Can You Get a Mortgage on Overtime, Bonus or Commission?

One of the most common worries for first-time buyers is:

“Will my lender actually count all of my income?”

If you earn overtime, bonuses, commission, allowances, or any income that isn’t just basic salary, it can feel confusing — and sometimes frustrating — when you’re trying to work out how much you can borrow.

The short answer? Yes — you often can use overtime, bonus and commission for a mortgage, but not every lender treats it the same.

This guide explains how different types of additional income are assessed in the UK, what lenders usually look for, and how this can affect your borrowing power.

⚠️ This article is for general information only and does not constitute mortgage advice. Mortgage affordability depends on individual circumstances and lender criteria can change.

Do lenders accept overtime, bonus and commission?

Many lenders will consider additional income — but how much they use, and how they use it, varies significantly.

Some lenders may include this income fully, others partially, and some may not use it at all.

This means two people earning the same total income could be offered very different mortgage amounts depending on the lender chosen.

How lenders look at overtime

Overtime is usually split into two categories:

Guaranteed overtime

This is overtime written into your contract or consistently required by your employer.

Lenders are more likely to include this, often at 100%, because it is seen as reliable and predictable income.

Non-guaranteed (voluntary) overtime

This is overtime you can choose to work rather than being required to do so.

Some lenders will include a percentage of this income — usually based on your average earnings over the last 3–12 months.

Whether it can be used often depends on whether:

• It appears regularly on your payslips, and
• It is supported by your most recent P60

Other lenders may ignore voluntary overtime completely.

Lenders will typically ask for:

• Recent payslips
• Your latest P60
• Sometimes employer confirmation

How lenders assess bonuses

Bonuses are treated cautiously because they can fluctuate year to year.

Most lenders will look at:

• How long you have received bonuses for (often at least 1–2 years)
• Whether they are consistent
• Your average bonus over time

Common approaches include:

• Using a 2-year average
• Using the lowest of the last 1–2 years
• Using only a percentage of the bonus

If your bonus varies significantly year to year, lenders are likely to take a more conservative figure.

How lenders assess commission

Commission income is common for roles such as sales, recruitment, estate agency and similar performance-based jobs.

Lenders will usually want to see:

• A track record of commission earnings (often 1–2 years)
• Stability in your role
• Clarity on how your income is structured

They may use:

• An average of your last 12–24 months’ commission, or
• A more conservative figure if your income is highly variable

If your commission has been steadily increasing, some lenders may be more flexible.

If you are self-employed and primarily commission-based, most lenders will normally assess you under self-employed criteria (usually based on your last 1–2 years of accounts or income evidence), rather than as a standard employed applicant.

What about allowances?

Certain allowances may also be considered, such as:

• Shift allowances
• Location allowances
• Role-specific allowances

Whether these are accepted depends on:

• Whether they are permanent or temporary
• Whether they are likely to continue
• How your employer categorises them
• Whether they appear consistently on your payslips and are supported by your P60

Why lender choice matters

This is where a mortgage broker can make a big difference.

Different lenders assess additional income in different ways.

Choosing the right lender can mean:

• A higher borrowing amount
• Better affordability
• A smoother underwriting process

Using the wrong lender could mean your income is undervalued — even if your earnings are exactly the same.

What could reduce how much of this income is used?

Even if you earn overtime, bonus or commission, lenders may be cautious if:

• Your income has been inconsistent
• You have recently changed jobs
• You are still in probation
• Your role or industry is considered less stable

This doesn’t mean you can’t get a mortgage — it just means lender choice becomes even more important.

Final thoughts

Yes — you can often use overtime, bonus and commission for a mortgage in the UK.

However, how much of this income counts depends on:

• The type of income
• How long you’ve earned it
• Your employment stability
• The lender you apply with

Understanding this early can help you set realistic expectations and avoid surprises later in the process.

This article provides general information only. Mortgage eligibility and suitability depend on individual circumstances and lender criteria can change. A mortgage adviser can help assess how your income may be treated for mortgage purposes.

Based in Brecon, Powys, I support first-time buyers locally and across the UK with clear, jargon-free mortgage advice tailored to their individual circumstances.