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 £20,000 of borrowing. Here's the full breakdown across the major UK lenders. Last reviewed July 2026.
Quick answer
Nationwide, NatWest and Skipton BS accept 100% of regular overtime, while Halifax, Accord and TSB 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 August 2026, a Professional, £80,000 could be offered £516,147 by Hodge Bank but only £292,652 by Dudley Building Society — a £223,495 (76%) 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 (such as 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.
Frequently asked questions
Which UK lenders accept 100% overtime for a mortgage?
Nationwide, NatWest and Skipton BS accept 100% of regular overtime when it's evidenced on payslips for 3+ months. Halifax, Accord and TSB use around 60%, while HSBC, Barclays and Coventry BS use 50%. If overtime is a significant part of your income, choice of lender can change your maximum borrowing by £30,000–£60,000.
Do mortgage lenders accept bonus income?
Most UK lenders accept bonus income but at varying percentages. Halifax, Nationwide and Accord use 100% of a guaranteed bonus and 60% of a non-guaranteed (discretionary) bonus. HSBC uses 100% guaranteed and 60% discretionary. Barclays takes 50% across the board. Santander applies 60%. You'll typically need 2–3 years of evidenced bonus history for it to count.
How is commission income treated by mortgage lenders?
Commission is usually averaged over 2 years (some lenders use the latest year if higher). Nationwide and NatWest accept 100% of averaged commission. Halifax, HSBC, Accord and TSB use around 60%. Barclays and Coventry BS accept 50%. Regular monthly commission is treated more favourably than quarterly or annual payments.
How much evidence do I need for variable income?
Lenders generally require 3 months of payslips for overtime and commission, plus a P60 or 3 months of bank statements for context. For bonus income, most want 2–3 years of history via P60s or tax returns. Latest year or averaged figures are used depending on the lender's policy.
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. Guaranteed bonuses are almost always accepted at 100%; discretionary are usually accepted at 50%–60%.
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