Being turned down by one lender because you’re on a zero-hours contract doesn’t mean a mortgage isn’t realistic, it usually means that particular lender doesn’t assess this type of income at all. I compare mortgages across 120+ lenders, including specialist lenders who look at zero-hours income properly, and we’ll tell you honestly where you stand before anything touches your credit file.
HTG Mortgages
Zero-Hour Contract Mortgages
Last Updated: August 2026
Featured in The Telegraph • Daily Mail • The Times • Sky News
A zero-hours contract doesn’t mean no income, it means variable income, and there’s a real difference between the two when it comes to getting a mortgage. Some lenders reject zero-hours applicants outright. Others will look properly at your track record and lend against it. We know which is which, so you’re not wasting a credit search on the wrong lender.
Lenders who assess zero-hours income on its actual track record, not a blanket refusal
Speak directly to Harry, not a call centre, no passing you around
Decisions in principle done with a soft search, not a hard credit check
As featured in…
Meet your Advisor
Harry Goodliffe
- FCA Authorised
- Director & Mortgage Advisor
“I‘m not about confusing jargon or passing you from person to person. From our first chat to the day you get the keys, you’ll deal directly with me. I‘ll keep you updated, answer any burning questions, and do everything I can to make the whole process as stress-free as possible.”
Let’s Talk About Your Mortgage
The zero-hour contract mortgage process
1
Step 1
First Chat
Contact us for a straightforward chat about your work history, how long you’ve been on a zero-hours contract, and whether your hours have been stable, rising or irregular.
2
Step 2
Research
We’ll match your payslips and hours history against lender criteria to find who will assess your income properly, before anyone runs a hard search.
3
Step 3
Application
Once you’ve chosen a mortgage, we’ll handle the application process, liaising with the lender on your behalf.
4
Step 4
Completion
After approval, we’ll ensure a smooth transition to your new mortgage, keeping you informed at every step.
About
Our approach.
Why choose HTG Mortgages?
A zero-hours contract changes how a lender needs to assess your income, not whether they can lend to you at all. Here’s what matters most:
Nearly 1.23 million people in the UK are on a zero-hours contract as their main job.
This isn’t a fringe employment type, it’s a significant part of the workforce, and lenders who specialise in this area see it regularly. Source: Work Foundation analysis of ONS Labour Force Survey data, 2025.
Track record over a single payslip.
Most lenders that accept zero-hours income want to see a history, commonly around 12 months, and will average your earnings over that period rather than judging you on your best or worst month.
Stable or rising hours help your case.
A pattern of consistent or increasing hours over your track record generally works in your favour with lenders who take this approach, compared with hours that have been falling or highly erratic.
Not every zero-hours contract is treated the same.
Lenders look at your sector, how long you’ve worked for the same employer, and whether your hours are effectively guaranteed in practice even if not on paper. This is exactly the kind of case where matching you to the right lender’s criteria makes the difference.
How HTG Mortgages Can Help
At HTG Mortgages, we build your application around your real hours and earnings history, not a single payslip snapshot. As an independent, whole-of-market broker we place zero-hours mortgages with lenders who assess variable income properly. Here’s how we can assist you:
- Income built from your real track record: we look at your actual hours and earnings history, not a single month’s payslip.
- Lender matching before you apply: we check your work history against lender criteria first, so you’re not making a hard-search application to a lender who never assesses zero-hours income at all.
- Broker-only access: some of the lenders most comfortable with variable-hours applicants aren’t available directly to the public.
- A route back to the mainstream: if you start on a specialist deal, keeping a clean payment record can open up more mainstream options at your next remortgage.
Who zero-hour contract mortgages can help
Zero-hour contract mortgages exist because variable hours are not the same as unreliable income. They could be the right route if:
- You’re on a zero-hours contract and have been with the same employer for 12 months or more.
- Your hours vary week to week but have been broadly stable or increasing.
- You work in retail, hospitality, care, logistics or another sector where zero-hours contracts are common.
- You’ve already been declined by a mainstream lender because of your contract type.
- You’re newer to a zero-hours role but have a consistent work history in the same line of work.
Zero-hours contracts span retail, hospitality, care, logistics, warehousing and plenty more. With the right advice, a variable-hours job doesn’t have to mean a smaller mortgage or no mortgage at all.
If you also pick up contract or agency work, our contractor mortgages page covers how that income is assessed. We work with clients across Hampshire, including Portsmouth.
Why use HTG’s mortgage services?
Available 24/7, so we are always there to help when you need us
We are an independently owned, whole-of-market mortgage broker offering first-charge mortgages
We provide unrivalled customer service, ensuring that you get the care you deserve
Let’s get your mortgage sorted
Written by Harry Goodliffe
Director & Mortgage Adviser, HTG Mortgages · FCA Authorised (1017945)
CeMAP Qualified · Featured in National Press · South England Prestige Awards 2026/27 winner