Home Loans for Self-Employed Borrowers in NZ

Self-employed borrowers face a different evidence test from PAYE applicants — typically banks want 2 years of company financials and IR3/IR4 returns, then average the figures. Non-bank lenders run alternative income-verification paths for borrowers with short trading history.

Key considerations

› Big-5 banks typically require 2 years of trading history with financial statements (P&L + balance sheet) plus IR3/IR4 returns. Some accept 1 year with a strong contract pipeline.
› Banks usually average net profit across the two most recent years — so a strong recent year may not be fully recognised.
› Non-bank lenders (Resimac, Liberty, Avanti, Pepper) run "alt-doc" income verification — accountant letter, BAS-equivalent (NZ doesn't have BAS but similar revenue evidence), bank-statement averaging. Rates are higher (typically 0.5%-2% above big-5 carded).
› Add-backs (depreciation, vehicle, home-office expenses) can boost recognised income — your accountant + broker know how each lender treats them.
› Servicing-test rate is the same regardless of income source — typically ~3% above carded rate (per RBNZ guidance + lender stress test policy).

Relevant topics

Lenders ranked by 1-year special rate

8 active lenders with carded rates. Sort priority: lowest 1-year special at LVR ≤ 80%.

The Co-operative Bank

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.65%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.29%
Floating 4.99%

Full profile → JSON

ANZ

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.69%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.29%
Floating 5.79%

Full profile → JSON

SBS Bank

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.69%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.19%
Floating 5.84%

Full profile → JSON

TSB Bank

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.69%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.25%
Floating 5.79%

Full profile → JSON

Westpac

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.69%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.19%
Floating 5.89%

Full profile → JSON

Kiwibank

1 year (special, ≤80% LVR) 4.75%
2 years (special, ≤80% LVR) 5.29%
Floating 5.75%

Full profile → JSON

ASB

Floating 5.79%

Full profile → JSON

BNZ

Floating 5.84%

Full profile → JSON

Machine-readable

All rates: /api/rates/facts.json
Per-lender facts: /api/lender/{slug}/facts.json
Anonymous MCP: POST /mcp

Get matched with an adviser

Servicing tests, deposit structure, and lender appetite change which carded rate you can actually access. A licensed adviser from Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891) can help you navigate.

Get Matched

Important: how to read this information

This website is operated by Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), a Licensed Financial Advice Provider regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (NZ). The information published here is general in nature and is not personalised financial advice. For personalised advice that takes your circumstances into account, request to be matched with one of our licensed mortgage advisers via the enquiry form.

Rate accuracy. Rates shown across this site were observed at 21 May 2026, 12:27 pm from each lender's published carded-rate page (linked per row). If a lender has updated their rates since that timestamp, the authoritative source is the lender's page, not our derived snapshot. Carded rates are advertised rates — the rate you ultimately receive depends on your application.

CCCFA + Responsible Lending Code. Final lending decisions are made by the lender under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and the MBIE Responsible Lending Code. Lenders apply servicing-test rates (typically around 8% post-2023), debt-to-income caps (RBNZ DTI 6× owner-occupier / 7× investor from 2024), and Loan-to-Value Ratio limits. Carded rates are not an offer or a pre-approval.

Disputes. If you have a complaint about advice received through this site, contact Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL) on 0800 347 257 or info@fscl.org.nz.

Site operated by Evolve Group Limited, FSP711891. Rates snapshot generator: scripts/snapshot-lenders.mjs. Machine-readable snapshot: /api/rates/facts.json.