Which Lenders Accept Overtime, Bonus & Commission?
Every UK lender treats variable income differently. Some accept 100% of your overtime; others just 50%. On a £40,000 base with £8,000 regular overtime, the wrong lender costs you up to £20,000of borrowing. Here's the full breakdown across 20+ major UK lenders. Last reviewed July 2026.
Quick answer
Nationwide, NatWest and Skipton BS accept 100% of regular overtime, while Halifax, Accord, TSB and Clydesdale use around 60% and HSBC, Barclays and Coventry BS use 50%. Guaranteed bonuses are usually accepted at 100%, discretionary bonuses at 50%–60%. Commission is typically averaged over 2 years at 50%–100% depending on lender. Choosing the right lender can change your borrowing by tens of thousands of pounds.
Original data · our Lender Lottery study
As of July 2026, a Professional, £80,000 could be offered £480,000 by Leeds Building Society but only £356,000 by Metro Bank — a £124,000 (35%) 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.
Overtime — What Each Lender Accepts
Percentage of regular, evidenced overtime counted toward mortgage affordability.
| Lender | Overtime % | Evidence Required |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 100% | 3 months payslips |
| NatWest | 100% | 3 months + P60 |
| Skipton BS | 100% | 3 months payslips |
| Halifax | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| Accord Mortgages | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| TSB | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| Clydesdale | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| Virgin Money | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| Santander | 60% | 3 months payslips |
| Barclays | 50% | 3 months + P60 |
| Coventry BS | 50% | 3 months payslips |
| HSBC | 50% | 3 months + P60 |
| Leeds BS | 50% | 3 months payslips |
| Principality BS | 50% | 3 months payslips |
Published criteria, June 2026. Percentages apply to regular overtime on a standard residential mortgage; irregular or one-off overtime may be treated differently.
Bonus — Guaranteed vs Discretionary
Most lenders split bonus into two categories. Guaranteed (contractual) bonuses are almost universally accepted at 100%. Discretionary bonuses are more varied.
| Lender | Guaranteed | Discretionary | History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Nationwide | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Accord Mortgages | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Clydesdale | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| HSBC | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Santander | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Virgin Money | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Coventry BS | 100% | 50% | 2 years P60 |
| TSB | 100% | 60% | 2 years P60 |
| Barclays | 50% | 50% | 2 years P60 |
| NatWest | 100% | 50% | 2 years P60 |
| Skipton BS | 100% | 50% | 2 years P60 |
| Leeds BS | 100% | 50% | 2 years P60 |
Commission — How Lenders Average It
Commission is almost always averaged, but the window and percentage vary. Regular monthly commission is treated better than lumpy quarterly payments.
| Lender | Commission % | Averaging |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 100% | 2-year average |
| NatWest | 100% | 2-year average |
| Skipton BS | 100% | Latest year |
| Halifax | 60% | Latest year or 2-year avg (higher) |
| Accord Mortgages | 60% | 2-year average |
| Clydesdale | 60% | 2-year average |
| HSBC | 60% | 2-year average |
| TSB | 60% | 2-year average |
| Santander | 60% | 2-year average |
| Virgin Money | 60% | 2-year average |
| Barclays | 50% | 2-year average |
| Coventry BS | 50% | 2-year average |
| Leeds BS | 50% | 2-year average |
Worked Example: £40,000 Base + £8,000 Overtime
A 25-year repayment mortgage, single employed applicant, no debts, 15% deposit.
| Lender | Income Used | Max Lend |
|---|---|---|
| NatWest (100% overtime) | £48,000 | £264,000 |
| Nationwide (100% overtime) | £48,000 | £262,800 |
| Santander (60% overtime) | £44,800 | £245,500 |
| Barclays (50% overtime) | £44,000 | £240,000 |
| HSBC standard (50% overtime) | £44,000 | £237,600 |
The £26,400 gap between NatWest and HSBC is entirely due to how overtime is treated. Same applicant, same application, wildly different outcomes.
Tips to Maximise Variable Income Treatment
- Always ask for a breakdown on your payslip — if your lender can't see the overtime or commission as a separate line, they'll often ignore it.
- Apply when your latest year is at its strongest. Lenders averaging 2 years will use the higher figure if the most recent year beats the average.
- Get your contract amended to make a bonus 'guaranteed' if possible — the jump from 50% to 100% can be worth £20,000+ of borrowing.
- If your overtime varies significantly month-to-month, request a 6-month average employer letter. Some lenders (Clydesdale, Accord) will accept this instead of payslips.
- Choose the lender before you apply. We can show you which lender treats your income mix most favourably before any credit search.
See Which Lender Gives You the Most
Enter your base salary, overtime, bonus and commission. We'll show you each lender's offer side-by-side so you pick the one that counts your income in full.
Check My Affordability
