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If you are a borrower who cannot easily prove their income, and are considering new finances, it might be time to make sure you can prove your worthiness.

You may think that's an oxymoron – how can you prove income if you are a self cert borrower who cannot prove income? Well it is possible, not necessarily easy, but something that you may have to consider in these difficult times.

In the past, self cert was everywhere. You could get hold of a mortgage or a loan in a click of a mouse or a flourish of a pen. Lenders were happy to push through a deal on the word of the borrower and the adviser, who had checked through everything. But nowadays, things are different. No longer will lenders just believe the word of the borrower – they might well want hard evidence if they are to push through a mortgage. The best option for a self cert borrower is now a fast track mortgage.

A fast track mortgage is available to some borrowers based on the strength of their credit score, but it is not a self cert mortgage. The strength of the credit score will depend on whether the lender will request proof of income or not. So that means if you want to get hold of a mortgage without necessarily proving your income, you need a great credit score.

Go online and check yours – they are available from one of the UK's credit rating agencies. It will show you your entire credit history: what you borrowed, for long long, to whom and how much you paid back. It paints a picture of you, and could paint a good enough picture so as you don't need to prove your income.

So be ready for fast track by making sure your credit score is the best it can be. That means amending errors, consolidating debt, clearing overdrafts, making sure direct debits are up to date – anything that will show you are the best borrower you can be, regardless of how much you make each month.

Keep up with the latest news and comments on Self Employed Mortgages at the Self Cert Mortgage Blog