Mortgage with a new job or on probation
A new job or probation period need not stop a mortgage. Some lenders accept a new role from day one, or even before you start on the strength of a signed contract, while others want a few months served or probation completed. Staying in the same field and having a clear signed contract help most. Lender policies vary widely, so choosing the right one is the key.
Lenders are more flexible than people expect
Many people assume they must wait until probation ends or they have months of payslips. In reality, lenders range from those wanting a settled period in the role to those who will lend on a signed contract before you even start. What reassures them is continuity: moving up or across within the same career reads very differently from a complete change of direction. Your contract and your track record carry the weight.
What helps
- A signed employment contract stating salary, role and start date.
- Continuity in the same line of work or sector.
- A clean credit history and a normal deposit.
- For contract-before-start cases, a start date within the lender's accepted window.
What probation actually means to a lender
Probation itself is rarely the objection. What a lender is really pricing is notice: during probation a contract can usually be ended at short notice on both sides, so the income looks less certain than the same salary six months later. That is why the questions you get asked are about the contract and the career behind it, not about probation as a word. UK probation periods commonly run three to six months, and lenders differ on whether they need it served, need it near its end, or do not ask at all.
What is typically requested at application:
- The signed employment contract, showing salary, role, start date and any probation terms.
- Payslips from the new role where any exist, and often the P45 or final payslip from the previous one to show continuity.
- Where the role has not started, confirmation the offer still stands, sometimes directly from the employer.
- For bonus or commission, evidence of how it is structured, since how much of it counts varies as it does for any variable income.
How the common timings are usually treated
The same salary and deposit can get a different answer purely on timing and on whether the move is a continuation or a change of direction. The pattern below is what that difference usually looks like.
| Your timing | How it is usually treated | What strengthens it most |
|---|---|---|
| Signed contract, not yet started | Accepted by a smaller group of lenders, typically where the start date falls inside their accepted window | A start date close at hand, and the same sector as your last role |
| Started, still in probation, same field | Widely workable. The continuity is doing most of the work | An unbroken employment record either side of the move |
| Started, still in probation, career change | The hardest of the three, because there is no track record in the new field to lean on | A larger deposit, and probation served or close to served |
| Probation completed | Treated as ordinary employed income at most lenders | Little extra needed beyond normal payslips |
| New job after a gap in employment | The gap is usually the question, not the new job | A clear, brief explanation of the gap and a signed contract |
Indicative patterns across the market, not a named lender's policy, an offer or a quote. Policies on start dates, probation and career changes vary between lenders and change over time.
Find a lender that fits the timing
Because policies on new starts and probation differ so much, the same situation can be a no at one lender and routine at another. A broker who knows these criteria can place you with a lender comfortable with your exact timing, rather than risking a decline. A regulated mortgage broker can advise you; we do not.
Common questions
Can I get a mortgage with a new job?
Often yes. Some lenders accept a new job from day one or even before you start, on the strength of a signed contract, while others want a few months in the role first. Staying in the same line of work helps. The variation between lenders is wide, so it is about choosing the right one.
Does being on probation matter?
It can, but many lenders will still lend during probation, especially if you have a strong background in the same field. Others prefer probation to be completed. A clear, signed contract and continuity in your career reassure lenders most.
What if I have a contract but have not started?
A number of lenders will consider an application based on a signed employment contract before your first day, typically if the start date is within a set window. This is useful when relocating for a new role. The lender will want to see the contract terms.
Does a pay rise from the new job count?
Usually the lender uses your new, contracted salary, which is the point of the move for many people. If the role includes bonus or commission, how much of that counts varies by lender, as with any variable income.
If the new role is a contract or self-employment, see contractor and day-rate mortgages.
Founder, MortgageExplained
Adam spent over eight years as a mortgage adviser at Just Mortgages, with further experience in commercial finance. He is CeMAP and CF qualified. He built MortgageExplained to do one thing well: explain mortgages in plain English, so you know where you stand before you speak to a regulated broker. Every page on the site is written by Adam.
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