Mortgage broker in Manchester for first-time buyers, landlords and complex cases
Knox finds the right lender for your situation, quickly, and tells you plainly what is realistic before anything goes near your credit file. From your first home to a 20-property portfolio or a commercial purchase, we search the whole market, including the specialist and commercial lenders most brokers never use.
Free, no-obligation 30 minute call.
On your first call you will find out
- How much you can realistically borrow, and from which lenders
- What deposit you actually need, from 5% (and some 0% options)
- Whether your income, credit or visa will be an issue, and the fix
- The exact documents to get ready, so nothing stalls later
- The fastest route to a mortgage offer for your situation
Buying your first home? You can probably borrow more, or buy sooner, than you think
Your bank's online calculator shows one lender's view. Across the market, income multiples run from 4 times to over 6 times income, some lenders count bonus, overtime and shift pay in full, and some lend at 95% or even 100% of the price. The right lender can be the difference between renting for another two years and buying this year.
We check your case against lenders' actual criteria before you apply, get your Agreement in Principle in place, and stay with you through valuation, offer and completion. If a family member wants to help, we set that up properly too.
Same couple, different lender
Joint income £52,000, buying in Greater Manchester with a 10% deposit.
| Lender lending 4.49 times income | £233,480 |
| Lender lending 5 times income | £260,000 |
| Professional scheme at 5.5 times | £286,000 |
Illustrative only. The multiple you are offered depends on your income type, credit, commitments and deposit. We confirm which lenders apply to you on the first call.
One broker, from your first home to your first commercial unit
Most brokers stop at straightforward residential cases. Knox runs a specialist and commercial desk alongside it, so the case other brokers turn away is normal work here.
Moving home or remortgaging
Fixed rate ending, moving up, or releasing equity. We compare your lender's product transfer against the whole market.
Landlords and investors
Single lets to portfolios, personal name or limited company, including HMOs and corporate and guaranteed-rent leases.
Business and commercial
Buying premises, investment property, bridging and development, through a dedicated commercial and bridging desk.
Self-employed and contractors
One year of accounts, dividends, day rates or CIS. We match how you are paid to the lender that assesses it best.
Credit issues and past declines
CCJs, defaults, missed payments, debt plans or a previous decline. We place the case with a lender whose criteria fit.
Visas, expats and specialist income
Skilled worker and spouse visas, expats, Universal Credit, stipends and professionals on enhanced multiples.
A brokerage built like a system, not a favour
1Specialist by default
Alongside the high street, we work with specialist residential, buy-to-let, bridging and commercial lenders. That is why complex cases that stall elsewhere get placed here.
2A process, not guesswork
Every case runs through the same tested steps: a secure portal for your documents, a clear checklist, and updates at every stage so you always know what happens next.
3Straight answers early
We tell you on the first call what is realistic, what could cause a decline, and how to fix it. No soft credit promises, no surprises at underwriting.
4Updates without chasing
You get a dedicated WhatsApp group and a secure client portal, so you always know where your case is and what we need next, without having to chase anyone.
From first call to keys in four steps
Free discovery call
30 minutes on your income, deposit, credit and plans. You leave knowing what you can borrow and which lenders fit.
Documents and Agreement in Principle
You upload payslips, bank statements and ID through our secure portal. We secure your Agreement in Principle.
Application and offer
Once your offer on a property is accepted, we submit the full application, manage the valuation and chase the lender to offer.
Completion and protection
We work with your solicitor through to completion, then review your protection so the home stays yours if health or income changes.
Rated 5.0 on Google from 49 reviews
Every review below is from a real Knox client, pulled live from our Google Business Profile.
Your case is handled by the person who built the process
Knox was founded by Jake Stott, a CeMAP-qualified mortgage and protection adviser, to run a brokerage the way a good business runs: documented, systemised and measured. Every client gets the same tested process, whether you are buying a first flat or refinancing a block of flats.
Jake personally handles complex residential, buy-to-let and commercial cases, supported by a case team that keeps your application moving and keeps you updated.
Meet the teamBased in Stockport, working across Greater Manchester and the UK
Our office is at Europa Business Park, Cheadle Heath. Most clients never need to visit: we advise by phone and video, so we help buyers and landlords across the UK.
Common questions about using a mortgage broker
Should I use a mortgage broker or go direct to my bank?
Your bank can only offer its own products and will assess you on its own criteria. A whole-of-market broker compares lenders across the market, including specialist lenders that do not deal with the public directly, and places your case with the one most likely to approve it at the best terms. That matters most if your income, credit or property is anything other than standard.
Are you a whole-of-market mortgage broker?
Yes. We compare mortgages from across the market rather than a restricted panel, including specialist residential, buy-to-let, bridging and commercial lenders that are not available directly or through most comparison sites.
How much deposit do I need to buy my first home?
Most first-time buyers need at least 5% of the purchase price. Some lenders will consider 0% deposit for renters with a strong rent payment record, and family can help through a gifted deposit or a guarantor or joint borrower structure. A bigger deposit usually unlocks lower rates.
How much can I borrow?
Most lenders lend 4 to 4.5 times your annual income, some go to 5 or 5.5 times, and a few offer 6 times to certain professions. What you are offered depends on your income type, commitments, credit history and deposit. We work this out lender by lender on your first call.
Can you help if I have been declined or have bad credit?
Often, yes. A decline usually means the case went to the wrong lender for your circumstances. We look at why, check your credit file, and place the case with a lender whose criteria fit CCJs, defaults, missed payments or complex income.
Do you only help people in Manchester?
No. We are based in Stockport and know the Greater Manchester market well, but we advise by phone and video and arrange mortgages across the UK, including for expats buying from abroad.
How long does it take to get a mortgage?
An Agreement in Principle can usually be arranged within a day or two of receiving your documents. After a full application, most lenders issue an offer in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the valuation and how quickly documents come in. Specialist and commercial cases can take longer.
Find out where you stand in one call
Book a free, no-obligation discovery call. We will tell you what you can borrow, which lenders fit, and exactly what happens next.
Book a free discovery callFree, no-obligation 30 minute call.
Your home may be repossessed if you don't keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Knox Mortgages is a trading style of Fort Advice Bureau which is regulated and authorised by the FCA to conduct Mortgage and Protection business, FRN: 972730