Not a lender decision
The pages explain common considerations. They cannot tell you whether a particular lender will approve a case.
Unusual circumstances · Start with the problem
A complicated situation is not the same thing as a dead end.
Search the circumstance you are worried about. We will show what may matter, what you can organise before applying and when a specialist sense-check could save unnecessary applications.
15 starting situationsNo eligibility scoreNo enquiry required
The principle
Diagnose the issue before choosing the lender.
Mortgage criteria can differ materially. The hub is designed to help you prepare the facts and avoid turning one complication into a trail of speculative applications.
- 1Find the situation
- 2Prepare the evidence
- 3Use the relevant tools
- 4Get specialist help if useful
Showing 15 of 15 situations
Employment & incomeOften worth exploring
New job / probation
Can I get a mortgage if I have just started a new job or I am still in probation?
A recent job change does not automatically rule out a mortgage. The key question is usually how a lender treats the new employment, income evidence and any gap or change in occupation.
Check my position →Employment & incomeCriteria vary significantly
Self-employed / one year
Can I get a mortgage with only one year of self-employed accounts?
A shorter trading history can narrow the routes available, but it is not the same as an automatic decline. The quality and consistency of the evidence becomes especially important.
Check my position →Employment & incomeEvidence depends on your structure
Contractor / freelancer
What financials and evidence do contractors or freelancers need for a mortgage?
Contractor and freelance income can be assessed differently depending on whether you are PAYE, umbrella, a sole trader or operating through a limited company. Build one consistent income story across the contract, financial records, tax evidence and bank activity before relying on a headline day rate.
Check my position →Employment & incomeEvidence pattern matters
Bonus / overtime / commission
Will a lender count my bonus, overtime or commission?
Variable income is not always ignored, but the amount a lender is prepared to use can depend on history, regularity and evidence. Build the pattern before relying on the full figure.
Check my position →Credit & commitmentsDetail matters more than the label
Defaults / CCJs
Can I get a mortgage with defaults, CCJs or other adverse credit?
Adverse credit can change lender choice, pricing, deposit requirements or timing, but the label alone is not enough to understand the position. Dates, amounts, status and the wider credit history matter.
Check my position →Credit & commitmentsDiagnose before reapplying
Recent mortgage decline
What should I do after a mortgage application has been declined?
A decline is information, not a strategy. Before applying elsewhere, work out whether the issue was affordability, credit, evidence, property, policy or simply that particular lender's criteria.
Check my position →ResidencyLender policy varies
Visa / limited leave
Can I get a UK mortgage if I am on a visa or have limited leave to remain?
Immigration status can affect lender criteria, but there is no single rule that describes every visa holder. Residency history, visa type, time remaining, deposit and wider circumstances can all matter.
Check my position →Age & termRetirement income becomes part of affordability
Mortgage into retirement
Can a mortgage run beyond retirement age?
A mortgage extending beyond your planned retirement age is not automatically impossible. The key questions are the term, the lender's criteria, the income expected after work reduces or stops, and whether the future housing and repayment plan remains credible.
Check my position →PropertyProperty-specific review needed
Unusual property
Can I get a mortgage on a property above a shop or with non-standard construction?
A borrower can be financially strong while the property itself limits lender appetite. Construction, location, commercial neighbours, title, lease and resale considerations can all matter independently of personal affordability.
Check my position →Deposit & fundsUsually an evidence question
Gifted deposit
Can I use a gifted deposit for a mortgage?
Gifted deposits are common, but the relationship to the donor, source of funds, whether repayment is expected and the lender or conveyancer's evidence requirements all need to be clear.
Check my position →Credit & commitmentsAffordability needs context
Existing debt / loans
Can I get a mortgage if I already have loans, credit cards or other debt?
Existing debt does not automatically prevent a mortgage, but monthly commitments and outstanding balances can affect affordability and the resilience of the household budget.
Check my position →Employment & incomeShow the post-leave position clearly
Parental leave / return to work
What return-to-work evidence might I need for a mortgage after maternity or parental leave?
Temporary maternity, paternity or parental leave does not automatically define the longer-term income position. A mortgage review may need a clear picture of current leave income, the agreed return date, hours and pay, plus childcare and other post-return household costs.
Check my position →Employment & incomeIncome history matters
Zero-hours / irregular PAYE
Can I get a mortgage with a zero-hours contract or irregular PAYE income?
Irregular hours do not automatically make income unusable, but the pattern, history and evidence usually matter more than one strong recent payslip. Build a realistic average and make the employment story clear before applying.
Check my position →Credit & commitmentsSpecialist criteria likely
IVA / DMP history
Can I get a mortgage after an IVA, DMP or other formal debt plan?
A past or current debt arrangement can materially affect mortgage routes, but the useful detail is the type of arrangement, dates, whether it has completed and what the credit record has looked like since.
Check my position →Employment & incomeCriteria and currency treatment vary
Foreign / overseas income
Can I get a UK mortgage if some or all of my income is paid overseas or in a foreign currency?
Overseas or foreign-currency income can create additional lender, evidence and exchange-rate considerations. The first step is to make the source, currency, tax position and payment history clear rather than converting one month into a permanent sterling figure.
Check my position →Evidence before applications
Where possible, make the income, credit, deposit or property story clear before adding new credit searches.
Specialist help stays optional
If criteria matching becomes the difficult part, take the prepared context to an appropriate mortgage professional rather than starting from zero.
Not sure which circumstance is the real issue?
Use the whole-finance check-up to step back and look across borrowing, income, property, protection and other financial priorities.