Is the mortgage market turbulence getting you down? Have you got a mortgage-related question you need answering? Email in, and we will get one of our experts to reply. Nick Mendes, mortgage technical manager at John Charcol, has given his advice to a reader below. If you have a question for our experts, email us at money@theipaper.com .

Question: I’m a first-time buyer and have been looking at mortgages for three months now. I’m self-employed and have noticed some banks lend more to you if you are employed. How are banks allowed to do this, and should there be a scheme in place to help first-time buyers who are self-employed ?

Answer: Buying your first home is stressful enough without feeling that you are being penalised for being self-employed. At first glance it does feel

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