steps to improve the chance of a mortgage please?

juniper180

Hi. I have the right to but my council flat and would need a small mortgage of around £30,000. However, I am a self employed tattooist without an accountant and very informal looking 'accounts' (i normally just note my takings in a notebook, my expenditures are minimal). I had to take 6 months off work recently and claim benefits due to ill health. Do I have any chance of getting a mortgage and if not what steps could I begin to take now to improve my chances in the near future? Should I get an accountant? Thanks in advance for any info or advice.

ACG

Do you have self assessments? (Also known as SA302s)

juniper180

No as I have always done my tax assessment online, should I try to get hold of them?

ACG

You should still have SA302s.

Get on to the tax man, ask for your last 3 years.
If your last years has a dip then you might have problems but it depends what they show.

juniper180

wow, the help here's been overwhelming.......... thanks everyone!!

GMS

What level of earnings have you declared to the Inland Revenue for last 3 years?

juniper180

i've never been a big earner, but it got worse with the recession. i'd say the last 3 years averaged around 9,000. i also received a little in working and child tax credits up until my son became independent in january 2011. thanks for your interest.