High Loan-to-Value Mortgage for Country Property Purchase

A UK-based business owner approached me seeking finance for the acquisition of a country property valued at circa £5M. Although the client had substantial underlying wealth and a highly valuable business, the case initially presented challenges from a conventional lending perspective. The client’s declared income fell below the thresholds typically required by mainstream lenders, and they also held borrowing against an existing residential property that they intended to retain.

At first glance, this profile sat outside the appetite of many traditional lenders. However, declared income only reflected a small part of the client’s overall financial position. The client owned a business that had grown significantly in value over recent years and was expected to generate a future liquidity event, strengthening the overall balance sheet and improving long-term financial flexibility. Like many entrepreneurs, the client had prioritised reinvestment into the business rather than drawing a significant personal income.

The primary challenge was structuring a facility that reflected the client’s true financial strength rather than relying solely on historic taxable income. Many lenders assess affordability using salary, dividends, or declared personal earnings, which can disadvantage business owners who intentionally minimise drawings while focusing on long-term growth. In this case, the client’s tax returns did not accurately reflect broader wealth, liquidity potential, or repayment capacity.

I sourced a private banking solution capable of taking a holistic view of the client’s financial position. The lender assessed the client’s wider profile, including business performance, asset base, and future financial strength, rather than focusing solely on declared income. This broader approach allowed the transaction to be assessed on the full financial picture.

A mortgage was arranged at approximately 90% loan-to-value on an interest-only basis over a 10-year term. The structure enabled the client to complete the purchase while retaining flexibility ahead of the expected liquidity event and planned future improvements to the property.

This case highlights how traditional income-based lending models often fail to reflect the real financial strength of entrepreneurial borrowers. For business owners with significant asset value and future liquidity potential, the right lender will look beyond tax returns and assess the broader balance sheet and long-term repayment strategy.