Which UK Lenders Accept Applicants on Maternity Leave?
Most UK lenders will consider applicants on maternity leave — including using the return-to-work salary rather than current SMP. A signed letter from HR confirming return date and post-maternity salary is usually enough.
Data refreshed 2026-07-15. Information only — not advice.
Your situation
High Street Lenders
- AIB— Up to 95% LTV
- Bank of Ireland— Up to 95% LTV
- Barclays— Up to 95% LTV
- Clydesdale Bank— Up to 95% LTV
- Halifax— Up to 95% LTV
- HSBC— Up to 95% LTV
- Metro Bank— Up to 95% LTV
- Nationwide— Up to 95% LTV
- NatWest— Up to 95% LTV
- Santander— Up to 95% LTV
- The Co-operative Bank— Up to 95% LTV
- TSB— Up to 95% LTV
- Virgin Money— Up to 95% LTV
Building Societies
- Accord Mortgages— Up to 99% LTV
- Bath Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Cambridge Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Chorley Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Coventry Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Cumberland Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Darlington Building Society— Up to 95% LTV (80% for London/M25 remortgage)
- Dudley Building Society— Up to 90% LTV
- Earl Shilton Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Ecology 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)
- Family Building Society— Up to 80% LTV
- Furness Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Hanley Economic Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Hinckley & Rugby Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Leeds Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Leek Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Loughborough Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Monmouthshire Building Society— Temporarily paused — not accepting new residential applications while they upgrade their systems. Previously: Up to 95% LTV
- Newcastle Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Nottingham Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Principality Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Saffron Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Skipton Building Society— Up to 100% LTV
- Stafford Railway Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Suffolk Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- Teachers Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- The Melton Building Society— Up to 95% LTV (interest-only 60%, London 60%)
- Vernon Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
- West Bromwich Building Society— Up to 95% LTV
Specialist Lenders
- Aldermore— Up to 95% LTV
- Atom Bank— Up to 95% LTV
- Gatehouse Bank— Up to 80% LTV
- Kensington Mortgages— Up to 95% LTV
- Perenna— Up to 95% LTV
- Together— Up to 75% LTV
- West One Loans— Up to 97.5% LTV
Why some lenders say no
- Some lenders only count current SMP, not the return-to-work salary.
- Smaller lenders require evidence of an agreed return date before applying.
- Childcare costs are often added to outgoings from the return date, which cuts maximum borrowing.
Related reading: Return-to-work letter template for a mortgage · Joint mortgage affordability
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Run My Affordability CheckFrequently asked questions
Do lenders use my current SMP or my full return salary?
Most high-street lenders now use the return-to-work salary with a signed employer letter. A few smaller lenders only count the current SMP, which is significantly lower.
When can I apply — before or after I return?
You can apply at any point during maternity leave. Lenders want evidence of the agreed return date and salary. A fully signed letter from HR is the gold standard.
What if I plan to return part-time?
Declare the part-time hours upfront. Lenders will use the pro-rata salary and will add childcare costs to outgoings. Full-time-declared-then-part-time-returning is a guaranteed decline.
Do I need to be back at work before I complete?
Usually no — lenders release funds on the basis of the signed return-to-work letter. But a few lenders verify employment within 48 hours of completion, so avoid delaying your return past that window.
