‘Complex income’ was once viewed by many as an outlier, but many brokers now see cases involving it land on their desks every day.
Borrowers with second jobs, irregular earnings, foreign income, or retirement-age plans are now common in everyday intermediary work. And the evidence goes beyond what we’re seeing on the ground. According to the Office for National Statistics, there are now 4.4 million self-employed workers in the UK. In Q1 2025, the number of people with second jobs rose to 1.317 million, almost 4% of those in employment.
This growing diversity of income types presents a challenge: how do we continue to assess mortgage cases fairly when fewer borrowers fit the standard criteria?
Complex doesn’t always mean risky
Complexity and risk are often lumped together, but that’s not always a fair connection to make. In many cases, so-called ‘complex’ borrowers are simply structured differently. For instance, someone with two jobs and variable income may have stronger affordability than a full-time salaried worker, once the picture is fully understood. Alternatively, you might have a pensioner with a clear repayment strategy and minimal debt. On the surface, the case presents very little risk, even if their age raises concerns elsewhere.
Most of the time, it’s not a matter of quality but about whether anyone takes the time to look past the first impression. That’s where brokers can play an increasingly central role.
Brokers shape the conversation
Let’s be honest, most borrowers don’t come wrapped in a neat bow anymore. You’re often the first to spot where criteria could be a barrier, not because the client can’t afford the mortgage, but because their circumstances require a little more explanation.
This makes your role far more than just administrative. You’re shaping how lenders understand the case. Explaining not just what the income is, but how consistent or reliable it ultimately may be. How the client’s plan fits with the structure of the loan. Whether there’s a long-term exit or repayment strategy. These details really matter, especially in cases that don’t pass through automated checks.
The more we move away from one-size-fits-all affordability, the more the broker’s input becomes critical in giving each case the scrutiny it deserves.
Credit history isn’t black and white
Another factor adding complexity are credit profiles. Small credit blips are now routine, and they don’t always reflect financial behaviour accurately. When viewed in isolation, these markers can skew perceptions of risk. But brokers can bring context. A single CCJ from years ago, on an otherwise clean file, might not be relevant to the borrower’s ability to repay a mortgage now. The same goes for historic missed payments or periods of income disruption.
Being able to explain these cases clearly and constructively makes all the difference.
Re-thinking what “standard” looks like
The mortgage market is built on an idea of what a “typical” borrower looks like. But that’s undergoing a change. A growing number of clients don’t meet legacy definitions, whether because of income source, age, employment status, or even future plans. That doesn’t mean they’re high risk. It just means lenders and advisers need to look at cases in more depth.
Flexibility isn’t about bending rules. It’s about recognising the reality of modern income, and building processes that account for it.
Where do we go from here?
As lending becomes more nuanced, broker-lender communication becomes more important. Manual decision-making is still part of the equation and for good reason. it allows space to understand the real story behind the numbers. That doesn’t mean lowering standards. It means having a system that allows good borrowers to be treated in a fair manner, even when their finances are a bit more on the complex side.
The volume of these cases is only going to increase. Interpreting, articulating and structuring cases will remain vital.
Rob Oliver is distribution director at Dudley Building Society
