Regularity
A recurring monthly element can present differently from a one-off annual award or an unusually strong recent period.
Employment & income · Less straightforward does not mean impossible
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.
bonusovertimecommissionvariable incomesales
What this means
Evidence pattern matters
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.
0%Preparation checklistNot an eligibility score
What may matter
Break the problem into the parts a lender may actually assess.
History
Previous payslips, P60s or employer evidence can help show whether the variable income is established rather than exceptional.
Base salary versus extra income
Plan affordability both with and without the full variable amount so you understand how dependent the purchase is on that income being accepted.
Prepare before applying
Turn the uncertainty into a checklist.
Mark an item when you have genuinely organised it. Progress is stored on this device and feeds into My Money Plan.
Gather a longer run of payslips
Keep enough history to show the pattern rather than selecting only the strongest month.
Keep annual income evidence available
P60s or equivalent annual evidence can help show how variable pay compares year to year.
Separate base and variable pay
Know exactly how much of the income is guaranteed, contractual or performance-based.
Stress-test without all variable income
Check whether the mortgage still feels manageable if bonuses or overtime reduce.
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Suggested next action
Gather a longer run of payslipsKeep enough history to show the pattern rather than selecting only the strongest month.
Worth watching
Avoid creating a second problem while solving the first.
- Do not budget a mortgage solely around the best recent commission month.
- Different lenders can use different proportions or averaging methods.
- Recent changes to pay structure can make older history less representative.
Related circumstances
Check whether another part of the same case also matters.
Mortgage cases are often combinations rather than single labels. These are nearby situations based on shared themes and category, not lender eligibility matches.
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.
Review this circumstance →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.
Review this circumstance →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.
Review this circumstance →Explore another situation
Mortgage problems are often combinations, not single labels.
If more than one issue applies, review each relevant page and keep the facts consistent across them. Started checklists will reappear at the top of the Circumstances Hub and inside My Money Plan.