You’ve found a property you want to buy.
Your deposit is ready.
Then you remember one potentially awkward detail:
You’ve only been in your job for a few weeks.
Does that mean you need to wait until you’ve been employed for three months before applying for a mortgage?
Not necessarily.
This is one of those mortgage “rules” that gets repeated so often that people understandably assume it applies everywhere.
It doesn’t.
Some mortgage lenders may consider an application when you have less than three months’ employment with your current employer. Depending on the lender and your circumstances, it may even be possible to apply before you’ve received three payslips.
The important question isn’t simply:
“Have you been employed for three months?”
It’s:
“Which lenders are prepared to consider your particular employment situation?”
And that distinction can make a big difference.
Is There a 3-Month Employment Rule for Mortgages?
There isn’t a single three-month rule that applies to every UK mortgage lender.
Different lenders have different requirements around employment history.
Some may want to see a certain period of employment or a particular number of payslips.
Others may be prepared to consider you much sooner.
That’s why I wouldn’t automatically tell somebody to postpone buying a property simply because they haven’t reached an arbitrary three-month anniversary in their job.
I’d look at their circumstances first.
Can I Get a Mortgage If I’ve Only Just Started My Job?
Potentially, yes.
Starting a new job doesn’t automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage.
A lender may want to understand things such as:
- whether your employment is permanent, fixed-term or temporary
- your basic salary
- whether you’re in a probationary period
- your previous employment history
- whether you’ve remained in the same profession or industry
- whether there has been a gap between jobs
- and whether any of your income comes from overtime, bonuses or commission.
Your wider circumstances will also matter, including your deposit, existing financial commitments, credit history and the amount you’re looking to borrow.
This is why two people who have both been in their jobs for six weeks could have very different mortgage options.
Do I Need Three Payslips to Get a Mortgage?
This is another assumption I regularly come across.
People often think:
“I haven’t got three payslips yet, so I can’t apply.”
That isn’t necessarily true.
The evidence required varies between lenders and according to the circumstances of the application.
A lender may ask for payslips and could also require other evidence of your employment or income.
The important point is that having fewer than three payslips doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get a mortgage.
Rather than waiting three months because you’ve read online that you need to, it’s worth finding out what is actually possible first.
What If I’m Still in My Probationary Period?
Being on probation is another phrase that unnecessarily frightens some buyers.
I’ve spoken to clients who assume:
“I’m on probation, so nobody will give me a mortgage.”
Again, that isn’t automatically the case.
Some lenders may consider applicants during a probationary period, while others may have additional requirements or restrictions.
Your previous employment history and the nature of the new role may also be relevant.
For example, somebody moving between permanent jobs within an established career can present a very different situation from somebody starting an entirely new type of employment.
Neither automatically means yes or no.
It comes back to understanding the individual circumstances.
What If My New Job Pays More?
This can create an interesting situation.
Imagine you’ve left a £30,000 job and started a new position paying £38,000.
You might assume the recent job change has made getting a mortgage more difficult.
But you’ve also increased your income.
Depending on the lender’s criteria and your overall circumstances, the new salary may potentially be considered when affordability is assessed.
That doesn’t mean a higher salary guarantees you’ll be able to borrow more. Mortgage affordability takes account of much more than income alone.
But changing jobs isn’t automatically a negative event from a mortgage perspective.
Overtime, Bonuses and Commission Can Be Different
This is where things can become more complicated.
Your basic salary may be straightforward to evidence.
Additional income isn’t always treated in the same way.
I’ve seen just how differently lenders can approach overtime, commission and bonuses. One lender may be prepared to use income that another lender won’t consider in the same way.
If you’ve only recently started your job, there may also be less history available to demonstrate that additional income.
This matters particularly if you need overtime, commission or bonuses to reach the borrowing amount you’re hoping for.
It’s another reason why simply entering your income into a generic mortgage calculator can give you a misleading impression of what’s possible.
Should I Wait Until I’ve Been Employed for Three Months?
Sometimes waiting may improve the options available.
But I wouldn’t recommend waiting simply because somebody has told you there’s a universal three-month rule.
There may not be any need.
This is something I see repeatedly in mortgage advice.
People rule themselves out before a lender ever has the opportunity to do so.
They assume:
“I’ve just changed jobs.”
“I’m still on probation.”
“I’ve only got one payslip.”
“So I can’t get a mortgage.”
Sometimes, after looking at their circumstances, there are options available.
Other times, waiting genuinely is the more sensible approach.
Good mortgage advice isn’t about forcing an application through immediately.
Sometimes the best advice I can give somebody is:
“You’re likely to be in a stronger position if we wait.”
I’d much rather tell a client that than submit an application to an unsuitable lender simply for the sake of getting something submitted.
What If I Change Jobs After Getting My Mortgage Offer?
This is slightly different and it’s important.
If your employment or income changes during the mortgage process, you should tell your mortgage adviser promptly.
A mortgage offer is based on the circumstances assessed by the lender.
Changing employer, becoming self-employed, losing your job or experiencing another material change in circumstances could affect the lender’s decision.
It doesn’t automatically mean your mortgage will fall through.
But don’t assume it doesn’t matter simply because you’ve already received an offer.
Tell your adviser and let them establish what needs to happen next.
Don’t Turn Down a Great Career Opportunity Because of a Mortgage Myth
This is perhaps the biggest point I’d like people to take away from this article.
Your career could last for decades.
A mortgage application is one moment within it.
If you’re offered a fantastic new job, promotion or career opportunity, don’t automatically assume you have to choose between that opportunity and buying a home.
Speak to a mortgage adviser before making decisions based on something you’ve heard about “needing three months in your job”.
There may be lenders that can consider your circumstances.
There may also be good reasons to wait.
The important thing is knowing which applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a mortgage after one month in a new job?
Potentially. Some lenders may consider applicants who have only recently started a new job. Eligibility will depend on the lender’s criteria and your wider circumstances.
Do I need three months of payslips for a mortgage?
Not necessarily. Evidence requirements vary between lenders and applications, so having fewer than three payslips doesn’t automatically prevent you from getting a mortgage.
Can I get a mortgage while I’m on probation?
Potentially. Some lenders may consider applications from people who are still within a probationary period. The lender may also consider your wider employment history and circumstances.
Will starting a new job affect how much I can borrow?
It can. Your new salary and the way your income is structured may affect affordability. Different lenders can also treat basic salary, overtime, bonuses and commission differently.
Should I wait three months before applying for a mortgage?
Not automatically. Waiting may be beneficial in some circumstances, but there is no universal rule that everybody needs to have been in their job for three months before applying.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve recently started a new job and want to buy a home, don’t reject your own mortgage application before you’ve even made one.
Less than three months in a job does not automatically mean you can’t get a mortgage.
The answer depends on your employment, income, wider financial circumstances and, importantly, the lender considering the application.
I’ve helped clients navigate situations where their employment didn’t fit the simple rules they’d found online, and often the first job is simply separating what they’ve heard from what lenders actually require.
Sometimes there’s a suitable route forward now.
Sometimes waiting puts you in a better position.
Knowing the difference is where good mortgage advice earns its keep.
If you’ve recently started a job and you’re unsure whether you need to wait before buying or remortgaging, you can book an appointment with me here:
https://veganmortgageadviser.co.uk/appointment
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.