Active Mortgages

Active Mortgages, a mortgage brokerage specialising in self-employed individuals and investors

Active Mortgages operates as a mortgage and finance brokerage in the United Kingdom, focusing on a client profile that, according to its own presentation, faces greater difficulties in the conventional mortgage market: self-employed individuals, business owners and property investors. The firm presents itself as a specialist in this niche and maintains that its knowledge of the financial particularities of these applicants allows it to work with lenders that are more flexible and experienced with this type of profile.

The parent company is Active Mortgage Co. Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Its trading names Active Mortgages, Active Commercial and Active Insurance operate under its umbrella. The company is registered in England and Wales with number 06539910.

Residential and high net worth mortgages

The residential catalogue covers products for buyers and homeowners with diverse needs. Among the options the firm states it can arrange are High Net Worth mortgages, large mortgage loans —including £1 million and £2 million mortgages—, residential and buy-to-let mortgages, mortgages for clients with an impaired credit history, equity release, first-time buyer finance and remortgage.

Finance for self-employed individuals and specific professional profiles

Active Mortgages' stated specialisation focuses on self-employment. The firm details that it serves self-employed individuals with one or two years of accounts, contractors, company directors, business partners and sole traders. It also covers specialist mortgages, for houses in multiple occupation (HMO), for expats, for holiday lets and for serviced accommodation, as well as mortgages through special purpose vehicles (SPV).

Commercial finance

In the business sphere, Active Mortgages presents commercial mortgage finance as a way for a business to acquire a property, whether to support its operational needs or as an additional income stream. The firm mentions bridging loans, development loans and commercial finance among its solutions.

Personal, business and general insurance

The company's activity extends to insurance intermediation, with products aimed at protecting both the personal and business spheres. On the personal side are critical illness insurance, family income benefit, income protection and life insurance. On the business side are business loan protection, business insurance, key person insurance, relevant life insurance and shareholder protection. The offering is completed by general health, home and landlord insurance, as well as will-related services.

Resources and materials for applicants

Active Mortgages makes tools and informative guides available to its clients. These include a mortgage calculator, a credit report and a specific guide to self-employed mortgages. The firm also publishes a corporate brochure and a book on mortgages for self-employed workers, which it presents as an Amazon bestseller and of which it offers a free paperback copy. Its blog addresses issues such as obtaining a mortgage as a limited company director during a divorce, the options for a self-employed construction worker buying their first home, or the impact of a job change on a mortgage.

Structure, offices and customer recognition

The company states it has a presence in Brentwood, Chelmsford and Essex. At the time of the analysis, its page showed a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 154 reviews on Trustpilot. The firm warns that it charges mortgage advice fees of between £250 and £2,000, depending on the research and administration required, and refers to its terms of service for further detail.