Mortgages shouldn’t be this hard.
So we fixed it.
We are the trailblazing B Corp Mortgage Broker in the UK, putting people and the planet ahead of profit. With 7-day expert support and award-winning tech, we’ve made the mortgage process what it should’ve been all along: simple.
How we can help you
Remortgage
Buy to Let Mortgage
Helping landlords navigate the process, advising on important considerations.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
For Buy to Let: There is no guarantee that it will be possible to arrange continuous letting of the property, nor that rental income will be sufficient to meet the cost of the mortgage.
Some Buy to Let Mortgages are not regulated by the financial conduct authority.
The guidance and/or advice contained within this website is subject to the UK regulatory regime and is therefore primarily targeted at consumers based in the UK.
What Does A Mortgage Broker Do?
Matt introduces Heron Financial and explains the role of a mortgage broker.
I could mention lots of things that a mortgage broker does in terms of making applications and dealing with lenders, but the most important thing from a client perspective is getting advice.
You might not be aware that if you’re dealing directly with a lender or a limited panel mortgage broker, you might not get much advice. A lot of the decision-making is really on you, which can be quite daunting.
But a whole of market mortgage advisor is going to give you advice. And, of course, we walk you through that journey and the most suitable products. We’ll take you through the application process and deal with the lender on your behalf, keeping you updated throughout.
We are proudly B-Corp
We’re on a mission to make sure everything Heron Financial does contributes positively to the environment, and to society.
For every mortgage completed, we plant a tree for you.
2,160 Trees Planted
10,000 Target | Last updated November 2025
Not sure if your mortgage is still a good deal?
Frequently Asked Questions for Heron Financial
How much can I borrow for a mortgage?
How much you can borrow depends on your income, regular outgoings, existing debts, deposit size and credit history, assessed against each lender’s own affordability rules, not a single fixed multiple. Income multiples, typically in the region of 4 to 4.5 times income for most residential lenders, are only a starting point. Two people on the same salary can get very different offers once a lender factors in dependants, existing credit commitments, or how it treats bonus, overtime or self-employed income. We start by understanding what you’re actually trying to achieve, a lower monthly payment or the maximum purchase price you can reach, then identify which lenders are likely to stretch furthest for your specific circumstances.
Try our borrowing power calculator to get a more detailed estimate. It takes into account your income, any additional income, your outgoings, and your credit confidence, so the figure reflects your actual circumstances rather than a generic multiple.
Can I get a mortgage if I'm self-employed, a company director or a contractor?
Yes, though lenders assess these income types differently from a standard employee’s payslips. Depending on your circumstances, a lender may use two or three years of accounts, an SA302 tax calculation, salary and dividends, retained profit, or a day-rate calculation for contract income. We work daily with lenders who’ll assess retained profit or day-rate income rather than defaulting to the lowest common multiple, and we present your figures to each one in the format most likely to get you the strongest offer. Choosing the right lender and presenting the income correctly from the outset can materially change how much you’re able to borrow.
How we've helped clients like you
Moving home while keeping a 1.89% rate
Ported an existing mortgage to a new £835,000 purchase, preserving a rate well below current market pricing.
Self-employed directorBuy-to-let purchase funded by home equity
Used equity released from the main residence to fund the deposit on a £220,000 investment property purchase.
Company director + contractor£285,000 product transfer combining two income types
Secured a Halifax product transfer at 71% LTV for a borrower earning through both a director role and separate day-rate contracting.
How much deposit do I need to buy a home?
Many residential mortgages are available with a 5% deposit, though this depends on affordability, credit history and the property itself. A larger deposit reduces your loan-to-value and can open up more lenders and better rates. We can model your likely offer at 5%, 10% and 15% deposit levels side by side, so you can see the real difference in rate and monthly cost before deciding how much of your savings to put down. For eligible buyers, we also have access to 0% deposit products, including Gable’s 0% deposit mortgage, so a deposit isn’t always a prerequisite to buying, it depends on your circumstances and the lender’s criteria.
Is Heron Financial's mortgage advice really fee-free?
Yes, Heron Financial does not charge you a broker fee for mortgage advice or for arranging your mortgage. We’re normally paid by the lender once your mortgage completes, so our recommendation isn’t shaped by a fee you owe us. Other costs can still apply, including lender arrangement fees, valuation fees, legal fees and any property-related costs, and your adviser will set every one of these out clearly before you proceed, so there are no surprises at completion.
What do I need for an Agreement in Principle?
An Agreement in Principle normally needs details of your income, regular spending, existing debts, deposit and three years’ address history. Evidence can include recent payslips, bank statements, company accounts or tax calculations, depending on how you earn. Most lenders run a soft credit search at this stage, though some use a hard search. We prepare your application so your income and credit profile are presented accurately from the outset, which reduces the risk of an unexpected decline once you’re ready to make an offer.
When should I start looking at remortgaging?
It’s sensible to start reviewing your options around six months before your current deal ends. This gives enough time to compare a new rate with your existing lender against remortgaging elsewhere, without rushing the decision. We track your current lender’s rates against the wider market in the run-up to your renewal date, and if something better appears before completion, we’ll flag it, even after you’ve already agreed a deal.
Can you help if my bank or another broker has declined me?
Potentially, yes: one lender declining your application doesn’t mean every lender will reach the same decision. Applications are commonly declined because of income type, affordability, credit history, the property itself, or a lender’s own specific criteria, rather than a judgement on you as a borrower. We start every case like this by reviewing exactly why the previous application was refused, then match you against lenders whose criteria take a genuinely different view on that specific issue, rather than resubmitting the same application elsewhere.
Why use a mortgage broker instead of going directly to a bank?
A bank can only offer and advise on its own mortgage range, while a whole-of-market broker can compare suitable deals from across the entire market, including specialist lenders for complex income or unusual circumstances. Heron Financial is fee-free and whole of market, and we manage the full application and lender communication for you, giving you one point of contact from initial assessment through to completion rather than juggling a bank, a solicitor and a surveyor yourself.