Documents for a mortgage application

Getting your documents together before you apply speeds everything up and reduces the chance of a lender declining your application on a technicality. This checklist covers employed, self-employed and contractor applicants.

Last checked 13 September 2026.

Six sections. Each anchored to a first-party source, checked 13 September 2026.

1. Identity and address

Photo ID: a valid passport or UK driving licence. Both names must match the mortgage application exactly.
Proof of address: a utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill dated within three months. A driving licence counts as address proof only if it shows your current address.
Electoral roll: lenders check this themselves; register at your current address via GOV.UK before you apply if you have not already done so.

2. Employed applicants — income

Payslips: the last three months, from your current employer. If you are paid weekly, some lenders ask for the last 13 weeks. The payslips must show your name, employer name, gross pay and deductions.
P60: the most recent year's P60, confirming your total annual earnings and tax paid. Some lenders require two years.
Employment contract or offer letter: if you have started a new job within the past six months, lenders often ask to see your contract to confirm permanence and probation status.

3. Self-employed applicants — income

SA302 tax calculations: two or three years, accessed through your Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK. Download the SA302 and the matching Tax Year Overview for each year — lenders require both documents.
Signed accounts: two or three years of accounts prepared by a qualified accountant, especially for limited company directors.
Accountant's certificate: some lenders require your accountant to certify your income in a specific format; ask your broker whether the lender you are applying to needs this.

4. Contractor applicants

Current contract: showing start date, end date, day rate and client name.
Contract history: some lenders want to see continuity over two years; have copies of previous contracts ready.
SA302 and Tax Year Overviews from GOV.UK Personal Tax Account or payslips if working through an umbrella company.

5. Bank statements and deposit

Bank statements: the last three to six months of all current accounts, showing income credits and regular outgoings. Lenders check these for gambling transactions, undisclosed loans, and patterns that do not match the declared income. Every debit may need to be explainable.
Proof of deposit: bank or savings statements showing the deposit funds have been in your account for at least three months (the “seasoning” period many lenders require). If the deposit includes a gift, you will also need a gift letter from the donor and evidence of their source of funds — see the gifted deposit guide.
Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA: if using a Lifetime ISA, you need a conveyancer to claim the bonus on your behalf; the bonus is paid by HMRC to the conveyancer at completion, not directly to you.

6. The property and the offer

Signed memorandum of sale: once your offer is accepted, the estate agent sends this confirming the agreed price, your solicitor's details and the seller's solicitor's details.
Leasehold information: if buying a leasehold property, the lender will need to know the years remaining on the lease (most lenders want at least 70–85 years at the end of the mortgage term), the ground rent, and the service charge.

Gather these before you speak to a broker. Having them ready means the broker can make a complete application first time, which reduces delays and avoids a lender declining on missing documentation.

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