Natalie Hines, specialist mortgage adviser, explains why lenders must rethink policies for TV and arts workers
Freelance professionals in the UK’s television and creative industries often face a mortgage market that misreads their income. For Natalie Hines, a mortgage adviser who has built her career in this space, those complexities represent opportunity - not risk.
“Someone told me to niche in an industry, and it was the best advice I ever got,” said Hines, who works extensively with first-time buyers in TV. “It’s a young, relationship-driven sector. People move from job to job and are constantly referring each other.”
Many of her clients share the same income profile: short-term contracts, freelance arrangements, or limited company structures that don’t fit traditional underwriting. While some lenders still expect 12-month fixed contracts - “never going to happen” in TV, she says - others have adapted.
“We stick with lenders who understand this world, like Nationwide and Skipton,” said Hines. “They’ll use current contracts, even if there are only a few weeks left, so long as there’s a proven track record in the industry.”
Misconceptions limit access
One enduring myth is that freelance creatives are financially unstable. Hines sees the opposite. “I’ve done dozens of cases with Nationwide, and I bet none have defaulted,” she said. “They’re constantly working—it just doesn’t look like a typical nine-to-five.”
The industry is far from niche. According to government figures, 28% of jobs in the UK’s creative industries are self-employed – double the national average across all sectors.
Complicating matters, the insurance side often doesn’t align. “You might use a contract to prove income for the mortgage, but then be forced to use a tax return for income protection,” she said. “It’s inconsistent.”
Referrals drive trust
With TV crews often shifting from set to set, WhatsApp groups and peer referrals are how most find a broker. “It only takes one person saying, ‘I’m struggling,’ and someone replies, ‘Talk to Natalie,’” she said. “That’s how nearly all my business comes in.”
She credits her success to understanding both lender policy and the unique rhythms of freelance work. “Other brokers hear ‘self-employed’ and ask for two years of tax returns - that’s the end of the conversation.”
Time for policy to catch up
Asked what she would change, Hines points to policy flexibility and better lender education. “Nationwide will look back 12 months and as long as there’s no break longer than 12 weeks, they’re happy,” she said. “And they’ll accept a contract with just a few weeks remaining. That’s what real understanding looks like.”
She’d like more lenders to adopt similar logic, especially when it comes to assessing daily or weekly income rates. “There’s still this idea that if it’s not PAYE, it’s too complicated. But this is the future of work.”
Bringing lenders closer to real life
As employment models evolve, mortgage criteria must keep pace. For brokers, understanding how income flows - not just how it’s filed - is the difference between a lost lead and a lifelong client.
“This isn’t about bending the rules,” said Hines. “It’s about recognising that creative workers are reliable earners, even if their payslips look different. The lenders who adapt first will be the ones who win that business.”
