New job mortgage: your guide to buying with recent employment

IMPORTANT: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

Yes, you can usually get a new job mortgage, even if you started your role days or weeks ago. Around 30 mainstream lenders will consider applicants on probation provided you have a signed permanent contract and supporting evidence. Three key factors usually decide your outcome: your contract type, the paperwork you can produce, and your deposit and credit record.

Check your contract for start date, salary, and probation terms before applying.
Gather your latest payslip and three months' bank statements now, not later.
Speak to a regulated adviser if your income is variable, self-employed, or recently changed.

Key Takeaways

A new job rarely blocks a mortgage outright; the outcome depends on your contract type, the evidence you can produce, and your deposit and credit profile.

Point	Details
Contract type decides most	A signed permanent contract is treated far more favourably than a fixed-term or agency arrangement.
Gather evidence early	Payslips, a signed contract, and bank statements should be ready before you apply.
Probation rarely blocks lending	It narrows lender choice rather than closing the door, especially with a strong deposit.
Disclose any job change immediately	A material change mid-application can lead to re-underwriting or a withdrawn offer.
Get specialist matching from Haven Mark Advisers	A dedicated adviser can match complex or recent-employment cases to suitable lenders and manage the paperwork.

At a glance: what lenders expect after a job change
Can I get a mortgage if I've just started a new job? How lenders assess new employment
Less than three months in your role: what to expect
Probation periods and what they mean for your application
New job contract and pre-start applications: what counts as evidence
Does your sector affect the decision when you've changed jobs?
Should you apply now or wait? A decision checklist
Changing jobs mid-application: disclosure and re-underwriting risks
Timeline expectations when employment is new
Promotions, pay cuts, bonuses and commission after a job change
Self-employed, contractors and directors: what evidence you need
How Haven Mark Advisers supports applicants who've recently changed jobs
How Haven Mark Advisers can help you move forward
Sources
FAQ

At a glance: what lenders expect after a job change

Lenders build their decision around a small set of documents, not tenure alone. Most want your latest one to three payslips, a signed permanent contract, three to six months of bank statements, and a P60 where one exists. Santander's evidence requirements show how far this varies by lender and applicant type.

Payslips: usually one to three months, sometimes just the first if you have only just started.
Contract: signed and permanent carries far more weight than an unsigned offer letter.
Bank statements: typically three months, occasionally six for complex income.
P60: useful where available but not always essential for very recent starters.

Tenure thresholds also differ sharply between lenders. Some will lend from day one against a signed contract; others want a completed probation period or one to three months in post. A larger deposit and a clean credit file widen your choice of lender considerably, whatever your tenure.

Can I get a mortgage if I've just started a new job? How lenders assess new employment

Yes, in most cases, though the assessment goes well beyond how long you have been in the role. FCA-regulated affordability rules require lenders to look at your whole financial picture, not a single tenure figure, and regulatory commentary confirms that continuity, sector, and total income all feed into the decision.

Contract type matters more than almost anything else. A permanent contract, even one signed last week, tends to be treated far more favourably than a fixed-term, agency, or zero-hours arrangement, which usually needs stronger supporting evidence to reach the same outcome.

Previous employment history can work in your favour too. Moving from one accountancy firm to another, or one hospital trust to another, shows continuity that a lender can weigh against a short tenure in the new post. A complete change of sector or a gap between roles tends to invite more scrutiny.

What underwriters typically look for:

A signed permanent contract with a clear salary and start date.
Continuous or closely related employment history in the same field.
No unexplained gaps in the months before the application.
Evidence your probation, if any, is standard rather than extended or conditional.

Pro Tip: Ask your new employer for a short confirmation letter stating your role, salary, and start date before you apply. It costs nothing and often removes the single biggest hold-up in underwriting.

Less than three months in your role: what to expect

Applying within your first three months is entirely possible, but your options narrow. Some mainstream banks will lend against a signed permanent contract and first payslip alone, while certain building societies prefer to wait until probation ends or a set period has passed.

Before applying with very short tenure, have these ready:

Your fully signed employment contract, not just an offer letter.
Your first payslip, even if it only covers a partial month.
A written confirmation from your employer if payslips are not yet available.
Bank statements showing your salary has started landing, once possible.

Waiting a month or two can genuinely open up more lenders and sometimes better rates, so it is worth weighing against your timeline. If you are under offer on a property or facing a chain deadline, applying now with strong documentation is often more sensible than losing the purchase altogether.

Probation periods and what they mean for your application

Probation is largely an employment formality, not necessarily a lending barrier. MoneySuperMarket's guidance confirms it narrows your lender choice rather than closing the door, and lenders focus on the permanency of your contract and the sustainability of your income rather than the probation label itself.

Common conditions attached to probationary applications include:

Counting only your basic salary, excluding bonuses or commission until confirmed.
Holding the final decision until your probation period ends.
Requesting a written confirmation from your employer.
Some lenders, such as Virgin Money, accepting probation outright once a permanent contract and first payslip are in place.

Manual underwriting can bring probationary or short-tenure cases into scope where automated systems would reject them outright, but it usually means a slower process and more document requests along the way.

Pro Tip: If your probation ends within a few weeks of your intended completion date, mention this to your adviser early. Some lenders will simply wait for confirmation rather than decline the case outright.

New job contract and pre-start applications: what counts as evidence

A fully signed permanent contract carries considerably more weight than an offer letter, because it represents a binding commitment rather than an intention. Lenders check the start date, salary, notice period, and both parties' signatures closely before accepting it as proof of income.

Where you are applying before your first payslip arrives, useful supporting evidence includes:

A signed contract with salary and start date clearly stated.
An employer confirmation letter on company letterhead.
Your first payslip as soon as it becomes available, even mid-application.
Bank statements showing your previous salary and savings pattern.

Does your sector affect the decision when you've changed jobs?

Sector stability genuinely influences how a lender weighs a recent move. Roles in the public sector, healthcare, and established corporate professions such as law and finance are typically viewed as lower risk, partly because career progression within these fields is common and well understood by underwriters.

Higher-variability roles need more work to reassure a lender:

Commission-heavy sales roles often require a longer income history before variable pay counts.
Gig economy and zero-hours work usually needs several months of consistent statements.
Hospitality and seasonal roles may face closer scrutiny of income stability.

If you have moved within the same industry, references or training certificates from your previous employer can help demonstrate continuity, and some lenders explicitly weigh sector experience against a short tenure in the new post.

Should you apply now or wait? A decision checklist

Run through this before deciding:

Do you have a signed contract? If not, wait until it is finalised before applying.
Have you received a payslip yet? If yes, your case is stronger; if not, an employer letter can bridge the gap.
How large is your deposit? A bigger deposit widens your lender options considerably.
Is your credit record clean? Missed payments or high credit use will need addressing first.
How urgent is your purchase? A chain deadline may justify applying now over waiting for a stronger position.

Waiting a few months after starting a role can improve your lender choice and sometimes your rate, but it also risks losing a property you have found. Time-sensitive purchases usually favour applying with the strongest evidence available today.

Pro Tip: If two or more of these boxes are unticked, speak to a regulated adviser before submitting anywhere. A single declined application can show up on your credit file and complicate the next attempt.

Changing jobs mid-application: disclosure and re-underwriting risks

Changing employer after you have submitted an application, or even after receiving an offer, counts as a material change that you are obliged to disclose to your lender or adviser. HOA's guidance is direct on this point: failing to disclose can lead to the offer being withdrawn entirely.

Lenders typically respond in one of a few ways:

Requesting fresh evidence and re-underwriting the case against your new employment.
Holding the offer while they verify your new contract and salary.
Withdrawing the offer altogether if the change looks too high risk, even where the new role pays more.

If your employment changes mid-process, tell your adviser immediately, provide your new contract and payslip as soon as they exist, and avoid resigning from a current role before a new one is fully confirmed in writing.

Timeline expectations when employment is new

New employment tends to add time to an otherwise standard mortgage timeline, largely because of extra verification steps.

Decision in Principle (DIP): Usually same day, though some lenders flag new employment for manual review at this stage.
Full application submission: Typically within a week of the DIP, once documents are gathered.
Underwriting: Can take two to four weeks; manual underwriting for probationary or short-tenure cases often adds further time.
Employer verification: Some lenders contact employers directly to confirm contracts, which can delay offer issue by several days.
Mortgage offer: Once verification completes, offers are usually issued within a few working days.

Having your contract, payslips, and bank statements ready before you apply, and working with an adviser who chases documents proactively, tends to shave meaningful time off this process.

Promotions, pay cuts, bonuses and commission after a job change

A pay rise from a new role is generally counted at face value once your contract confirms it, though some lenders will still want at least one payslip showing the new salary landing before relying on it fully.

Hand pointing at pay rise contract detail and coffee

Bonuses and commission are treated more cautiously. Lenders typically want two or more years of evidence before including variable pay in affordability calculations, and they usually average it across that period rather than taking the most recent figure.

To prepare documentation for variable or recently changed income:

Keep at least two years of payslips or P60s showing bonus history where possible.
Ask your employer for a letter confirming your new basic salary separately from any variable element.
Expect lenders to exclude commission or bonus entirely if you have less than a year's history in the new role.

A pay cut, meanwhile, will always reduce your borrowing capacity, since affordability is based on your current confirmed income rather than a previous, higher salary.

Self-employed, contractors and directors: what evidence you need

Non-PAYE applicants face different thresholds entirely. Most lenders want one to three years' trading history, though this varies significantly by lender and by whether you are a sole trader, contractor, or company director.

SA302 tax calculations, usually covering two to three years.
An accountant's certificate confirming income where accounts are limited.
Full company accounts for directors, alongside any payroll evidence.
Specialist lenders and brokers can often help newly self-employed applicants who fall outside standard thresholds, as Nationwide's evidence guidance illustrates for employed versus self-employed cases.

How Haven Mark Advisers supports applicants who've recently changed jobs

Haven Mark Advisers assigns each client a single dedicated adviser from first enquiry through to completion, which matters most when your circumstances, such as a new contract, variable pay, or a short trading history, need explaining consistently to the right lender rather than repeated across several handlers.

Access to a broad range of UK lenders, including those with more flexible probationary criteria.
Proactive case management to chase documents and verification before they cause delay.
Tailored lender-matching for complex income, whether salaried, contract, or self-employed.

A recently started role, a probation period, or a mix of salary and bonus does not automatically rule out a mortgage. The right lender match, backed by the right evidence, is often what makes the difference between a decline and an offer.

How Haven Mark Advisers can help you move forward

Haven Mark Advisers is the alternative to piecing together lender research yourself when your employment situation does not fit a standard checklist. Rather than guessing which of dozens of lenders will accept your probation period, contract type, or bonus structure, one dedicated adviser matches your case to lenders likely to say yes, then manages the paperwork through to offer.

Haven Mark Advisers

This service suits professionals, contractors, and self-employed business owners whose income does not fit a simple salary slip, and it works equally well for first-time buyers navigating a new job for the first time. Fees are agreed upfront and paid on completion, with full transparency on how the firm is remunerated, including any lender commission received.

If you have recently started a new job, or expect to soon, get in touch to discuss your residential mortgage options in London or explore who Haven Mark Advisers helps to see whether your circumstances fit. This is regulated mortgage advice, and your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Sources

This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified financial advisor. Consult a qualified financial professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.

FAQ

Can I get a mortgage as soon as I start a new job?

Often yes, particularly with a signed permanent contract, though some lenders prefer to see your first payslip or a short period in role first.

Can I get a £300,000 mortgage on a £50,000 salary?

Borrowing amounts depend on affordability assessments across your full financial picture, including debts, deposit, and outgoings, so no single salary-to-loan ratio applies universally; a regulated adviser can review your specific figures.

How does a new job affect getting a mortgage?

It shifts the emphasis from tenure to contract type and evidence quality; a permanent role with clear documentation is assessed far more favourably than a casual or fixed-term one.

How long do you have to be in employment to get a mortgage in the UK?

There is no single legal minimum, and some lenders will consider applicants from their first day in a permanent role, while others prefer a completed probation period or several months' payslips.

What happens if I change jobs during my mortgage application?

You must disclose the change to your lender or adviser immediately, since it counts as a material change that can trigger re-underwriting or, in some cases, withdrawal of the offer.