Which UK Lenders Lend on Zero-Hours Contracts?

More UK lenders now consider zero-hours contract workers than applicants expect — particularly NHS bank staff, teaching assistants, and care workers. The most common requirement in published criteria is 12 months of earnings history; some lenders ask for 24 months or more, and a few accept 6 months or less (Norton: 2 months).

As of 2026-09-13, published criteria from 58 of the 75 UK lenders whose published criteria we track indicate they may consider this scenario — 9 high-street, 33 building societies and 16 specialist — with minimum deposits from 2.5%.

Data refreshed 2026-09-13. Information only — not advice.

Your situation

Deposit (% of property value)

Adverse credit (CCJ, default, DMP)?

58 of 58 lenders whose published criteria match these filters

High Street Lenders

Bank Of Ireland— Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history
Barclays— Up to 95% LTV
Halifax— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
HSBC— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Nationwide— Up to 95% LTV, only where zero-hours isn't the main income on the application (another, higher income needed), min 12 months history
Natwest— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Santander— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
TSB— Up to 95% LTV, case by case (underwriter referral), min 12 months contract history
Virgin Money— Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history

Building Societies

Accord— Up to 95% LTV (its 99% £5k Deposit product is first-time-buyer only and excludes new builds), listed occupations only (NHS bank/locum, agency health and care, HGV and supermarket workers, supply teachers, on-call firefighters, Reservists); 60% of earnings; min 12 months history
Bath BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 36 months history
Beverley BS— Up to 80% LTV (contractor route); professionals need 12 months' history with no gaps, others 2 years
Buckinghamshire BS— Up to 95% LTV, second applicant only: up to 50% of zero-hours pay counted where the other applicant has full-time PAYE income, min 12 months history
Chorley BS— Up to 95% LTV, needs 2 years' continuous employment plus a second applicant on a permanent contract, or a JBSP joint borrower or guarantor
Coventry BS— Up to 95% LTV, key workers only (bank nurses and locums, care home and supermarket workers incl. delivery drivers, on-call firefighters, Reservists), min 12 months history
Cumberland BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Darlington BS— Up to 95% LTV (80% inside the M25, purchase or remortgage), only with another income source or a second applicant, min 12 months history, underwriter referral
Dudley BS— Up to 80% LTV with zero-hours income, min 12 months' employment (income averaged over the last 12 months of payslips/P60)
Earl Shilton BS— Up to 90% LTV, min 6 months history
Ecology BS— Green-gated lending only: every product requires the property to meet Ecology's ecological/EPC criteria. LTV varies by product: Eco-Home 80%, Renovation 80-90%, Self-build 65-80%, Conversion 80%, Community Living 90%, Shared Ownership 95% of the share, Affordable Local Homes (discounted market sale) 95%, First Homes (Scotland) 95%, min 24 months history
Family BS— Up to 80% LTV, min 24 months history
Hanley BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Harpenden BS— Up to 85% LTV, min 24 months history
Hinckley Rugby BS— Income Flex range: 12 months' evidence, max 80% LTV where zero-hours is your only or main income (95% if it's a secondary income); standard range: 3 years' evidence, max 75% LTV; all cases referred
Loughborough BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 6 months history
Mansfield BS— Up to 95% LTV with a 36-month zero-hours track record (24 months up to 80%; 18 months on Versatility, max 85%; 12 months on Versatility Plus, max 80%)
Marsden BS— Up to 80% LTV, case by case (underwriter referral)
Melton BS— Up to 95% LTV (interest-only up to 75%), only where another applicant has a primary income: 50% of zero-hours pay counted, min 12 months history
Monmouthshire BS— Temporarily paused — not accepting new residential applications while they upgrade their systems. Previously: Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history
Newbury BS— Up to 90% LTV, min 24 months history
Newcastle BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months track record in the industry
Nottingham BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Penrith BS— Up to 90% LTV (95% for first-time buyers), min 24 months' history if zero-hours is your main job, 12 months if it's a second job
Principality— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Saffron BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Skipton— Up to 95% LTV (100% on its Track Record mortgage for renters with 12 months' rent paid: no missed payments in the last 6 months, otherwise Skipton's standard credit rules apply), min 12 months history
Stafford BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months history
Suffolk BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 18 months history
Teachers BS— Up to 95% LTV, general zero-hours or temporary pay counted at 60% and only alongside a primary income (12 months' history with the same employer or type of work); bank nurses and locums (6 months in the area) and supply teachers (2 academic terms) count as main income at 100%
Tipton Coseley BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Vernon BS— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
West Brom— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history

Specialist Lenders

Aldermore— Up to 95% LTV; 12 months' income (professional roles) or 2 years with the same employer (other roles), employed directly, not via an agency
Atom Bank— Up to 95% LTV, min 24 months with current employer (qualified professionals); bank/supply workers (e.g. bank nursing) min 1 year regular income, £20k+
Bluestone— Up to 90% LTV, min 12 months history
Central Trust— Remortgage and capital-raising only — does not currently lend on property purchases
Generation Home— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Hodge— Up to 95% LTV
Kensington— Up to 95% LTV
Lendinvest— Up to 90% LTV, 100% of basic pay with 12+ months' history, 50% with under 12 months
Norton— Up to 85% LTV, min 2 months history
Pepper— Up to 90% LTV, zero-hours accepted if permanent and 2+ years with the same employer
Perenna— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Precise— Up to 95% LTV, only where the applicant isn't the main earner (income = average of last 3 months)
Together— Up to 75% LTV, min 6 months with current employer; not during probation
UTB— Up to 95% LTV, min 12 months history
Vida— Up to 97% LTV
West One— Up to 97.5% LTV, min 12 months history

A lender name is only half the answer — the amount each might lend varies by tens of thousands — our figures are indicative estimates, not offers.

See your figures

Why some lenders say no

Some lenders require 12+ months; a few go down to 6 months, and one specialist (Norton) to 2.
Lenders typically use an averaged figure over 3-12 months, not peak months.
A handful of lenders treat zero-hours earnings at 50-75% of face value for affordability.
Several lenders count zero-hours pay only as a second income alongside an applicant with a permanent full-time salary (often at 50%), or only for listed key-worker roles.

See an estimate of what lenders might lend you

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The check uses 57 lenders' affordability calculators, so it isn't the same list as the lenders above.

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Frequently asked questions

How do lenders calculate my income?

Most use an average of the last 3-12 months of payslips. Some use a 50-75% weighting on the averaged figure as an extra safety margin.

Does NHS bank work count as zero-hours?

Usually yes. NHS bank, supply teaching, and locum work are treated as zero-hours by most lenders, so the same history requirements apply — most commonly 12 months, and 24 months or more at some lenders.

Do I need a contract?

Yes — you need a written zero-hours contract from your employer. Payslips alone are not enough for most lenders.

Can I combine zero-hours with a permanent job?

It can be possible. Many lenders use your permanent salary plus an averaged figure for the zero-hours earnings.