The stress rate has been reduced by up to 2% and is expected to increase affordability on a typical joint application by around £30,000.

The changes include a higher LTI cap and a reduction in the minimum trading period.

The move is expected to affect approximately 780,000 people in its first wave.

1 in 5 freelancers have considered switching careers to afford a mortgage.

The package includes a commission advance scheme where new advisers are able to access an interest free loan.

48% of 25-34 year olds – rising to 58% of 18-24 year olds - dream of starting their own business but worry about how it could affect their ability to qualify for a mortgage.

This positivity is especially pronounced in the younger generation.

The product is available to those with just twelve months trading history.

The specialist lender has launched new two, three and five-year fixes.

Steve Griffiths, commercial director for retail mortgages at Shawbrook, explores the hurdles non-traditional workers face in achieving home ownership and how both brokers and...