Which Lenders Accept Overtime, Bonus & Commission?
Every UK lender treats variable income differently. Some count 100% of your overtime; others just 50%. On a £40,000 base with £8,000 regular overtime and the same 4.5× income multiple, the difference between lenders can be up to £18,000 of borrowing. Here's the full breakdown across the 75 lenders whose published criteria we track. Last reviewed October 2026.
Quick answer
22 of the 75 lenders whose criteria we track count 100% of regular overtime, including Barclays, Santander and Skipton. Halifax, HSBC and TSB use 60%, and Coventry BS, Bath BS and Beverley BS use 50%. Bonus and commission vary just as much, and several lenders count a guaranteed bonus in full but only part of a discretionary one. Where a lender publishes no figure, our table says so rather than guessing. Choosing the right lender can change your borrowing by thousands of pounds.
Original data · our Lender Lottery study
In our 29 August 2026 run, for a Professional, £80,000, our calculator estimated a maximum of £516,147 at Hodge Bank but only £292,652 at Dudley Building Society, a £223,495 (76%) difference based purely on each lender's published criteria, with no change to income, deposit or circumstances. These are estimates, not offers. Lenders have raised rates since, so today's figures may be lower.
Source: original data from our affordability engine across UK residential lenders.
What Each Lender Counts
The share of regular, evidenced overtime, bonus and commission each lender counts toward mortgage affordability, with its history and evidence rules where it publishes them.
| Lender | Overtime | Bonus | Commission | History and conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accord | 60% | 60% | 60% | Counted only up to the level of your basic pay |
| AIB (Northern Ireland only) | 100% | 100% | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Aldermore | 100% | 75% | 75% | Overtime: average of the last 3 months, annualised |
| Atom Bank | 70% | 70% | 70% | Not published |
| Bank of Ireland | Not published | 50% | 50% | Bonus and commission up to 100% with a sustainable track record |
| Barclays | 100% | 50% | 100% | Overtime and commission must appear on at least 1 of your last 3 payslips, a monthly bonus on all 3. Counting more than 50% needs your P60; an annual bonus needs 2 years' evidence |
| Bath BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Beverley BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Bluestone | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Buckinghamshire BS | 100% | 50% | 100% | Not published |
| Cambridge BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Central Trust | Case by case | Case by case | Case by case | Not published |
| Chorley BS | 75% | 100% | 100% | Overtime: 3-month average. Bonus and commission: 2-year average, capped at 75% if the latest year fell |
| Co-operative Bank | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Coutts | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Coventry BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Annual bonus needs 2 years' evidence and uses the lower of the 2-year average and the latest year |
| Cumberland BS | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Cynergy | Case by case | 100% | Case by case | Not published |
| Darlington BS | 100% | 75% | 75% | Not published |
| Dudley BS | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Earl Shilton BS | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| Ecology BS | 100% | 50% | 100% | Not published |
| Family BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | More can be counted by referral if consistently high |
| Foundation | 50%, case by case | 100% | 100% | Overtime: latest 3 months' payslips. Regular bonus or commission: averaged over 6 months if paid monthly, up to 2 years if paid annually |
| Furness BS | 75% | 75% | 75% | Not published |
| Gatehouse | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Generation Home | 75% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Halifax | 60% | 60% | 60% | Overtime and monthly bonus or commission: averaged over the latest 3 months' payslips. Quarterly or annual bonus and commission: the lower of the last 12 months and the 2-year average, with 2 years of payslips |
| Hanley BS | 100% | 100% | 100% | Regular pay: 100% after 2 years with the employer, 50% after 1 year. Guaranteed pay: 100% after 3 months |
| Harpenden BS | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| Hinckley & Rugby BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | 50% with 2 years' evidence on standard products; up to 100% with 1 year's evidence on its Income Flex range |
| Hodge | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| HSBC | 60% | 60% | 60% | Must appear on at least half of your payslips |
| Kensington | 100% | 100% | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Leeds BS | Case by case | Case by case | Case by case | Not published |
| Lendinvest | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| LG Home Finance (over-55s: retirement interest-only only) | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Livemore (borrowers aged 40+ only) | Yes, % not published | Case by case | Case by case | Not published |
| Loughborough BS | 75% | 75% | 75% | Regular means on each of your last 3 payslips. 75% below 80% LTV, 50% above; guaranteed pay 100% |
| Mansfield BS | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Market Harborough BS | 50% | 100% | 100% | Contractual pay 100%. Non-guaranteed pay uses a 3-year average, capped against basic pay |
| Marsden BS | 60% | 60% | 60% | Not published |
| Melton BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Metro Bank | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% of your last P60 above basic pay, or of the year-to-date figure |
| Monmouthshire BS (new business temporarily paused) | 100% | 50% | 100% | Not published |
| Nationwide | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Monthly pay: 3 consecutive payslips. Annual bonus: 2 bonus payslips from the last 25 months |
| NatWest | Yes, % not published | 50% | 100% | Annual discretionary bonus: 50% of the 2-year average, or of the latest year if lower. Regular monthly, quarterly or guaranteed bonus: 100% |
| Newbury BS | 100% | 100% | 100% | Commission: 100% after 2 years with the same employer, otherwise 50% |
| Newcastle BS | 80% | 50% | 80% | Up to 100% if paid monthly for the last 3 months. Less frequent bonuses at 100% need a 2-year P60 record and income over £100,000 |
| Norton | 100% | 100% | 100% | Bonus needs 2 years' evidence from payslips or P60s |
| Nottingham BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Penrith BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Pepper | 100% | 50% | 50% | Bonus and commission: 100% if paid monthly, 50% if paid quarterly or annually |
| Perenna | 70% | 70% | 70% | Not published |
| Precise | 50% | 50% | 50% | Not published |
| Principality | 100% | 100% | 50% | Regular bonus needs 2 consecutive years. Overtime uses the last 3 months and can't exceed regular income |
| Progressive BS (Northern Ireland only) | 100% | 100% | 100% | Irregular payments are counted at 50% |
| Saffron BS | 50% | 50% | 50% | Overtime and commission up to 75% with a year's evidence. Bonus up to 75% with a 2-year record, at the underwriter's discretion |
| Santander | 100% | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Regular, consistent pay: the lowest of your last 3 monthly payments, times 12. Regular but uneven pay: the 3-month average, times 12 |
| Scottish BS | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Above 80% LTV each is capped at 25% of basic salary, and all extra pay at 50% of basic |
| Skipton | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% if regular over 12 months; 50% if irregular, or 100% with 2 years' evidence |
| Stafford BS | Yes, % not published | 100% | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Suffolk BS | 50% | 75% | 75% | Bonus and commission: 2 years' evidence if paid annually, 1 year if monthly or quarterly; irregular payments 50% |
| Swansea BS | Case by case | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Teachers BS | 60% | 60% | 60% | Overtime counted at 100% for NHS and police staff |
| The Mortgage Lender | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| Tipton & Coseley BS | Yes, % not published | 50% | 50% | Non-guaranteed pay 50%, up to 100% case by case. Mainly-commission income uses a 2-year average |
| Together | Yes, % not published | 50% | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| TSB | 60% | 60% | 60% | Not published |
| UTB | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | Not published |
| Vernon BS | Yes, % not published | Yes, % not published | 50% | Not published |
| Vida | 75% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| Virgin Money | 60% | 60% | 60% | Only regular and reliable variable pay counts |
| West Bromwich BS | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
| West One | 100% | 100% | 100% | Not published |
From our lender criteria dataset, verified 13 September 2026. “Yes, % not published” means the lender accepts the income but its criteria give no figure; “case by case” means an underwriter decides. Percentages apply to regular income on a standard residential mortgage; irregular or one-off payments may be treated differently.
Overtime: 54 of the 75 lenders publish the share of overtime they count: 22 at 100%, 1 at 80%, 5 at 75%, 2 at 70%, 8 at 60% and 16 at 50%. Another 16 accept overtime without publishing a figure, and 4 only consider it case by case.
Bonus — Guaranteed vs Discretionary
Many lenders split bonus into two categories. A guaranteed (contractual) bonus is usually counted in full. A discretionary bonus is more varied: some lenders cut it to 50%, and some use the lower of your latest year and your 2-year average.
59 of the 75 lenders publish the share of a regular bonus they count: 20 at 100%, 5 at 75%, 2 at 70%, 8 at 60% and 24 at 50%. Check the history column in the table above, because the evidence rules differ as much as the percentages.
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.
55 of the 75 lenders publish the share of regular commission they count: 20 at 100%, 1 at 80%, 5 at 75%, 2 at 70%, 8 at 60% and 19 at 50%.
Worked Example: £40,000 Base + £8,000 Overtime
A single employed applicant with no debts, and the same 4.5× income multiple at every lender, so the only difference is how much of the overtime each one counts.
| Overtime counted | For example | Income Used | Max Lend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | Barclays and Santander | £48,000 | £216,000 |
| 80% | Newcastle BS | £46,400 | £208,800 |
| 75% | Chorley BS and Furness BS | £46,000 | £207,000 |
| 70% | Atom Bank and Perenna | £45,600 | £205,200 |
| 60% | Halifax and HSBC | £44,800 | £201,600 |
| 50% | Coventry BS and Bath BS | £44,000 | £198,000 |
The £18,000 gap between a lender counting 100% of overtime and one counting 50% comes entirely from how overtime is treated. In practice lenders also use different income multiples, which can widen or narrow the gap, so run your own figures to see each lender's estimate.
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.
- Don't count on one strong year. Many lenders use the lower of your latest year and your 2-year average, so a single good year won't lift your figure on its own.
- If your bonus is contractually guaranteed, make sure your evidence shows it: several lenders count a guaranteed bonus in full but only part of a discretionary one.
- If your overtime varies a lot month to month, ask which period a lender averages over before you apply. Some use your last 3 months; others want a year or more.
- Compare lenders before you apply. Our check shows each lender's estimate for your income mix, with no credit search.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK lenders accept 100% overtime for a mortgage?
22 of the 75 lenders whose published criteria we track count 100% of regular overtime, including Barclays, Santander, Skipton and Principality. Halifax, HSBC and TSB use 60%, and Coventry BS, Bath BS and Beverley BS use 50%. Some lenders, including Nationwide, NatWest and Bluestone, accept overtime without publishing a figure. If overtime is a big part of your income, the lender you choose can change your maximum borrowing by thousands of pounds.
Do mortgage lenders accept bonus income?
Almost all do: 71 of the 75 lenders whose criteria we track accept it, but the share varies. 20 count 100% of a regular bonus, including Skipton, Principality and Kensington, while 24 count 50%, including NatWest, Barclays and Coventry BS. Several count a guaranteed bonus in full but only part of a discretionary one. Lenders that publish a history rule usually want one to two years' evidence for an annual bonus.
How is commission income treated by mortgage lenders?
Commission is usually averaged. 20 of the 75 lenders whose criteria we track count 100% of regular commission, including NatWest, Barclays and Skipton. Halifax, HSBC and TSB use 60%, and Coventry BS, Principality and Pepper use 50%. Regular monthly commission is treated more favourably than quarterly or annual payments, and some lenders use the lower of your latest year and your 2-year average.
How much evidence do I need for variable income?
Lenders that publish a rule usually want your last 3 months' payslips for monthly overtime or commission, and some ask for a P60 before they count more of it. For an annual bonus, expect to show one to two years of bonus payslips or P60s. The table on this page shows each lender's own rule where it publishes one.
What counts as 'guaranteed' vs 'regular' bonus?
A guaranteed bonus is one contractually promised in your employment contract (common in banking and sales roles with a fixed guaranteed element). A regular or discretionary bonus is paid consistently but not contractually guaranteed. Lenders that make the distinction count a guaranteed bonus in full, while a discretionary bonus is often cut to 50% or averaged down.
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