Complex & Self-Employed Lending
For borrowers who do not fit standard bank policy, including self-employed income, company and trust structures, multiple properties, foreign income, lender declines or complex refinance scenarios.
What complex lending is
Most lending applications follow a standard template — PAYG employment, straightforward income, simple security. Complex lending refers to applications that sit outside that template.
This does not mean approval is impossible. It means the application needs more careful structuring, documentation and lender selection. Many borrowers in complex situations have been declined by mainstream banks but approved by other lenders once the application is properly positioned.
Who needs complex lending support
- Self-employed borrowers with non-standard income verification
- Borrowers using company or trust structures
- Borrowers with foreign income or overseas assets
- Investors with multiple properties affecting borrowing capacity
- Borrowers with a previous lender decline
- Borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios
- Borrowers with irregular, fluctuating or seasonal income
- Borrowers with existing ATO arrangements or payment plans
- Clients requiring a complex refinance across multiple lenders or properties
How lenders assess complex applications
Each lender has different credit policy tolerances. Key areas where policies differ significantly include:
- Self-employed income — some lenders use two years of tax returns; others accept one year or have low-doc options
- Company and trust structures — how income is sourced and how distributions are treated varies by lender
- Foreign income — some lenders will not consider it; others apply a shading percentage
- Multiple investment properties — some lenders apply stricter DTI or LVR caps once a borrower holds several properties
- Credit history — past credit events are assessed differently across the market
- High DTI — lenders apply different caps and some are more flexible than others
- ATO debts and payment plans — presence of ATO obligations can affect lender appetite significantly
Common challenges
- Applying to multiple lenders without assessing each one's policy — multiple credit enquiries reduce your score
- Submitting a poorly documented application — complex scenarios require more documentation, not less
- Assuming your bank knows your full position — relationship managers work within standard policy
- Not preparing a clear written explanation of your income structure before applying
- Selecting the wrong lender for your specific profile — saving this step by going direct can cost approvals
Documents usually required
- Two years of personal tax returns
- ATO Notice of Assessment
- Two years of business financials (if self-employed)
- Business Activity Statements (BAS)
- Bank statements — personal and business (3–6 months)
- Existing loan statements
- Trust deed and company documents (if applicable)
- Foreign income evidence (if applicable)
- Explanation of any credit events or declines
How Bridle Partners helps
- Reviewing your position before submitting to any lender
- Identifying the lenders most likely to approve based on your specific scenario
- Structuring documentation to present your income and position clearly
- Avoiding applications that are unlikely to succeed and accumulate credit enquiries
- Managing the application through to approval
Frequently asked questions
- What counts as a complex lending scenario?
- Complex lending includes any situation where a borrower does not meet standard bank policy. This includes self-employed borrowers, company or trust borrowers, foreign income, multiple investment properties, previous lender declines, high debt-to-income ratios, unusual income structures or scenarios requiring equity release from a complicated security position.
- I was declined by my bank. Can Bridle Partners still help?
- In many cases, yes. A decline by one lender does not mean no lender will approve. Different lenders have different credit policies, and understanding where the decline occurred allows us to identify lenders with appetite for your situation. We review your position before submitting further applications to avoid unnecessary credit enquiries.
- I am self-employed — how do lenders assess my income?
- Most lenders use two years of tax returns and business financials to assess self-employed income. Some lenders offer low-documentation options where income is assessed differently. The right approach depends on your income structure, the size of the loan and the lender.
- Can Bridle Partners help if my income comes from a trust or company?
- Yes. We regularly work with clients who receive income through company distributions, trust distributions or dividends. This type of income requires clear documentation and a lender with appetite for the structure.
- What is a high DTI (debt-to-income) ratio and why does it matter?
- DTI refers to total debt relative to total income. Some lenders apply DTI caps that limit how much a borrower can borrow relative to their income. We identify lenders with more flexible DTI policies and structure applications to present borrowing capacity clearly.
- My income fluctuates seasonally. Does that affect my application?
- It can. Lenders typically assess income based on tax returns and financial statements. Seasonal or irregular income may require additional documentation to evidence the longer-term income pattern. We help structure the application and documentation to present your income position clearly.
Discuss your lending scenario
If your situation does not fit standard bank policy, speak with Bridle Partners before approaching any lender. We assess your position first.