Best Mortgage Options for LLP Partners
DIRECTOR AND MORTGAGE ADVISER
Specialist broker for high-earning professionals and complex income cases.
If you’re a partner in a law firm, accountancy practice, or professional services consultancy, your income is likely strong—but your mortgage experience may not be straightforward.
As an LLP partner, you’re technically self-employed, with income often based on drawings or profit share. That means many lenders won’t treat your income the same way they would a salaried employee’s.
The good news? With the right advice and lender, LLP partners can access competitive rates, high borrowing multiples, and flexible mortgage options.
Request your fee free mortgage consultation today. No obligation, just sound advice.
Why LLP Income Requires Specialist Understanding
Mortgage lenders often treat LLP partners as self-employed—even though your income may be more stable than many PAYE roles. That’s because:
Income typically comes through drawdowns, profit distributions, or variable quarterly payments
You may lack payslips or a standard P60
Annual income can fluctuate based on firm performance
You’re usually responsible for your own tax affairs
Some lenders are familiar with these structures—others aren’t. Getting approved means matching your income profile to lender expectations.
Key Documents Lenders Look For
To assess your mortgage application, lenders will typically request:
Two years of SA302s and Tax Year Overviews (from HMRC)
Income summary letters from your firm (especially helpful if newly promoted)
Partnership or LLP agreement confirming status and drawings
Bank statements showing income received
Sometimes, forecasted drawings—especially if you’re recently made-up
The cleaner and clearer your income story, the better your options.
How We’ve Helped Clients Like You
These clients faced similar challenges - here’s how we helped them secure the right deal.
An investment banking associate on £120k base with a USD bonus needed 75% LTV on a £1.25m flat. We used a two-year average bonus, applied a foreign currency haircut, and built a strong evidence pack—resulting in c.5.2× income and a successful offer.
A City lawyer and LLP partner with £420k variable profit share bought a £2.1m London family home at 60% LTV. We targeted a lender that may average three years’ profits, clarified the capital account, and structured part interest-only with an evidenced repayment plan.
With renewals and short gaps, this IT contractor needed day‑rate treatment. We evidenced continuity, explained the gaps, and matched them with a lender that assesses on day‑rate—securing borrowing aligned to realistic annualised earnings.
A newly qualified solicitor with limited employment history needed clarity and pace. We used her offer letter and first payslips, applied professional‑criteria know‑how, and packaged a clean, conservative case—helping a mainstream lender say yes without over‑promising.
Briefs, arrears, and variable fee sheets—this barrister’s earnings were anything but tidy. We evidenced sustainability and secured a suitable mortgage at pace—without over‑promising.
A senior partner had to choose between a private bank and a high‑street lender for £2m. The private bank’s full interest‑only structure won—keeping monthly payments steady and letting annual profit share reduce the balance without hassle.
A newly made‑up equity partner needed a high‑value mortgage against uneven drawings and profit share. We evidenced sustainability, clarified tax and capital contributions, and matched them with a lender that considers partner income—without overstretching.
An IT Sales Director and Teacher with two children needed £800k to upsize to a £1.2m home. We secured 5.5x income using 100% of bonuses and structured part of the loan on interest-only — keeping monthly payments affordable with a plan to reduce the balance using future bonuses.
A UK expat returning from Dubai secured an £800k mortgage using their UK employment contract. By avoiding the need to rent first, they moved straight into their new home — making their transition back to the UK smooth and stress-free.
A newly qualified legal associate and their partner, both first-time buyers, used 60% of a single year’s bonus to boost borrowing by £175k. This transformed their options, allowing them to buy a flat with a second bedroom and a garden instead of compromising on space.
A UK-based EU national remortgaged to release equity for a home extension. We secured a lender who applied only a 10% haircut to their euro income, maximising borrowing and allowing their renovation plans to move forward without compromise.
A law firm partner buying a £1.9m home needed £1.4m in lending. We secured a lender who used their latest year’s profit share — instead of averaging two years — unlocking the borrowing needed and delivering a deal that matched their career trajectory.
A dentist on a Tier 2 visa bought their first UK home for £1.3m with a 15% deposit. We secured an £1.1m mortgage, managed the process end-to-end for this time-poor professional, and found a lender that understood both their visa and high-value borrowing needs.
A contractor with only six months’ experience and no accounts was told to wait. We used day rate × 5 × 46 to evidence income and secured 5x that figure — delivering a £540k mortgage on a £650k home so he could buy now instead of delaying.
A euro-paid tech executive buying his first home needed a 90% mortgage on an £825k property. We used our foreign currency expertise and extended the term to age 75, guiding him through the process so he could relax knowing his mortgage was in safe hands.
A newly promoted equity partner at a US law firm needed £1.5m quickly to buy a £2m home. We used fixed drawings plus projected profit share to secure a better deal than a private bank, leveraging our lender contacts to fast-track approval and win the property.
US-UK couple, paid in USD via a US LLC, were declined by their bank. We evidenced stable net profits and distributions, matched them with a lender that accepts foreign currency income, and secured a remortgage to release equity for major renovations.
A young media sales exec with a modest base salary and strong commission was struggling to find a lender. We used a recent 3-month commission average to secure 5.5x income — unlocking a 90% mortgage on a £650k home with a manageable repayment structure.
A tech startup founder was repeatedly told he couldn’t borrow due to being “self-employed” with low historic income. We dug deeper, reclassified him as a PAYE employee, and unlocked a mortgage based on current earnings — helping his growing family move home.
A North London couple, one an in-house lawyer and the other a software engineer, needed to upsize to a home requiring major renovation — but still live in their current property during the works. We structured a two-property mortgage plan using interest-only loans, bonus income, and an offset facility to make it all work smoothly.
A UK national working in Saudi Arabia was about to roll onto his lender’s standard variable rate (a much higher default rate after a fixed deal ends). We secured a new 1-year fix with his current lender just in time, saving money and locking in certainty while he remained overseas.
Two doctors with young children needed a mortgage for their dream home in Oxfordshire. We used variable locum income, maternity return projections, and an interest-only element to keep payments manageable during high childcare years — securing 85% LTV on a £900k home.
An Italian CTO earning in Swiss francs and living between Zurich and London needed to refinance his UK home. We secured a competitive high street mortgage using 100% of his foreign income—overcoming currency and age-related challenges to replace an inflexible international loan with a cost-effective long-term solution.
We helped a newly promoted non-equity partner at a US-headquartered law firm secure a £2.48m mortgage on an £3.1m purchase. By structuring the loan with a mix of repayment and interest-only borrowing, we kept monthly costs manageable while meeting complex income requirements including USD bonus earnings.
We helped a law firm associate refinance his home and buy out a former partner by leveraging his most recent bonus income and a high 5.5x loan-to-income multiple. Our tailored approach allowed him to maximise borrowing and stay in his property—without the disruption or cost of moving.
An international lawyer buying his first home in London faced challenges due to a low personal deposit, reliance on bonus income, and a long lead time to completion. We secured a competitive 90% mortgage using the developer incentive, included offer flexibility, and ensured affordability—despite limited bonus history.
A young contractor, told he needed two years of accounts, came to us seeking a 95% mortgage on a £600k property. Using his current contract and smart structuring, we secured the loan with low monthly payments—enabling him to buy now, refurbish, and remortgage on better terms later.
Best Mortgage Structures for LLP Partners
Based on income type, liquidity needs, and tax planning, the most suitable mortgage products often include:
Large loan mortgages – Tailored for £750k+ borrowing, with bespoke underwriting
Interest-only mortgages – Useful for partners expecting large bonuses, liquidity events, or aiming to reduce tax exposure
Offset mortgages – Allow you to park tax reserves or firm distributions in a linked savings account, reducing mortgage interest while keeping cash accessible
Private bank mortgages – Best for borrowing over £1m+, especially when dealing with carried interest, complex portfolios, or requiring flexible structuring
Speak To An Expert Today
Get in touch for a fee free, no-obligation chat about how we might be able to help you.
Tips for Maximising Your Borrowing Power
LLP partners often earn enough to borrow significantly—but structure matters. To improve your chances:
Apply after your tax return is filed – Lenders rely on your declared income to calculate affordability
Include all income – Profit share, drawings, and any firm pension contributions should be highlighted
Use a broker familiar with LLP income – We can package your case to highlight your full earning power
Be proactive with documentation – Letters confirming your income or firm position can unlock additional lender flexibility
Newly Made-Up Partner? You Still Have Options
Some lenders will support newly promoted partners, even if you don’t yet have a full year’s tax return at partner level. They may use:
Your new drawings schedule
A letter from your finance team confirming projected income
Past years’ earnings if you were previously salaried at the same firm
It’s all about presenting the right information in the right way.
What Our Clients Say
Kite Mortgages were brilliant from start to finish. With most of my income coming from bonuses, I’d expected the mortgage process to be painful, but David and…
David was really helpful. Provided clear advice on my own mortgage and also helped provide advice to me when my buyers had issues securing a mortgage…
We couldn't be more impressed with the service from our David Walsh! He stepped in and handled everything with incredible speed and professionalism, making…
David has been great. He was very responsive, he found the right deal, and he helped me (successfully!) navigate a few curveballs on the journey!
Mr. Simon Hart helped us during the process of purchasing our first home. As complete new to the experience, we asked many questions and Simon…
Highly recommend! David was a huge help to us as first time buyers. All our options were presented clearly and quickly. David provided excellent advice which…
I am a first time buyer and not originally from the UK so the whole process of buying was pretty new to me. I found Kite Mortgages online which connected me with Simon…
I highly recommend David and his team at Kite Mortgages. David has helped me secure mortgage finance for two homes now, and recently helped…
David and the team at Kite mortgages have been fantastic. They helped us secure mortgage finance for our home and a seamless subsequent…
During a difficult purchase, David was everything we needed from a mortgage broker. He presented us with the best options and took his time to talk us through the…
I was put in touch with Simon Hart at Kite Mortgages by my estate agents Alex & Matteo to help with the purchase of my first property. Simon was super responsive…
We found David/Kite through google search. This was our first purchase so we quite nervous and naive of the process. But we had excellent service throughout…
David was a calm, extremely knowledgeable and very reliable voice throughout the entire process of buying my first flat. He explains complicated and unfamiliar…
David at Kite Mortgages has helped me out on multiple occasions to get the best deal for re-financing. Excellent communication and always quick to respond. I wouldn't…
FAQs
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Not always. Some lenders will accept one year—or even projected income—if it’s well documented.
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Very. They're ideal if you retain cash for tax or distributions and want to reduce mortgage interest efficiently.
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Some will. Many high street banks won’t, but specialist lenders and private banks often have dedicated underwriting for LLP partners.
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Potentially. With the right lender and a strong profile, borrowing of 5.5–6x income is achievable for partners.
Conclusion: The Right Mortgage Is Built Around Your Structure
As an LLP partner, your income isn’t simple—but your mortgage doesn’t have to be difficult. With tailored advice and access to specialist lenders, you can borrow efficiently, flexibly, and on your terms.
Need help navigating your mortgage as an LLP partner?
We specialise in mortgages for senior professionals with complex income. Let’s build a strategy that fits your structure.
Request your fee free mortgage consultation today. No obligation, just sound advice.
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YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSESSED IF YOU DON’T KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Kite Mortgages is a trading style of Kite Financial Ltd which is an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership, a trading style of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
APPROVED BY THE OPENWORK PARTNERSHIP ON 04/08/2025.