Yes, in most cases you can. People often ask us, "can I get a mortgage while I'm on maternity leave?", and the answer is usually yes. Rather than your maternity pay, most lenders will work off your pre-maternity pay or your intended return-to-work pay, whichever is lower. There are a few things to be aware of. They usually won't count overtime, monthly bonuses or commission earned in the months before your leave, and they will want confirmation, from you or your employer, of what you will be paid when you go back.
Key takeaway: Maternity leave rarely stops you getting a mortgage. What matters is the lower of your pre-maternity basic pay and the pay you are going back to, confirmed by you or your employer. Lenders will also want to understand your childcare costs once your leave ends.
Can I get a mortgage while I'm on maternity leave?
Maternity leave is temporary, and lenders know it. Rather than looking at the statutory or enhanced maternity pay you are receiving now, most lenders compare two figures: your pre-maternity basic pay and your intended return-to-work pay. They use whichever is lower.
To do that, lenders need confirmation of your intended return to work and what you will be paid when you get there. Depending on the lender, this can come from you or from your employer. If you are going back full time on the same pay, both figures match. If you are going back on reduced hours, your return-to-work pay is lower, so that is the figure used, and it is worth knowing it before you apply.
Depending on the lender, you may also be asked how you will manage the repayments while your income is lower during the rest of your leave, for example from savings or a partner's income.
What income will a lender use on maternity leave?
The biggest surprise for most people is what gets left out. Variable pay earned in the months before your leave usually won't count, even if it made up a large part of your earnings.
| Income type | How lenders typically treat it on maternity leave |
|---|---|
| Basic salary | The lower of your pre-maternity basic salary and your intended return-to-work pay |
| Overtime, monthly bonuses and commission | Usually not counted for the months before your leave |
| Returning on reduced hours | Your return-to-work pay is used, since it is the lower of the two figures |
| Self-employed income | Your latest two years' tax calculations or company accounts, with bank statements from before your leave if needed |
Lender criteria change regularly and vary between lenders, so treat this as a guide to the general approach rather than a fixed rule. Criteria correct as at November 2026.
Example: Someone earning a £45,000 basic salary plus around £6,000 a year in overtime is returning three days a week instead of five. A lender is likely to ignore the overtime and use the reduced salary of £27,000, rather than the £51,000 they were earning before their leave. That difference changes how much they may be able to borrow, so it is worth knowing the number before house hunting.
What if I'm on maternity leave but I'm self-employed?
Being self-employed doesn't change the basic picture, but the evidence looks different. Lenders will typically work from your latest two years' tax calculations if you are a sole trader, or your company accounts if you are a limited company director. Our guide to getting a mortgage when you are self-employed explains how lenders assess each.
Lenders typically request your latest three months of business bank statements to back up your declared income. If you are on maternity leave, those recent statements may show little coming in, so lenders can review your three months of business bank statements from before your maternity leave instead. That keeps a temporary dip from counting against you.
If you run your own limited company, how a lender reads your income can make a bigger difference than the leave itself. Our page on mortgages for limited company directors covers how different lenders assess salary, dividends and company profit, and if your business is newer, see our page on getting a mortgage with one year's accounts.
Speak to a whole-of-market mortgage adviser
Book a free, no-obligation consultation to find out which lenders may suit you while you are on maternity leave.
What do lenders consider when I'm on maternity leave?
Beyond your income, lenders want to understand what your costs will look like once your leave ends. Childcare is often the biggest new expense, and it is assessed like any other regular commitment, so higher childcare costs can reduce how much a lender is willing to offer.
If you won't have childcare costs, lenders will want to understand why your pay won't be affected. Common reasons include family helping with childcare, or both parents working different shifts so the care can be covered between you. Being clear about this at the start helps the application go smoothly.
Good to know: If you are buying with a partner, both incomes and both sets of commitments are assessed together. A partner's steady income can make the lower-income months of your leave much less of a concern for a lender.
Can I remortgage while I'm on maternity leave?
Yes. If your current deal is ending while you are on leave, you have two routes, and they are treated very differently.
A product switch with your existing lender. If you complete a product switch, moving onto a new deal with the lender you already have, there are no credit checks or income checks. Being on maternity leave makes no difference, and nothing about your reduced pay is assessed.
Remortgaging to a new lender. This is a full application, so the same rules apply as for a purchase. The new lender will use the lower of your pre-maternity pay and your intended return-to-work pay, want confirmation of your return to work, and look at your expected childcare costs.
Tip: Compare both routes before your deal ends. A product switch avoids any income assessment while you are on leave, but a new lender may offer a better deal if your return-to-work position supports it. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial can compare both for you, including your existing lender's switch options.
Our remortgage guide explains the wider process, or see our remortgage service page.
Which situation are you in?
The right lender depends on what your return to work looks like. Tap whichever applies to you.
1I'm going back full time on the same pay▾
This is the most straightforward position. Your pre-maternity and return-to-work pay are the same, so most lenders will use that basic salary once your return to work is confirmed, by you or your employer depending on the lender. Remember that overtime, monthly bonuses and commission from before your leave usually won't be counted, so your basic pay is the starting point.
2I'm going back part time or on fewer hours▾
Lenders use the lower of your pre-maternity and return-to-work pay, so your reduced pay is the figure that counts. Working out that figure before you apply gives you a realistic view of your borrowing, and it may change which lenders suit you, since income multiples and affordability models vary between them.
3I'm self-employed or a company director▾
Lenders will typically use your latest two years' tax calculations or company accounts. Where they ask for recent business bank statements, they can review the three months before your maternity leave started instead, so a quieter period while you are off doesn't count against you.
4I'm remortgaging while on maternity leave▾
If you complete a product switch with your existing lender, there are no credit checks or income checks, so your maternity leave doesn't come into it. Moving to a new lender is a full application, assessed in the same way as a purchase. See the remortgage section above for the detail.
5We're moving home to make room for the family▾
Moving home on maternity leave works in the same way as any purchase, with the lender assessing your return-to-work pay and childcare costs. If you have a mortgage already, you may be able to take your current deal with you, which can matter if you are still within an early repayment charge period.
If you are moving home, our guide to porting your mortgage covers taking your current deal with you.
How much could I borrow on maternity leave?
Once a lender is happy with your return-to-work position, your application is assessed in much the same way as anyone else's, using the income they accept, your commitments and their own income multiple. Put in your return-to-work pay below, not your maternity pay, to get an indication.
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Our guide to how much you could borrow for a mortgage in 2026 explains how lenders treat different income types in more detail.
When is the best time to apply?
There is no single right time, and both routes are common. Some people apply before their leave starts, while full payslips are still coming in, which can make the paperwork simpler. Others apply during their leave, which works well once the return-to-work confirmation is lined up. Either way, it helps to know your return-to-work pay and your expected childcare costs before you start.
Protecting your income as your family grows
A new baby is often the moment people think about what would happen to the mortgage if their income stopped. Life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection each do a different job, and our guide to life insurance, critical illness and income protection explains how each type of cover works.
How Quanstrom Financial can help
Lenders take noticeably different approaches to maternity leave: what evidence they want, which income they count and how they treat childcare. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial compares 90+ lenders to find the ones whose criteria fit your return-to-work plans, so you apply to the right lender first time. Our team is based in Eastbourne and works with families across East Sussex and the rest of the UK by phone and video.
If you are on maternity leave, or about to start it, book a free consultation through our contact page and we will talk you through your options.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a mortgage on maternity leave?
In most cases, yes. Being on maternity leave does not rule you out of a mortgage. Rather than your maternity pay, most lenders will use your pre-maternity pay or your intended return-to-work pay, whichever is lower, subject to their criteria. They will usually want confirmation of what you will earn when you go back.
Do lenders use my maternity pay or my normal salary?
Neither, exactly. Most lenders use your pre-maternity basic pay or your intended return-to-work pay, whichever is lower, rather than your statutory or enhanced maternity pay. Overtime, monthly bonuses and commission earned in the months before your leave usually will not be counted, so basic pay is normally the starting point.
Do I need a letter from my employer to get a mortgage on maternity leave?
Lenders will want confirmation of your intended return-to-work date and pay. Depending on the lender, this can come from you or from your employer, and an employer's letter or reference is a common way of providing it. A mortgage broker at Quanstrom Financial can tell you what a particular lender will accept before you apply.
Can I remortgage while on maternity leave?
Usually, yes. If you complete a product switch, moving to a new deal with your existing lender, there are no credit checks or income checks, so being on maternity leave makes no difference. Moving to a new lender is a full application, so the same rules apply as for a purchase: the lower of your pre-maternity and return-to-work pay, confirmation of your return to work and your expected childcare costs.
What if I am going back to work part time after maternity leave?
Lenders use the lower of your pre-maternity pay and your intended return-to-work pay, so if you are going back on fewer hours, your reduced pay is the figure they will use. It is worth working out that number before you apply, since your borrowing will be based on it, and a lower figure may change which lenders suit you best.
Can I get a mortgage on maternity leave if I am self-employed?
Yes, in many cases. Lenders will typically work from your latest two years' tax calculations if you are a sole trader, or your company accounts if you are a limited company director. They usually ask for your latest three months of business bank statements, but if you are on maternity leave, lenders can review the three months before your leave started instead.
Will childcare costs affect how much I can borrow?
They can. Lenders want to understand your expected costs once your leave ends, and childcare is often one of the largest. If you will not be paying for childcare, lenders will want to know why, for example because family will help or because you and your partner will work different shifts and share the care between you.
Should I tell a lender I am pregnant or on maternity leave?
Yes. Your employment and income position forms part of your application, and being open about maternity leave from the start avoids problems at underwriting or the offer stage. Lenders deal with maternity leave regularly, so disclosing it is rarely an obstacle in itself.
Does paternity or shared parental leave work the same way?
Broadly, yes. The same principles tend to apply to anyone taking extended family leave: lenders generally look at your usual pay, want confirmation of your return to work, and consider your childcare costs. Criteria do vary between lenders, so it is worth checking how a particular lender treats your type of leave before applying.
Written by Toby Quanstrom CeMAP, Director at Quanstrom Financial, a whole of market mortgage broker based in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
This article is general information only and does not constitute personal advice. Lender criteria change regularly and what is available to you depends on your own circumstances, so please speak to a qualified adviser before making a decision.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
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