Freelancers and mortgages

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Just wanted to know if anyone else feels angry / discriminated against in getting a mortgage after taking time off to look after their kids. I've been off for 2 years, planning to go back soon and was a high earning freelancer. All the mortgage companies seem to be saying they wouldn't look at my income until I'd got a new 3 years of account - basically they're asking me to start again and completely disregarding what I did pre-children. I can understand wanting to see 6 months or even a year of income to understand how your earning power has changed but to totally disregard your track record seems borderline discriminatory to me and I'm pretty pissed off. Anyone else feel the same?

A lot has changed in the last 2 years in terms of lending criteria and practice. It's become harder for everyone to be accepted, the terms are more challenging and 'self cert' type mortgages for the self-employed were always more difficult than for salaried staff. Can see how it seems discriminatory from where you are now but I think it's indicative of the way the lending market is more generally.

Of course they are - the market has moved a lot in 2 years. They are having to get much tougher on lending regulations, and tbh you may find the working environment has changed too - finding work after 2 years out may be hard, you may have to reduce your rates. They need to see that you can service this mortgage now not that you could have done 2 years ago - that's not relevant.