Zero-Hours Contract Mortgage
How We Helped a First-Time Buyer Get Their Mortgage Offer in Just Three Hours
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
A fee of up to £495 per mortgage may be charged depending on individual circumstances.
The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change.
29th October 2026
Buying your first home can feel daunting at the best of times, but it can feel even more complicated when your income doesn't fit neatly into a standard employed salary.
This client came to me looking to buy their first home. She's the sister of a friend of mine, so I was really pleased to be able to help her get onto the property ladder.
She was in a strong position. She had built up a good amount of savings and also had some help from her Dad towards the deposit.
The main thing we needed to work through was her income.
Self-employed or employed?
When we first spoke, the client described herself as self-employed.
Once we were ready to proceed and I started looking through her income documents, I realised her situation was slightly different.
She actually had two zero-hours contracts running alongside each other, as well as a smaller amount of self-employed income from her own work.
She's a graphic designer working with magazines and had been working this way for several years.
It's quite understandable that she thought of herself as self-employed. Her work isn't the traditional Monday-to-Friday job with a guaranteed salary each month, and she's responsible for finding and maintaining much of her own work.
From a mortgage point of view, though, it was important that we separated the different sources of income correctly.
Can you get a mortgage on a zero-hours contract?
Yes, you can.
Having a zero-hours contract doesn't automatically stop you from getting a mortgage.
The important thing is finding a lender whose criteria fit the way you work and being able to demonstrate a suitable history of income.
Lenders can approach zero-hours contracts differently. Depending on the lender and your circumstances, they may want to see a history of working on this basis and evidence showing that the income is sustainable.
In this case, my client had been working under zero-hours arrangements for several years, which gave us a good track record to work with.
For both employed roles, I gathered her P60s and payslips so we could clearly demonstrate her earnings.
The lender we selected was able to look at her latest three payslips, annualise the income and compare this against her P60 to make sure her earnings were consistent.
They required a history of more than 12 months working on a zero-hours basis, although this didn't necessarily have to be with exactly the same employer throughout that period.
My client comfortably met that requirement.
For the self-employed part of her earnings, we also had her tax calculations and tax year overviews covering the previous two years.
This meant we could provide evidence for all the different parts of her income.
A great position for a first-time buyer
Away from the income, this was a lovely straightforward first-time buyer case.
She was buying a relatively modern flat that had been built within the last ten years, with a long lease and sensible ground rent and service charges.
She also had a substantial deposit made up of her own savings alongside a gifted contribution from her Dad.
Her credit profile was good, with only a small credit card in the background.
Once we'd established how the different elements of her income could be treated, we were in a really strong position.
Why we chose a five-year fixed rate
One of the things the client really wanted from her first mortgage was certainty.
With income that can vary from month to month, knowing exactly how much the mortgage payment will be can make budgeting considerably easier.
We discussed the different options and ultimately decided that a five-year fixed-rate mortgage suited her plans.
She expects to be in the property for several years, so she wasn't particularly concerned about having to review her mortgage again in two years' time.
Fixing for five years means she knows what interest rate she'll be paying during the fixed period, subject to the terms of the mortgage.
For someone whose working hours and income can fluctuate, that security was particularly valuable. She can concentrate on her work and enjoying her first home without worrying about every movement in interest rates.
There are potential downsides to fixing for longer, of course. If mortgage rates fall during that period, she won't automatically benefit from the lower rates, and early repayment charges may apply if she wants to repay or change the mortgage before the end of the fixed period.
We took those points into account when deciding that a five-year fix was suitable for her.
Mortgage offer in three hours!
This was probably my favourite part of the case.
Once I'd identified a lender that was comfortable with her combination of zero-hours and self-employed income, we submitted the full mortgage application.
The lender reviewed her income using her latest three payslips and P60 and verified it straight away.
They were also able to carry out an automated valuation on the flat, rather than having to wait for a physical valuation to take place.
We received the mortgage offer within three hours of submitting the application.
For a first-time buyer who initially thought their employment situation might make getting a mortgage difficult, it was a fantastic result.
It also shows why understanding a lender's criteria before submitting an application can be so useful.
Are you on a zero-hours contract and looking for a mortgage?
If you're paid through a zero-hours contract, don't assume that you won't be able to get a mortgage.
If you have an established history of working this way, particularly 12 months or more, there may be lenders willing to consider your income.
The exact evidence required will depend on the lender and your individual circumstances. Payslips, P60s and evidence of your employment history can all become important when assessing how much of your income a lender is prepared to use.
You may also have a mixture of income, as this client did. Zero-hours employment alongside freelance or self-employed earnings doesn't necessarily prevent you from getting a mortgage, but finding a lender that is comfortable with the overall picture becomes particularly important.
Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving home or remortgaging, if you're working on a zero-hours contract and you're not sure how lenders will assess your income, speak to Bristol Rose Mortgages.
We can look at how you're paid, how long you've been working that way and the evidence you have available before working out which lenders are likely to suit your circumstances.
Important information
Mortgage eligibility and the amount you can borrow will depend on your individual circumstances and the lender's criteria. Having 12 months' history on a zero-hours contract does not guarantee that a mortgage will be available.
A fixed-rate mortgage provides certainty over the interest rate during the fixed period. If interest rates fall during that time, you will not automatically benefit from the reduction, and early repayment charges may apply if you repay or change the mortgage during the fixed-rate period.
Gifted deposits are also subject to individual lender criteria and supporting evidence may be required.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.