these answers can only be generic and no personal recommendations can be made.


Posted on 5 September 2009

My partner is a day trader, and therefore is self-employed, but cant prove income in the form of payslips or 3 years accounts, but has bank statements that show money going into the accounts from his spreadbetting accounts and...

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Category: Guaranteeing & buying with child, Self-certification


Posted on 6 February 2009

I have a property worth 140-150k.

I wish to buy a second property which needs renovated for 140k let to buy seems the right way but how do i raise the capital for self cert deposit now as i think the property will sell...

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Category: Let-to-buy, Raising capital out of property, Remortgaging, Self-certification


Posted on 7 March 2008

We own 50% of a flat worth £320k (ie £160K) and our mortgage is £60K. We'd like to sell the flat and buy a property worth £380k but I'm currently taking a year off work to study. I'm earning just £18K until September when I...

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Category: Self-certification


Posted on 29 October 2007

I want to buy a flat for my son. He is a student with no real income so I would act as Guarantor. I run a business which had a good year last year but sales 2007 to date are down making me think a self cert is best. Whats the...

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Category: Self-certification


Posted on 1 October 2007

Please can you give me some info on Mortgages for the Self Employed, my husband has recently set up his own business, 9 months ago and we currently have a mortgage that was secured with his previous job, if we were to move in the...

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Category: Self-certification, The application process explained


Posted on 17 September 2007

I would like to remortgage my house, it is worth £175,000 and I would like to borrow £150,000. My husband and I have separated. He doesn't want anything from the house but has left some debt that's in my name. I have 3 children,...

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Category: Self-certification


Posted on 3 August 2007

I need to borrow some money roughly, £10,000 to do some home improvements on my property that i own outright (value around £190,000).  I am 48 so not sure if i should take out a secured or unsecured loan as I'm on a...

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Category: Remortgaging, Secured loans, Self-certification


Posted on 3 August 2007

Hi Katie

At present my mortage is with B&B and it is for £110K, I recently had a walk through valuation and was told it was worth between £450 and £500K. I would like to raise another £90K but for reasons that I won't go into I...

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Category: Remortgaging, Self-certification, Valuations, Freehold, leases & unusual property


Posted on 20 July 2007

My husband has a trust deed that we want to split up as he says that I can keep the house. That means i would have to find a mortgage in my name only - can this be done with him having the trust deed?  I want to stay in the...

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Category: Self-certification, Trusts


Posted on 11 July 2007

My husband and I are currently splitting up and about to sell the house. I work part time and have one main job and two casual jobs. A friend told me about the self-certification mortgage. Could you tell me how this morgage works...

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Category: Self-certification


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