You will, no doubt, need a business mortgage if you are looking to buy premises. A business mortgage is effectively a special type of commercial loan. There are many products on the market, from the traditional business mortgage to those aimed at particular sections of the commercial sector. Here, I wanted to focus on three of the less well-known options open to businesses:
Self Certification Mortgages
A business self-certification mortgage (or self declaration mortgage) can be used to purchase new business premises, re-mortgage an existing business property or to raise additional funds. It is also useful for self-employed people who often struggle to get a commercial mortgage purely because they have irregular income or have income from a variety of sources.
A self-certification commercial mortgage almost always allows you to state your own income without the need for supporting documentation. This may be relevant to you if you are just starting out, have variable lengthy contract work, do seasonal work, are freelancing or if the majority of your income comes from commission or bonuses.
Most types of property can be financed including pubs, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, shops, offices, farms and industrial units - you will need to check exactly what the restrictions are with the lender. A self-certification mortgage means that the lending company does not need to see any accounts - they are predominantly interested in the value of the property, so the lack of financial information should not affect the approval of the mortgage.
This type of mortgage is useful when there are no accounts available, where existing accounts do not reflect the potential of the business or for start-up businesses. However, you need to remember that the lender can gain legal rights over the property in question until you are able to fully repay the loan. For this reason you need to carefully consider the effects taking out a self-certification mortgage will have on the finances of your company.
Adverse Credit Mortgages
According to Government statistics, as many as one in four people currently have or have had bad credit problems. A bad 'credit score' can happen for any number of reasons, from a divorce, redundancy or sickness, to simply 'getting in over your head'. If you have had difficulty in arranging a commercial finance because of CCJs, previous mortgage arrears or a bad credit history, you may be able to access an Adverse Credit Mortgage. Try a reputable firm like First Business Mortgages for example. As with self-certification, however, the lender relies on the value of the property (rather than your credit history) and they can repossess the property should you fail to meet your regular payments.
'Non Conforming' Mortgage
Banks and lenders may decline a business mortgage application because the loan to value ratio is too high, if you cannot put in a cash contribution towards the purchase or because of a perceived lack of business experience. In some cases even the age of the applicant will put lenders off. If this reflects your situation, you need to shop around for a company that will consider a 'non conforming' mortgage. If you explain your circumstances, you may still be able to get the deal you need.
The overall advice if you are considering a business mortgage is to work out the sums carefully before committing to anything, make sure you have carefully considered the advantages and disadvantages of both renting and a loan, and seek advice from the professionals.
About the Author
First Business Mortgages is a business mortgage and commercial finance broker; specialising in arranging finance for a range of businesses including farms, pubs, hotels, land development, guest houses and restaurants. Permission is granted to publish this article electronically provided that a working hyperlink rem