07450127744 is our number if you’d prefer to talk now.
This page is for carpenters, joiners & construction workers paid through the CIS scheme.
Opportunity Mortgages can create and manage your mortgage application correctly to help you borrow more.
As a carpenter, you work hard — but the big banks don’t make it easy for you.
The result? You get declined, offered poor rates, or far less money than you actually qualify for.
If you’re a self-employed carpenter, most banks will calculate your maximum mortgage based on your post-tax income.
But your post-tax income doesn’t reflect your earning power.
We specialise in mortgages for carpenters and construction trades.
We know exactly how to present your CIS paperwork, accounts, and day-rate income to the right lenders.
This solution could help you borrow more because your maximum mortgage will be calculated using your pre-tax income, not your post-tax income.
See How Much More You Could Borrow – Book a 15-Min Call.
Most mortgage lenders will use income multiples of 4.5 to calculate how much you could be eligible to borrow.
So, what usually happens is that a carpenter goes to their bank and their bank multiplies their net profit (post-tax income) by 4.5.
If the carpenter has been tax efficient and their income looks lower, i.e. £16,000, that results in a mortgage of £72,000.
£72,000 can be a tricky budget.
Your tax return may declare that you earned £16,000 after expenses were deducted, but that doesn’t mean your borrowing power should be reduced.
A CIS-friendly mortgage lender won’t use the figure on your tax return – instead, they’ll look at your CIS statements, specifically your day rate.
So, in theory, it doesn’t matter that you’ve been tax efficient with your accounts because your true earning power is reflected in your CIS statements.
“A couple came to me recently, desperate to buy their first home. She’s employed, earning £30,000 a year. He’s a sparky, but after all his expenses, his tax return only showed £16,000 profit.
Based on those “paper” figures, the high-street banks told them their max budget was £207,000. In today’s market, that wasn’t enough for the house they needed.
They came to me and straight away, instead of using his tax return, we went to a CIS-friendly lender and used his latest 3 CIS statements instead, which showed he was earning £1,000 per week or £52,000 per year. Which is obviously A lot Better than £16,000.
Their borrowing limit jumped from £207,000 to £380,000.
Same couple. Same circumstances. Just a different lender who actually understands how subbies are paid.”
Alex Sheath – CIS Mortgage Broker 
We work with a selection of UK lenders who accept just three months’ CIS statements.
Don’t let another generic bank limit your home-buying power.
Here’s our Calendly link.
Pick a date and time to suit you, and our CIS mortgage broker, Alex, will be ready for you.
This is your chance to:
When you feel happy, Alex can:
Opportunity Mortgages aim to help tradesmen and women find affordable mortgage agreements.
We don’t judge circumstances; we find solutions for real working people.
Q: Can I get a mortgage as a self-employed carpenter paid via CIS?
A: Yes. Many specialist lenders actively support self-employed carpenters and CIS subcontractors.
Unlike high-street banks that often reject or undervalue CIS income, we work with lenders who understand the construction industry and can assess your mortgage based on your gross CIS day rate rather than just net profit after expenses.
With the right packaging and lender, many carpenters get approved even with a relatively short trading history.
Q: How much can a carpenter borrow on a mortgage in the UK?
A: Most carpenters can typically borrow 4 to 5.5 times their annual income, depending on the lender and their overall financial situation. Specialist lenders who understand CIS and day-rate work often allow higher borrowing than high-street banks.
For example, many of our carpenter clients unlock £150,000–£200,000+ more lending simply by using the right lender and correct application packaging. Factors like deposit size, credit score, and outgoings also play a role. We provide personalised affordability assessments.
Q: Do you help carpenters with day rates or irregular income?
A: Yes — this is one of our specialities. We regularly help carpenters working on day rates (£150–£350+ per day), with seasonal variations, or multiple income streams.
Specialist lenders can use your gross day rate (multiplied by a standard working year) or average CIS payslips instead of just your accountant-prepared net profit. This often results in significantly higher mortgage offers than those from generic banks.
Q: What documents do I need as a CIS carpenter?
A: Typical documents include:
We’ll tell you exactly what’s needed for your situation and help prepare everything to give you the strongest possible application.
Q: How long does it take to get a mortgage approved as a self-employed carpenter?
A: From initial enquiry to formal mortgage offer, it usually takes 4–8 weeks, depending on how quickly documents are provided and the complexity of your case. Because we specialise in tradespeople, we know which lenders move fastest for CIS and self-employed carpenters, which can speed up the process compared to going direct to a high-street bank.
Q: How many years of work history do I need as a self-employed carpenter?
A: Many high-street lenders want 2–3 years, but we work with specialist lenders who accept just 3 months of CIS statements and 12 months’ of work history (within the same industry).
Q: Can I get a mortgage if I’m a limited company carpenter or through my own company?
A: Yes. We help both sole traders and limited company directors. For limited companies, we can often use a combination of salary + dividends, or retained profits, in some cases. Specialist lenders understand how construction companies operate and are far more flexible than mainstream banks.
Q: What deposit do carpenters usually need?
A: Many of our carpenter clients buy with a 10% deposit, although 15–20% will give you access to better rates and higher approval chances. Some lenders even consider lower deposits of 5%, depending on their criteria and your ability to meet it.
Q: Are there specific mortgage products for construction workers and carpenters?
A: Yes. There are now several “CIS-friendly” and contractor mortgage products designed specifically for people in the building trade. These products recognise the realities of CIS deductions, day rates, and variable income — something most high-street banks still struggle with.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. Most buy to let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
alex@opportunitymortgages.co.uk
