"What documents do I need to send you?" is one of the most common questions I'm asked when clients start a mortgage application. The honest answer is — it depends.

The exact list varies based on your personal, financial and employment situation, and a mortgage broker will know exactly what a lender will ask for once you've had your initial appointment. That said, there are documents almost everyone needs to provide. This guide covers the most common ones so you can get a head start before your first meeting.

The three things lenders always need

Whatever your circumstances, lenders will want to see:

• Proof of ID and address — confirming you are who you say you are
• Proof of income — confirming you can afford the repayments
• Proof of deposit — confirming where the money for your contribution is coming from

Below is what each one usually looks like in practice.

Proof of ID and address

Proof of ID is usually a valid passport and/or driving licence. This lets your broker and the lender verify your identity, so they know it's you applying for the mortgage and not someone trying to impersonate you.

For proof of address, you can typically use utility bills, a council tax letter, or even bank statements.

Proof of income

Proof of income comes in different forms depending on how you're employed.

If you're employed

Your last 3 months' payslips are usually sufficient. If you've just started a new job — or are about to start one — a lender may ask for a copy of your contract or a reference from your employer confirming your salary and start date.

If you're self-employed (sole trader)

You'll usually need your last 2 years' SA302 Tax Calculations and Tax Year Overviews, which can be downloaded from HMRC.

If you're a director of a limited company

You'll generally need your last 2 years' company accounts, plus Tax Calculations and Tax Year Overviews showing the personal income you've drawn from the business.

A small number of lenders will accept 1 year's evidence if you've been trading for less than 2 years, but most require the full 2.

Proof of deposit

Proof of deposit is needed by both your lender and your solicitor — it shows where the money is coming from.

If you've saved the deposit yourself

The last 3 months' statements for the account where the deposit is held is usually sufficient.

If your deposit is a gift from family

Gifted deposits are increasingly common. Your broker may need the last 3 months' statements for the family member's account, plus a signed Gifted Deposit Letter confirming they're giving you the money.

If your deposit is coming from the sale of your existing home

Your latest mortgage statement is usually enough. Some lenders may also ask for a copy of your agreed sale price confirmation — this evidences the equity you'll have to put down on the new property.

The bottom line

Every scenario is different, so the list above isn't exhaustive — but these are the documents lenders ask for most often. If you're thinking about applying for a mortgage soon, getting these things together early will save you a lot of time later in the process.

If you'd like to talk through your specific situation, get in touch with the team. You may also find our guide to the mortgage process useful for understanding what comes next.