Which Lenders Accept Agency & Temp Workers?
Agency and temporary work is no barrier to a mortgage with the right lender. Most look for around 12 months of continuous work in the same field — supply teachers, locums, and umbrella or PAYE agency staff all qualify. Here's the lender list and how the income is assessed. Last reviewed July 2026.
Quick answer
Most UK lenders accept agency and temporary worker income where there's around 12 months of continuous work in the same line, with income averaged from recent payslips. Moving between agencies is fine; what matters is continuity, not one employer. Umbrella and PAYE agency staff qualify, and day-rate agency contractors may also use the more generous contractor method.
Original data · our Lender Lottery study
As of July 2026, a Nurse, £35,000 basic plus shift enhancements could be offered £269,500 by Lloyds Bank but only £172,865 by Principality Building Society — a £96,635 (56%) swing based purely on which lender they ask, with no change to income, deposit or circumstances.
Source: the Lender Lottery study — original real-engine data across UK residential lenders.
What lenders look for in agency income
The assessment centres on continuity, not a permanent contract. Underwriters typically check:
- A track record of roughly 12 months' continuous agency or temporary work, usually in the same field.
- Recent payslips (3–12 months) to average into an annual income figure.
- That gaps between assignments are short and reasonable, or briefly explained.
- Ideally a current, ongoing assignment at the point of application.
If you work on a day rate through an agency or umbrella, ask to be considered under the contractor day-rate method as well — it annualises your rate and can produce a higher figure.
Lenders that accept agency & temporary income
57 UK lenders on our panel consider agency, temporary and other variable-hours income on a continuous-employment basis. Criteria as published, 2026; always indicative — check your own case.
| Lender | Type | Details | Min deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Ireland | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Barclays | High-street | Up to 95% LTV | 5% |
| Clydesdale Bank | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Halifax | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| HSBC | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Nationwide | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| NatWest | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Santander | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| The Co-operative Bank | High-street | Up to 95% LTV | 5% |
| TSB | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Virgin Money | High-street | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Accord Mortgages | Building society | Up to 99% LTV, min 12 months history | 1% |
| Bath Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 36 months history | 5% |
| Beverley Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Buckinghamshire Building Society | Building society | Up to 90% LTV, min 12 months history | 10% |
| Chorley Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Coventry Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Cumberland Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Darlington Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV (80% for London/M25 remortgage) | 5% |
| Dudley Building Society | Building society | Up to 90% LTV | 10% |
| Earl Shilton Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Ecology Building Society | Building society | Green-gated lending only — every product requires the property to meet ecological/EPC criteria; LTV varies by product (Eco Home/Green Renovation 80%, Renovation 90%, Shared Ownership 95% of share) | 20% |
| Family Building Society | Building society | Up to 80% LTV, min 24 months history | 20% |
| Hanley Economic Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Harpenden BS | Building society | Up to 80% LTV, min 24 months history | 20% |
| Hinckley & Rugby Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Leek Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Loughborough Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 6 months history | 5% |
| Mansfield Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Market Harborough Building Society | Building society | Up to 80% LTV, min 12 months history | 20% |
| Marsden Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV | 5% |
| Monmouthshire Building Society | Building society | Temporarily paused — not accepting new residential applications while they upgrade their systems. Previously: Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Newcastle Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Nottingham Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Principality Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Saffron Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Skipton Building Society | Building society | Up to 100% LTV, min 12 months history | 0% |
| Stafford Railway Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Suffolk Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 18 months history | 5% |
| Teachers Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| The Melton Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV (interest-only 60%, London 60%) | 5% |
| Tipton & Coseley Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Vernon Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| West Bromwich Building Society | Building society | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Atom Bank | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history | 5% |
| Bluestone Mortgages | Specialist | Up to 90% LTV, min 12 months history | 10% |
| Central Trust | Specialist | Remortgage and capital-raising only — does not currently lend on property purchases | 100% |
| Generation Home | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Hodge Bank | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV | 5% |
| Kensington Mortgages | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV | 5% |
| LendInvest | Specialist | Up to 90% LTV, min 12 months history | 10% |
| Norton Home Loans | Specialist | Up to 80% LTV, min 2 months history | 20% |
| Pepper Money | Specialist | Up to 85% LTV (75% above £750k), zero-hours accepted if permanent and 2+ years with the same employer | 15% |
| Perenna | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history | 5% |
| Precise Mortgages | Specialist | Up to 95% LTV, min 6 months history | 5% |
| Together | Specialist | Up to 75% LTV, zero-hours explicitly accepted | 25% |
| West One Loans | Specialist | Up to 97.5% LTV, min 12 months history | 2.5% |
The history shown is each lender's minimum for variable-hours income on a standard residential mortgage; continuity of work matters more than staying with one agency.
Worked example: supply teacher on agency payslips
£32,000 averaged agency income over 14 months, single applicant, 25-year term, 10% deposit.
| Lender approach | Income used | Indicative max lend |
|---|---|---|
| 100% of 12-month average | £32,000 | £144,000 |
| 75% weighting on average | £24,000 | £108,000 |
| Requires 24 months — declines | — | £0 |
The gap between a lender that accepts 12 months at 100% and one that needs 24 months is the difference between approval and decline. Figures are illustrative — run yours for each lender's real number.
Tips for agency & temp applications
- Keep evidence of continuous work — a run of payslips or an agency letter confirming ongoing assignments carries real weight.
- Try to apply while mid-assignment; a current contract reassures the underwriter the income continues.
- Staying in the same field matters more than staying with one agency — don't worry about having switched agencies.
- If you're on a day rate, check the contractor method too — it can annualise your rate for a higher figure.
- Compare lenders first — some accept 12 months at full value while others want 24; the right choice can be approval vs decline.
See which lender accepts your agency income
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