Yes, starting a new job rarely stops you getting a mortgage. What matters is not how long you have been with your current employer but your continuous employment history, and with a signed contract in hand some lenders will use your new salary from the day you start, or even before.
Key takeaway: The common assumption is that you need to be settled in a role for six or twelve months before a lender will consider you. For many lenders that is simply not the case. If your new job starts within three months and you have a signed contract, some lenders will assess you on the new salary straight away.
[[stats: 3 months = How far ahead of your start date some lenders will consider you | Day one = When your new salary can count, with a signed contract | None = Minimum time in the job some lenders require]]
Timing matters, though. Lenders that use a signed contract usually want your start date to be within about three months, and applying to the wrong lender can mean a decline and a hard search on your credit file. If you have a start date coming up, speak to a mortgage adviser at Quanstrom Financial before you apply anywhere. You can speak to us by phone or video wherever you are in the UK.
Can you get a mortgage with a new job in the UK?
In most cases, yes. UK lenders are not looking for loyalty to one employer, they are looking for evidence that your income is reliable and likely to continue.
A career move usually strengthens that picture rather than weakening it. Someone who has moved from one role straight into a better paid one in the same field is a more reassuring prospect than someone whose income has been flat and interrupted, even though the second person may have been in the same job longer.
Where it gets complicated is timing, and that is what most of this guide is about.
Can you apply before you have started the job?
Often, yes, and this is the part most buyers do not realise is available to them.
Where your new job starts within three months and you have a signed contract confirming the role, the salary and the start date, many lenders will use that new salary from day one rather than waiting for payslips. That can matter enormously if you are moving to a significantly better paid role, because it means you do not have to spend three or six months buying at your old budget before the new income counts.
Lenders that will use a signed contract before your start date include Nationwide, Halifax, Santander, Accord, Skipton, TSB and NatWest. Not every lender does this, and those that do will want the contract to be unambiguous about salary and start date. But the option exists, and knowing which lenders offer it is often the difference between buying now and waiting half a year.
Good to know: This is a genuinely different scenario from an existing employee receiving a pay rise in their current role, even though the two get lumped together in most guides. The evidence a lender wants, and the way the income is assessed, are not the same. See the comparison below.
How long do you need to be in a job to get a mortgage?
With some lenders, no time at all. The criterion that varies most between lenders is not time in your current job. It is your minimum continuous employment history, and the distinction matters.
Continuous employment counts any employment or self-employment, not time served with your present employer. If you moved from one role straight into another with no gap, that history carries across with you. The clock does not reset when you change employer, which is the single most misunderstood point on this topic.
Lenders sit at different points on this. Some require no minimum continuous employment at all, while others want you to have been employed for three, six or twelve months before you apply. The table also shows which of them will use a signed contract before your start date:
[[table: Lender | Minimum continuous employment | Uses a signed contract before your start date ;; Accord | None | Yes ;; Halifax | None | Yes ;; Nationwide | None | Yes ;; TSB | None | Yes ;; Barclays | 3 months | Ask us ;; Principality | 3 months | Ask us ;; NatWest | 6 months | Yes ;; Metro Bank | 6 months | Ask us ;; Skipton | 6 months | Yes ;; Coventry | 12 months | Ask us ;; Santander | Ask us | Yes]]
Criteria correct as at September 2026. Lender criteria in this area change regularly, so please treat this as a general guide rather than a live comparison.
Tip: Accepting a new job is only one part of a lender's decision. Your deposit, credit history and how much you need to borrow matter too, and a declined application leaves a hard search on your credit file that the next lender can see. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial can check which of these lenders is likely to suit your whole case before anything goes in. Get your free new job check or call 01323 364432.
Two things follow from that table. If you have a gap-free work history behind you, most of these lenders will treat you as an established employee whatever your start date. If this is your first job, you have no history to carry across, so you need one of the lenders with no minimum at all, and there are several. Newly qualified doctors starting a foundation post face the same question, plus a fixed-term training contract, and our guide to mortgages for junior doctors explains how lenders treat both.
So the honest answer to how long you need to be employed before getting a mortgage is that it depends on the lender, not on a fixed rule. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial checks the current position with the lender before your application goes in. Our guide to getting a mortgage on probation covers how these minimums interact with a probationary period.
What are the employment requirements for a mortgage?
There is no single set of mortgage employment requirements in the UK. Each lender sets its own, but when you apply with a new job they tend to look at the same four things.
Your continuous employment history. How long you have been in work overall, including previous jobs and any self-employment, measured against the lender's minimum.
Your type of contract. Permanent, fixed-term or zero-hours. A permanent contract opens up the most lenders, but it is not a requirement.
Whether you are on probation. Almost all lenders will consider you during a probationary period, so this is rarely the deciding factor on its own.
How your income is made up and evidenced. Basic salary confirmed in a signed contract can often be used straight away, while overtime, bonus and commission usually need a run of payslips before a lender will count them.
Meeting one lender's requirements and not another's is common. Qualifying for a mortgage with a new job is usually more about finding the lender whose rules fit your situation than about waiting until you tick every box.
Do you need a permanent job to get a mortgage?
No. A permanent contract gives you the widest choice of lenders, but you can get a mortgage without a permanent job. People on fixed-term and zero-hours contracts buy homes too. What changes is which lenders will consider you and how they work out your income.
[[table: Your situation | How lenders typically view it ;; Permanent, past probation | The widest choice of lenders, assessed on your basic salary plus any regular extras ;; Permanent, on probation | Almost all lenders will consider you, subject to their minimum continuous employment ;; Fixed-term contract | Some lenders apply a strict contractor policy, others treat you much like a permanent employee, especially with a history of renewals ;; Zero-hours contract | Earnings are usually averaged over 3, 6 or 12 months, or taken from your latest P60, depending on the lender ;; Self-employed | Most lenders want two years of tax calculations or accounts, though there are exceptions]]
Fixed-term contracts
If your new role is a fixed-term contract rather than a permanent position, that is not a barrier in itself, but it does change which lenders suit you. Some assess fixed-term contractors under a strict contractor policy, while others treat them much as they would a permanent employee, particularly where there is a track record of renewals in the same field.
Zero-hours contracts
Because zero-hours income varies from week to week, lenders average it. Depending on the lender, that might be your last 3, 6 or 12 months of earnings, or simply the figure on your latest P60, and the result can differ considerably from one lender to the next. If your new role is zero-hours, choosing the right lender matters more than usual.
Overtime, bonus and commission in a new role
If a meaningful part of your new package is overtime, bonus or commission rather than basic salary, be aware that lenders treat those very differently from one another, and often need a period of payslips before counting them. Our guide to how much you could borrow breaks down how each income type is assessed.
Do you need a job to get a mortgage at all?
Not necessarily. Lenders need income they can evidence and expect to continue, and that does not have to come from employment. Depending on the lender, pension income, investment income and in some cases certain benefits can be used, either on their own or alongside a salary. If you are moving into self-employment, see our guide to getting a mortgage when you are self-employed, since the requirements are substantially different.
New job or a pay rise in your current role?
These are treated differently, so it is worth being clear which one applies to you.
[[table: | A new job | A pay rise in your current role ;; What you are evidencing | That a new employer has committed to a salary and start date | That your existing employer has increased your pay ;; Typical evidence | A signed contract or formal offer letter stating role, salary and start date | A letter from your employer, an updated contract, or a payslip showing the new figure ;; Timing | Many lenders will use the new salary if you start within three months | Usually treated as a change to existing employment, so often simpler ;; Continuous employment | Carries across from your previous role if there was no gap | Unaffected, since you remain with the same employer ;; Probation | May apply, and lender treatment varies | Usually not relevant]]
Which situation are you in?
[[accordion: I have accepted an offer but have not started yet|If your start date is within about three months and you have a signed contract confirming role, salary and start date, many lenders will assess you on the new salary now. This is worth exploring before you assume you have to wait. ;; I started recently and am on probation|Probation itself is rarely the deciding factor, since almost all lenders will consider applicants inside a probationary period. What varies is the minimum continuous employment history each lender wants. ;; I moved jobs with no gap in between|Your employment history carries across. You have not started from zero, even though you are new to this particular employer, and many lenders will treat you as they would any established employee. ;; This is my first job after education|You have no prior employment history to carry across, so you need one of the lenders with no minimum continuous employment requirement. There are several, and this is the single most useful thing to know in your position. ;; There was a gap between my old job and my new one|A gap does not rule you out, but it narrows which lenders will consider you and they will usually want to understand the reason. Longer gaps generally need more explanation and sometimes a larger deposit. ;; I have gone from employed to self-employed|This is the hardest of these scenarios. Most lenders want two years of self-employed accounts, though there are exceptions depending on your trade and how you invoice. Our self-employed guide covers the routes available.]]
New job mortgage case studies
Two recent cases where the client was assessed on a job they had not yet started. Names have been changed, and these are illustrative examples rather than a guarantee of what any individual will be offered.
[[casestudy2: No job history, a job not yet started, and still bought his first home.|Toby Quanstrom|2 September 2026|Jamie, Eastbourne|Jamie had just finished university and was due to start his first job on 1 October 2026. He came to us with a signed contract from his new employer, but with no employment history and a start date still weeks away, he was unsure whether buying a property was possible at all.|We needed a lender with no minimum employment history that would also accept income from a job that had not yet started.|The mortgage was placed with Nationwide, who accepted the income from Jamie's future role because his signed contract confirmed he was starting within three months of the application date. Jamie has since completed on his new home. ;; A £12,000 pay rise counted before her first payslip.|Will Harrington|6 March 2026|Agnes, Brighton|Agnes wanted to upsize and had just accepted a job at a new company, starting within three months, with a £12,000 increase to her salary. She had planned to wait for three months of payslips from the new role before buying.|Using her signed contract, which confirmed the new salary and the start date, we approached a lender that would assess her on the future income rather than her current pay.|The mortgage was secured with Halifax based on her new salary. Agnes secured the home she wanted and completed in March 2026.]]
[[cta: In a similar position? | Tell us your start date, contract type and salary, and a mortgage adviser at Quanstrom Financial can tell you which lenders may use your new income before you apply anywhere. Speak to us by phone or video wherever you are in the UK. | Get your free new job check]]
Applying for a mortgage with a new job: what will a lender ask for?
[[steps: Your signed contract or offer letter|Stating your job title, salary and start date. The clearer this is, the more lenders will be comfortable using it. ;; Recent payslips|From your current or previous role, usually the last three months, to evidence your employment history rather than the new salary itself. ;; Your P60 or previous employment evidence|Useful for demonstrating continuous employment across your career rather than just your latest role. ;; Bank statements|Typically three months, showing your income arriving and your regular outgoings. ;; Proof of deposit|Where your deposit has come from, whether savings, a gift or the sale of a property.]]
Will starting a new job affect your mortgage application?
It depends on where you are in the process. Changing jobs is rarely a problem in itself, but the timing decides how much it affects your mortgage application.
[[steps: Before you apply|The simplest point to change jobs. You apply on the basis of the new role, using a signed contract if you have not started yet, with a lender whose criteria fit. ;; After you apply, before your offer|Tell your broker straight away. The lender will usually need to reassess the case on your new employment, and occasionally it makes sense to move to a lender better suited to the new job. ;; After completion|Your existing mortgage is not affected by a change of job. Your employment matters again when you next remortgage or borrow more.]]
If a job offer comes up in the middle of a purchase, speak to a mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial before you hand in your notice, so the timing works for both the move and the mortgage. And when your current deal ends, our guide to product transfers and remortgaging explains when a lender will look at your income again.
How much could you borrow?
Once your new salary is being used, the question becomes what that supports. Most lenders work somewhere between 4.5 and 6 times income, with a broad base at the lower end and a smaller pool willing to stretch further.
[[calc:borrowing]]
Tip: These figures assume a lender will use your new salary. Whether one will, and how much of any bonus or overtime it counts, depends on the lender and your contract. Share your signed contract with Quanstrom Financial and an adviser can tell you which lenders may use your new income, and what that could mean for your borrowing. Get your free new job check or call 01323 364432.
New job mortgage approval: why viable cases get declined
The risk with a job change is not that it makes a mortgage impossible. It is that applying to the wrong lender turns a perfectly viable case into a decline, and a declined application leaves a hard search on your credit file that the next lender can see.
Getting an agreement in principle first is the sensible step here, since it uses a soft search and gives you a realistic read on your position before anything is committed. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial will know which lenders accept a signed contract, which have no minimum continuous employment requirement, and which are worth avoiding in your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a mortgage if you have just started a new job?
Yes. Almost all lenders will consider applicants who have recently changed jobs. What varies between lenders is the minimum continuous employment history they require, which counts your whole working history rather than time with your current employer.
Can you get a mortgage before you start a new job?
Often yes. Where the job starts within around three months and you have a signed contract confirming role, salary and start date, many lenders, including Nationwide, Halifax, Santander, Accord, Skipton, TSB and NatWest, will assess you on the new salary before you have started, without waiting for payslips.
How long do you need to be in a job before getting a mortgage?
With some lenders, no time at all. Others want you to have been employed for three, six or twelve months, though that continuous employment history includes previous jobs and self-employment rather than only your current role.
Do you need a permanent job to get a mortgage?
No. A permanent contract gives you the widest choice of lenders, but people on fixed-term and zero-hours contracts can also get mortgages. What changes is which lenders will consider you and how they work out your income.
Can you get a mortgage while on probation?
Yes, in most cases. Almost all lenders will consider applicants during a probationary period, so probation is rarely the deciding factor. What varies is the minimum continuous employment history each lender wants, and our guide to getting a mortgage on probation explains this in more detail.
Do you need a job to get a mortgage?
Not necessarily. Lenders need income they can evidence and expect to continue, and depending on the lender that can include self-employed income, a pension, investment income or certain benefits, as well as a salary.
Will starting a new job affect my mortgage application?
It can, so tell your broker or lender as soon as you know. A lender may want to reassess affordability on the new salary, and in some cases a case that was straightforward with the old employer needs moving to a lender better suited to the new one. Once your mortgage has completed, a change of job does not affect it.
Will a lender use my new higher salary or my old one?
That depends on the lender and on your evidence. With a clear signed contract and a start date within around three months, many lenders will use the new salary. Others will want payslips from the new role first, which means being assessed on your previous income in the meantime.
Is a pay rise treated the same as a new job?
No. A pay rise in your existing role is usually simpler, since your employment is unchanged and you are only evidencing the increase. A new job involves a new employer, potentially a probationary period, and different evidence requirements.
Can you get a mortgage on a fixed-term contract in a new job?
Yes, though it narrows your choice of lender. Some lenders assess fixed-term contractors under a specific contractor policy, while others treat them like permanent employees, particularly where there is a history of renewals in the same field. Our guide to contractor mortgages explains how contract income can be assessed.
Does a gap between jobs stop you getting a mortgage?
Not usually, but it reduces the number of lenders available and they will generally want to understand the reason for the gap. A longer gap may need more explanation, and in some cases a larger deposit.
Should you get an agreement in principle before or after starting a new job?
Either works, and an agreement in principle uses a soft credit search so it will not affect your credit score. Getting one early is useful precisely because it shows you where you stand before you commit to a full application.
Written by Toby Quanstrom CeMAP, Director at Quanstrom Financial, a whole-of-market mortgage broker based in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
This article is for information only and does not constitute personal advice. Lender criteria change regularly, so please get in touch for guidance based on your own circumstances.
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