Not all clients fit the standard mortgage template. In fact, many of Willow’s clients in 2025 have layered income, international ties, trust structures, and unique borrowing goals.

For these borrowers—entrepreneurs, investors, company directors, and family office-backed buyers—private client finance provides a more strategic, personalised route to securing funding.

Who Needs Private Client Finance?

Private client finance is designed for those who:

• Earn through dividends, retained profits, or carried interest
• Hold wealth in trusts, investment portfolios, or offshore accounts
• Have foreign income, or are non-domiciled
• Want large or interest-only loans on high-value homes
• Need to fund purchases via SPVs, LLPs, or family trusts
• Prefer discretion and speed, especially in competitive markets

These aren’t “edge cases”—they’re increasingly common scenarios among affluent and globally connected clients.

What Makes Private Lending Different?

Private client lenders—typically private banks, boutique lenders, and high-net-worth teams within larger institutions—assess borrowing differently from traditional lenders:

• Income Assessment
  Traditional: Based on payslips and SA302s
  Private: Assessed holistically, including assets, future cash flow, and discretionary income
• Loan Structure
  Traditional: Rigid, preset product options
  Private: Flexible and often bespoke, tailored to individual borrower profiles
• Underwriting Approach
  Traditional: Tick-box criteria with little room for nuance
  Private: Relationship-led underwriting with discretion and deeper risk assessment
• Property Type
  Traditional: Must meet strict criteria (e.g. construction, location, resaleability)
  Private: Greater flexibility for unique or non-standard properties
• Speed and Access
  Traditional: Processed within standard service levels
  Private: Often expedited, with direct communication between broker and decision-maker

This isn’t just a mortgage. It’s a strategy.

How Lenders Assess Complex Borrowers

In 2025, key factors in private client lending include:

• 📈 Asset base: Liquidity, portfolio value, and net worth
• 🌍 Income diversity: Multiple streams, foreign income, trust distributions
• 🧾 Documentation quality: Clear explanation of how funds are earned and structured
• 🏛️ Ownership vehicles: SPVs, LLPs, family trusts—all need proper justification
• 💼 Business profile: For directors, lenders want to see a stable, profitable business
• 🤝 Relationship strength: A strong broker or introducer relationship can shape outcomes

Real-World Scenarios We’ve Helped With

At Willow, we regularly work with:

• A Dubai-based entrepreneur purchasing a UK home through a BVI trust
• A CEO using retained profits and director’s loans for a prime London acquisition
• A family office securing development finance for a heritage-listed property
• A retiring client refinancing a country estate through a family investment company

Each case involved tailored structuring, lender introductions, and deep experience.

Why Private Client Lending Needs a Specialist Broker



Without a broker who understands:

• Trust law
• Tax residency issues
• Offshore vs. onshore income
• How to present layered financials

… your deal may stall before it begins.

Private lenders don’t just look at rates—they look at risk, reputation, and clarity. A skilled broker can position your profile in a way that lenders find compelling.

📞 Want Help Navigating Today’s Market?

Book a free strategy call with one of our mortgage specialists.

We’ll help you find the smartest way forward—whatever rates do next.