Many people might consider it to be impossible to get a mortgage on a zero hours contract and whilst they could be forgiven for thinking so, it is not necessarily true.

Almost a million people in the UK are now on zero hours contracts according to the Office of National Statistics own Labour Force Survey. Of those that said they were on this type of contract a third of them stated that they worked full-time and nearly half have been with their employer for over two years.

The nature of a zero hours contract means that one’s rights to set hours of work and, therefore, a fixed monthly income are restricted. By their very nature, such contracts are potentially precarious and lenders are understandably cautious when considering applicants on such terms of employment.

There is good news though.

If you use an experienced mortgage broker you may find that as long as you have an otherwise good credit history, there is hope. In order to give yourself the best possible chance, you should do some early preparation. This should include;

  • Get together your P60 for the last year - or two. A lender will want to see regular employment and income.
  • Consider asking your employer for a reference. Anything which helps reinforce your stable employment history can’t hurt your chances.
  • Spend some time getting together payslips, bank statements, credit card statements etc and where possible reduce your monthly household costs to a minimum.

Those of us on zero hours contracts fall into a growing group of individuals sometimes know in the industry as ‘mortgage misfits’. The phrase is a catch all for otherwise creditworthy individuals who don’t fit the main lenders standard criteria. The self-employed also fall into this category.

Contact Mortgage Required on 01628 507477 to see how best we can help you secure a mortgage with a zero hours contract.

Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide

Recent posts

House Price Decrease   Web Larger

According to Nationwide Building Society’s latest House Price Index, house prices dropped 0.6% month on month in May – the first monthly decline this year.

Deals of week web larger

Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.

Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.

Most Affordable UK Spots For First Time Buyers   Web Larger

Research from Lloyds identifies the most affordable areas in the UK for first-time buyers to be able to get onto the property ladder.

Kings Speech   Web Larger

On Wednesday, 13th May, King Charles delivered his speech at the House of Lords, outlining the government’s plans for the upcoming year.

Here is a summary of the housing and energy/environment points. 

Lloyds 5k   Web Larger

From 18th May 2026, Halifax (part of Lloyds Banking Group) is launching a ‘£5k Deposit mortgage’ to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder sooner.

Trumpflation   Web Larger

Homeowners could be faced with paying over £3,000 more per year on their mortgage if the conflict in the Middle East continues, following new analysis from INTEREST from Moneyfacts.

Renters' Rights Act

28 Apr 2026

Renters Rights Act   Web Larger

The Renter’s Rights Bill became law at the end of October, which means it has been signed off by the King, and it is now the Renters’ Rights Act. Despite this becoming law, these changes are likely to start changing within the next six months, with the aim of being fully implemented throughout 2026 and into 2027.

 

Green mortgages web larger

Mortgage lenders are starting to recognise their “Green” responsibilities when it comes to the different products they offer.