What documents are required for a UK farming finance application?

Summary: Preparing the right documents speeds up farming finance decisions. Lenders typically want identity and address checks, company accounts and tax returns, recent bank statements, proof of land ownership or tenancy, asset lists (machinery, livestock), subsidy evidence (BPS/RPA), insurance certificates and a clear cashflow forecast or business plan. If you’re missing items, specialist agricultural brokers and lenders can often accept alternatives — start with a free eligibility check to see who’s suitable for your farm’s needs.

Minimum loan size we typically help arrange: from £10,000 upwards.

UK Business Loans is an introducer — we don’t lend or give financial advice. Submitting an enquiry is free and won’t affect your credit score. We’ll match your details with lenders and brokers who may contact you.

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Why the right documents matter

Farming is seasonal, asset-heavy and often reliant on government payments and tenancy arrangements. Lenders and brokers need a full picture to assess repayment capacity, security and seasonal risk. Having a complete, well-ordered document pack reduces delays, avoids multiple information requests and increases your chance of a rapid offer.

If your paperwork is incomplete, tell us anyway — we can match you with lenders who specialise in agriculture and accept alternative evidence. Free Eligibility Check

At-a-glance checklist: essential documents

Quick checklist for most farming finance applications (use as starting point):

• Proof of identity for directors/partners — passport or UK driving licence.
• Proof of address (recent utility bill or bank statement, within 3 months).
• Company accounts — last 2–3 years statutory accounts where available.
• Corporation tax returns (CT600) and Tax computations for companies; self-assessment if relevant for partners.
• Business bank statements — typically 3–12 months (more for seasonal businesses).
• Management accounts (if year-end accounts are not recent) and VAT returns if registered.
• Proof of land ownership / title deeds or tenancy agreements and rent schedules.
• Asset inventory with values — tractors, combine harvesters, slurry stores, buildings, livestock.
• Invoices or quotations for items to be financed (asset finance) or development costs.
• Cashflow forecast / business plan (12 months minimum) showing seasonal peaks and subsidy timings.
• RPA / subsidy statements (Basic Payment Scheme, Countryside Stewardship payments etc.).
• Insurance certificates — public liability, property, crop/livestock as applicable.

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Documents by business structure (partnerships & limited companies)

Lenders assess the legal structure to understand liability, tax treatment and who signs security. Below are common requirements by structure — note we do not arrange sole trader or profession-specific loans.

Partnerships (farming partnerships)

• Partnership agreement (if in place) and partnership UTR details.
• Partnership tax returns and SA800 schedules (normally last 2–3 years).
• Personal identification for named partners and recent personal bank statements if partner guarantees are required.
• Management accounts where statutory returns lag seasonal trading.

Limited companies

• Company registration number and confirmation of directors from Companies House.
• Statutory accounts for the company for the last 2–3 years (audited or unaudited).
• CT600 corporation tax returns and tax computations.
• Director information: ID, proof of address, director’s loan account statements (if relevant).
• Management accounts and bank statements for company accounts (3–12 months).
• Articles of association and board minutes for significant borrowing approvals, if requested.

Recently formed companies: many agricultural lenders will accept management accounts, a clear business plan and cashflow projections. Free Eligibility Check

Documents by loan type

Different products require different supporting evidence. Below are common document sets by loan type:

Asset finance (tractors, combines, machinery)

• Supplier invoice or formal quotation.
• Proof of VAT status (are you VAT registered?) and VAT treatment details.
• Details of any trade-in assets and title documents.
• Machine age, hours used and recent service records (for used equipment).
• Business bank statements and accounts to show ability to meet repayments.

Agricultural mortgages / land & property finance

• Title deeds or solicitor’s title report, HM Land Registry entries.
• OS map showing land parcel(s) and current use.
• Tenancy agreements or lease terms if land is let or rented.
• Valuation reports and environmental or planning restrictions, if relevant.

Working capital & seasonal cashflow loans

• Recent sales and purchase invoices.
• 12-month cashflow forecast showing seasonal peaks and troughs and timing of subsidies.
• Stock and inventory lists (grain stores, feed, livestock) and estimated values.

Invoice finance & crop receivables

• Copies of invoices or contracts with buyers (e.g. grain merchants).
• Debtor aged listings and typical payment terms.

Bridging & development finance

• Planning permissions, contractor quotes, cost breakdowns and projected timescales.
• Exit strategy documents showing how the bridging finance will be repaid.

Farming-specific records lenders often require

These items are common on farm lending files and materially affect risk and valuation:

• RPA statements and BPS or other subsidy award letters — lenders treat confirmed subsidy receipts as cashflow support.
• Herd/flock records, TB testing certificates and movement logs where livestock feature in valuation.
• Crop stocks and store valuations (grain, silage) with recent market prices used to value inventory.
• Environmental stewardship or cross-compliance agreements, NVZ designation and any grant-funded obligations.
• Farming tenancy agreements, farm business tenancies and associated rent review schedules.

For more on the lending products tailored to farms, see our sector page on farming loans.

Identification, AML & KYC

Lenders must conduct Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering (AML) checks. Typical acceptable documents:

• Photo ID: passport or driving licence for every director/partner named on the application.
• Proof of address: recent utility bill, council tax bill or bank statement (within last 3 months).
• Company verification: Companies House printouts or official registry extracts.
• Beneficial ownership: details of anyone owning >25% of the business.

Submitting an enquiry to UK Business Loans will not automatically trigger a credit search — lenders may carry out checks later if you decide to proceed. Get Started Free Eligibility Check

How to prepare your farm finance pack — step-by-step

1. Gather ID & proof of address documents for authorised signatories.
2. Export recent statutory accounts and bank statements (PDFs are best).
3. Compile asset inventory (make, model, age, value) and recent valuations if available.
4. Obtain supplier quotes or invoices for items you plan to buy or refinance.
5. Prepare a concise business plan and a 12-month cashflow forecast highlighting seasonality and subsidy dates.
6. Scan and label documents clearly — lenders appreciate a single zipped pack or secure link.

Time-savers: use your accountant to produce a short covering letter, or export reports from cloud accounting (Xero/Sage). A complete pack often shortens lender response times from days to hours. Free Eligibility Check

What to do if you don’t have everything

Missing year-end accounts, delayed subsidy statements or recent asset valuations aren’t always deal-breakers. Specialist agricultural brokers can accept alternatives such as:

• Latest management accounts and an accountant’s reference.
• Conditional offers tied to future subsidy payments or staged lending facilities.
• Short-term bridging solutions while you obtain missing paperwork.

Tell us what you do have — we’ll match you with lenders or brokers experienced in agricultural cases. Get Quote Now

Common lender questions & why they ask them

• How stable is your income? — answered by accounts, bank statements and subsidy history.
• What security can you offer? — evidenced by title deeds, asset ownership docs and valuations.
• When are your seasonal peaks? — shown by cashflow forecast and sales invoices.
• Any environmental or tenancy restrictions? — tenancy agreements and stewardship paperwork reveal encumbrances.

Mini case study

A dairy partnership sought £150,000 to fund slurry store construction and upgrade herd housing. They provided two years’ accounts, 12 months of bank statements, RPA subsidy history and contractor quotes. UK Business Loans matched them with a broker who secured a staged development facility — lender approval within two weeks and funds released in stages on completion milestones.

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FAQs

Will applying through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?

No. Submitting an enquiry does not perform a credit search. Lenders may perform checks later if you progress.

What if my farm is newly formed and I don’t have full accounts?

Many agricultural lenders accept management accounts, an accountant’s reference and a 12–24 month cashflow forecast. We can match you with brokers who specialise in new farms.

Are subsidies counted as income by lenders?

Yes — confirmed RPA/BPS payments and long-term stewardship payments are often considered when assessing cashflow, but lenders may require historic evidence of receipt.

How long do lenders typically take to respond?

If your document pack is complete, many lenders respond within days; specialist assessments (land valuations, environmental checks) can add time.

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Summary & next steps

Get your documents ready: ID & address proofs, recent company/partnership accounts, bank statements, asset lists, subsidy evidence and a clear cashflow forecast. Even if you’re missing some items, specialist brokers and lenders exist for farming businesses. Submit a quick enquiry and we’ll match you to the lenders or brokers best placed to help.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

About UK Business Loans

UK Business Loans connects farming and agricultural businesses with lenders and brokers who specialise in farm finance. We act as an introducer — our service is free for business owners and designed to save time and find the most suitable finance partners. We work with a wide panel of lenders and brokers experienced in agricultural lending.

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1) Is submitting an enquiry an application or a credit search?
No — the enquiry form is just that (not an application) and does not perform a credit search; it simply shares your details so UK Business Loans can match you with suitable lenders or brokers who may carry out checks later if you proceed.

2) Is UK Business Loans a lender and does it cost to use the service?
No — we are an introducer (not a lender), our service is free for UK businesses, and we connect you only with approved, FCA-regulated brokers and lenders.

3) Will submitting an enquiry affect my credit score?
No — submitting an enquiry will not affect your credit score, although any lender you choose to apply with may carry out credit checks during their application process.

4) What documents are typically required for a farming finance or farm loan application?
Lenders usually request photo ID and proof of address, recent company or partnership accounts and tax returns, business bank statements, proof of land ownership or tenancy, an asset inventory (machinery, livestock), subsidy/RPA statements, insurance certificates, supplier invoices/quotes and a 12‑month+ cashflow forecast or business plan.

5) What is the minimum loan size UK Business Loans can help arrange for farming finance?
We typically help arrange farm and business finance from around £10,000 upwards, with partners offering much larger facilities depending on need.

6) How quickly will I get responses from lenders or brokers after submitting an eligibility check?
You can often expect contact within hours or a few days if your document pack is complete, though specialist checks (land valuations, environmental or tenancy reviews) can extend the timeline.

7) What types of finance are available for agriculture and farming businesses?
Common farm finance options include asset finance for tractors and machinery, agricultural mortgages for land and buildings, seasonal working capital, invoice/crop receivables finance, and bridging or development finance for projects.

8) My farm is newly formed and I don’t have full accounts — what can I provide?
Many agricultural lenders accept management accounts, an accountant’s reference, a realistic 12–24 month cashflow forecast and a clear business plan for recently formed farms.

9) Are government subsidies like BPS/RPA counted as income by lenders?
Yes — confirmed subsidy payments (BPS, stewardship payments etc.) are usually treated as part of cashflow when supported by historic evidence of receipt.

10) How should I prepare a farm finance pack to speed up lender decisions?
Gather and scan photo ID and proof of address, statutory or management accounts, 3–12 months of business bank statements, asset lists and supplier quotes, plus a 12‑month cashflow forecast and label everything into a single secure file or zip for faster review.