Mortgage brokerin Hackney

Absolutely — Hackney has one of the highest concentrations of self-employed buyers in London, from freelance creatives in Shoreditch to tech founders in Dalston. We specialise in self-employed mortgages and work with lenders who will assess SA302s, sole trader accounts, and director salary plus dividend income. With the right lender, self-employed buyers can borrow just as much as salaried equivalents.

At £590,000, first time buyers cannot claim FTB SDLT relief (capped at £500,000), so standard rates apply: 0% on £125k, 2% on £125,001–£250,000 (£2,500), and 5% on £250,001–£590,000 (£17,000) — total £19,500. Buyers targeting Clapton or Homerton rather than Shoreditch may find properties below £500,000, saving up to £9,500 in stamp duty.

The majority of Hackney flats are leasehold, and lenders typically require a minimum remaining lease term of 70–85 years (depending on lender) at the time of mortgage completion. Short lease properties — common in the borough's Victorian conversion stock — can restrict your lender options. We always check lease length early in the process and can advise on lenders who are more flexible, as well as the costs of extending a short lease.