Locum Doctor Mortgages
If you are thinking about getting a mortgage as a locum doctor or a doctor with multiple income sources we can help.
- Quick and easy process
- We take care of your application
- 20+ Years Experience
Whole of Market Access
Locum Doctor Mortgages
Flexible mortgage solutions designed around the realities of locum income.
Locum doctors play a vital role across the NHS and private healthcare — but when it comes to getting a mortgage, the way you’re paid can make things more complicated than it needs to be.
At Doctors Mortgages, we specialise in helping locum GPs, hospital doctors, and medical contractors secure competitive mortgage deals.
Many mainstream lenders apply rigid affordability rules that don’t reflect the nature of medical work — which can lead to unnecessary declines or reduced borrowing amounts.
Whether you’re paid through PAYE or work on a self-employed basis. Our in-depth understanding of medical income means we can present your case clearly to lenders who recognise the stability and professionalism behind your earnings.
Why Locum Doctors Face Mortgage Challenges
Locum work provides flexibility and independence, but lenders often find it difficult to assess income that doesn’t fit a standard monthly salary pattern. Common challenges include:
Variable or irregular income from month to month
Locum work often means your earnings fluctuate depending on shifts and availability. We work with lenders who take an average of your income — not just one payslip — to give a fairer reflection of your true affordability.
Multiple income sources (hospital trusts, agencies, private work)
Whether you work through NHS staff banks, private clinics, or medical agencies, we can help you present all your income streams clearly so lenders see your full financial picture.
Limited trading history if newly self-employed
If you’ve recently started locum work or have less than two years of accounts, we know which lenders can still consider your most recent 12 months’ income or even your current contract.
Complex tax arrangements for limited company contractors
Many locum GPs and consultants work through limited companies. We understand how to structure your mortgage application using salary, dividends, or retained profits — and which lenders will accept each.
How We Help
Our mortgage specialists work exclusively with doctors and healthcare professionals. We know which lenders will:
- Accept locum income from PAYE, agency, or self-employed work.
- Use average earnings or annualised income rather than just one payslip.
- Consider SA302s, accountants’ certificates, or limited company dividends for self-employed locums.
Offer competitive rates and flexible underwriting criteria for medical professionals.
Words From Happy Doctors
Read some of our recent client experiences
If you’re a locum doctor — whether PAYE or self-employed — we can help you find the right mortgage to suit your career and lifestyle
We are experts in sourcing and arranging mortgages for doctors whatever stage you are at. We have an exceptional reputation for customer service. Deal with us and we’ll guide you through the mortgage application process from start to finish.
Your in safe hands with us
Specialist Locum Doctor Mortgage Support from Start to Finish
At Doctors Mortgages, we understand that working as a locum can make securing a mortgage feel more complicated. As one of the UK’s leading specialist mortgage and insurance brokers for medical professionals, we provide mortgage advice for locum doctors that many high-street brokers simply can’t.
With nearly 20 years of experience arranging mortgages for doctors, we’ve helped thousands of medical professionals—locums included—achieve their property goals. Because we work exclusively with the medical sector, we’ve built strong relationships with well-known banks and building societies, giving you access to lenders who truly understand the unique nature of locum work.
Our advisers have expert knowledge of NHS contracts, doctors’ pay structures, GP earnings and the varied career paths junior doctors follow during and after the foundation programme.
When it comes to locum income, we specialise in understanding both PAYE and self-employed locum arrangements. This means we can present your income accurately and confidently to lenders, increasing your chances of approval and securing the most competitive rates available.
Whether your locum work is full-time, part-time, ad-hoc or mixed with salaried roles, we are ready to find a mortgage solution that fits your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Locum Mortgage Questions
Find quick answers to common questions using our helpful FAQs.
Locum income includes any work you do outside of a permanent salaried post — this might be hospital staff-bank shifts, agency work, private clinic sessions or GP sessional work. We’ll work with lenders who understand this type of income and treat it fairly.
Yes — some lenders will accept weekly payslips if you’re on an agency or hospital staff bank PAYE contract. We can help you find lenders that may approve your application after just three months’ consecutive payslips.
If you’re self-employed (including via a limited company) then lenders will typically want to see at least one (often two) years’ accounts or SA302s. We know which lenders cater for company-contractor structures, dividends or retained profits, and can advise accordingly.
Not necessarily. Having multiple income streams (e.g., hospital trust, agency work, private sessions) is common for locums and can actually work in your favour — as long as you can provide clear documentation. We’ll help present your total earning picture to the lender to maximise your chances.
We’ve worked with lenders who are prepared to assess newer locum doctors by looking at recent proven income, contracts, or upcoming scheduled shifts. While a longer history always helps, it doesn’t automatically prevent you from obtaining a mortgage.
This depends on your income structure. You may need:
- Three months’ recent payslips (for weekly/hospital PAYE locums)
- Bank statements covering those payslips
- SA302s or accountants’ certificates (for self-employed locums)
- Evidence of upcoming shifts or contracts
- Proof of deposit, ID checks and standard mortgage paperwork
We’ll provide a bespoke checklist based on your circumstances.
Not inherently — many specialist lenders and brokers (such as us) recognise the locum doctor income model and treat it similarly to salaried income when properly presented. Our role is to secure you the most competitive rate by placing your case with the right lender for your situation.
Timescales are similar to standard mortgages once all documentation is in place. Because we’re specialists and used to locum income patterns, we can often expedite the application and ensure smoother processing than a generalist broker. That said, applying early and providing accurate information always helps speed things up.
That’s a typical scenario for many locums. Lenders we work with will often look at your average earnings over a period (e.g., last 12 months) rather than a single month’s figure. We’ll help you frame your income in the strongest possible way.
There are however a small number of lenders who recognise the needs of professional mortgage applicants such as doctors. These lenders offer enhanced product ranges with sympathetic underwriting suited to the different types of employment a doctor may pursue.
We believe doctors should always look to get the best mortgage deal and most medics will have no difficulty applying, but sometimes there is a compromise to be made between mortgage approval and getting the best mortgage deal on the market. For example junior doctors pay and short term contracts are widely misunderstood by the majority of mortgage lenders. Doctors should be prepared for a narrow range of options if they look to take out a mortgage early on in their career. As specialist mortgage brokers working solely on behalf of UK doctors our job is to help manage the expectations of our clients looking for a mortgage.
Simply fill out our online enquiry form (or call us on 0330 111 4081), and one of our specialist advisers for doctors will be in touch. We’ll assess your circumstances, explain the documentation needed, match you with the right lender, and guide you from application to completion.
Mortgage approval as a doctor can be more difficult than it used to be. It’s more important than ever that doctors consider using the services of a professional mortgage broker. Their specialist knowledge to will match doctors mortgage requirements to a lender and make the whole process a lot easier.