When it comes to property finance, most people default to a personal mortgage. For professional athletes and entertainers, the picture is far more complex. Many earn through personal service companies (PSCs), image rights entities, or special purpose vehicles (SPVs). The question is not simply “how much can I borrow?” but “who should be the borrower?”

In 2025, lenders are paying close attention to how athletes and entertainers structure their borrowing. Some deals are best arranged personally. Others work more efficiently — both in terms of tax and risk — when routed through companies. The challenge is knowing which approach lenders will accept, and which will trigger unnecessary scrutiny.

This blog explores the pros and cons of company vs. personal borrowing for performers, why the decision matters, and how Willow Private Finance helps clients choose the right path.

Why borrowing structures matter

For high-net-worth (HNW) clients, the line between personal and professional income is blurred. A footballer may receive salary from their club but route endorsement deals through an image rights company. An actor may be paid through a PSC that handles projects, royalties, and advances. Musicians may create SPVs to manage touring revenue and profit-sharing arrangements.

When it comes to mortgages, the borrower’s identity matters. Lenders want clarity on where repayments will come from, how taxable income is evidenced, and whether structures are being used for efficiency or obfuscation. The right choice can unlock lending at competitive rates. The wrong one can lead to rejection.

Personal borrowing: straightforward but limiting

Personal mortgages are the simplest route. The borrower applies in their own name, using contract income, royalties, or salary as evidence. For entertainers with clear taxable income — for example, an actor paid directly through PAYE — this can be efficient.

But personal borrowing can also create issues. Income routed through companies may not be fully recognised by lenders. If tax efficiency reduces reported personal income, affordability tests may appear weaker than reality. This is particularly challenging for athletes and entertainers who deliberately limit drawings for tax reasons.

As we discussed in Image Rights, Sponsorship & Side Companies: Proving Income the Right Way, the complexity of personal vs. company income is one of the biggest hurdles in securing mortgages for this sector.

Company borrowing: efficient but complex

Borrowing through companies offers advantages. SPVs and PSCs can consolidate income, manage tax more effectively, and isolate liability. For athletes investing in buy-to-let portfolios, for example, company structures are often the norm. They allow profits to be retained and reinvested at corporation tax rates rather than personal rates.

But lenders are cautious. Company borrowing requires personal guarantees, detailed accounts, and transparency around cash flows. High street banks are particularly wary, preferring clean personal applications. Private banks, by contrast, are more open — especially when they already manage the client’s corporate structures.

The key is credibility. If the company has a legitimate trading history, clean accounts, and a clear purpose, lenders are more likely to engage. If it appears to be a tax shield with little substance, underwriters will hesitate.

An illustrative example

Consider a retired footballer who has transitioned into punditry and brand endorsements. His income flows into a PSC, where he draws a modest salary and dividends. He wants to buy a £4 million family home in Surrey.

A high street lender reviewing his personal tax return sees limited income and declines the application. Through Willow, the approach is restructured. By presenting full PSC accounts, showing consistent profits and retained earnings, and arranging a personal guarantee, a private bank approves borrowing at 65 percent LTV.

The PSC structure does not hinder the mortgage — it becomes the foundation of the lending case.

The tax perspective

The tax implications of borrowing structures cannot be ignored. Personal borrowing may expose entertainers to higher income tax liabilities, as more must be drawn from companies to cover repayments. Company borrowing, by contrast, allows profits to be applied directly — but can trigger additional scrutiny from lenders.

This is why collaboration with accountants is essential. As we explained in HMRC, Agents & Accountants: Getting the Paper Trail Lender-Ready, lenders increasingly expect full transparency between personal and company accounts. Willow works directly with accountants to ensure that tax-efficient strategies are also lender-acceptable.

Private banks and bespoke structuring

Private banks play a vital role in this space. Unlike high street lenders, they are comfortable with bespoke structures, loan-backs, and complex company arrangements. They understand that a performer’s personal drawings may not reflect their true earning power.

For example, a private bank may allow borrowing against retained earnings within a PSC, provided security is robust. They may accept dividends routed through image rights companies, provided contracts are verifiable. These are solutions rarely available through mainstream lenders.

As we highlighted in High LTV Mortgages for Athletes & Entertainers 2025, private banks can often stretch further when the overall wealth picture supports the risk.

When personal borrowing still wins

Despite the advantages of company structures, personal borrowing remains powerful in certain scenarios:

• First-time buyers without established company records.
• Performers whose income is predominantly PAYE.
• Situations where speed and simplicity outweigh tax efficiency.

In these cases, applying in a personal capacity reduces friction and accelerates approval.

Willow’s role in structuring the solution

At Willow Private Finance, our job is to identify which borrowing route creates the strongest lender case. That may mean keeping the application personal for simplicity, or leveraging company accounts to demonstrate true affordability.

We coordinate between accountants, agents, and private banks to ensure that the story is consistent. Every detail — from PSC drawings to SPV structures — must be packaged clearly for underwriters.

For clients, the result is not just a mortgage approval, but an approval that aligns with their broader tax and wealth strategies.

Conclusion

For athletes and entertainers, the choice between personal and company borrowing is not just a technicality — it is often the deciding factor between approval and rejection.

Personal mortgages offer simplicity but can understate true affordability. Company borrowing provides tax advantages but requires careful structuring and lender trust. In 2025, lenders expect clarity, transparency, and credible supporting documentation.

At Willow Private Finance, we help clients navigate these choices. By aligning borrowing structures with both lender requirements and long-term wealth strategies, we ensure that mortgages are not just possible, but optimal.

📞 Not sure whether to borrow personally or through your company?

Talk to Willow. We’ll structure the approach that reassures lenders and works for your wealth plan.