Can You Get a Mortgage After a Career Break or Job Gap?

Life does not always go ‘according to plan’ and there can be many reasons for taking time out from work. Whether your career break was for family, health, redundancy, or study, when it comes time to apply for a mortgage, many people worry that a career break or job gap could stop them from securing a mortgage.

So, can you get a mortgage after a job break?

The good news – it is absolutely possible to secure a mortgage after a career break. But lenders will need clarity. Be it that you’re returning to full-time employment, starting a new job, or moving into self-employment – whatever the case – you’ll need to show proof of financial stability and explain any gaps in your work history.

In this article, we dive into everything you need to know about getting a mortgage after a career break. From lender expectations and credit checks, to the top tips for improving your mortgage application chances. Let’s jump in.

How Long Do I Need to Be Back at Work Before Applying for a Mortgage?

Most lenders will want to see at least 3 months of consistent income before approving your mortgage application. This provides assurance to the lender that you’ve returned to stable employment and will be able to manage your mortgage repayments. However, some lenders will only accept borrowers who have had continuous employment for 6 to 12 months – especially if you are on a permanent contract.

That said, if you’ve only been back at work for about a month, very few lenders may consider your application and it will often depend on the discretion of the underwriter. They will typically ask for detailed explanations about the length and reasons for any specific career break.

Submitting a letter from your employer confirming your new role with your application can help bolster your chances of success. This letter will typically need to include:

Additionally, if you’ve experienced a gap in employment and have returned to work on a self-employed basis, most lenders will require a full two years of income evidence, typically tax calculations, before they can assess your application.

In short: applying for a mortgage with a new job can be successful, but it is crucial that you ensure all the relevant documentation that demonstrates your financial stability and future prospects, after a career break, are listed.

At Boon Brokers, our dedicated mortgage advisers can help match you with lenders who are both open to supporting borrowers after a break and that align with your financial goals. With whole-of-market access, we have access to over 100+ lenders, including both high-street banks and specialist lenders alike, allowing us to compare the latest mortgage products and find a deal that suits your specific needs.

Will Lenders Want to Know Why I Took a Career Break?

There can be a plethora of reasons for a career break, from personal or family responsibilities to health issues, redundancy, retraining, or simply taking time to recharge your batteries and reflect on your chosen career path.

Whatever the reason, Lender’s will almost always want to know the reasons behind any significant employment gaps – especially if they’ve occurred within the last two years or have been sporadic and frequent.

This can be achieved during your mortgage application with a job gap letter of explanation. This letter is a detailed break down of the reason(s) for any gap in employment and will typically include:

• The reason for your career break (e.g. maternity leave, health, redundancy)
• The dates of your employment gap
• Your current employment status and income

Most importantly, you should be honest and transparent. Trying to hide any reason for your gap in employment could delay or even derail your application. Let’s take a look at the most common scenarios for career breaks:

Maternity or Paternity Leave

Taking time out from work to welcome and care for a new child is completely normal, and many lenders are familiar with these types of career gaps. As such, you will likely still be eligible for a mortgage on maternity leave or getting a mortgage on paternity leave.

To help provide clarity on your application, lenders will want to understand:

• When you plan to return to work.
• What your income will be during and after the leave.
• Whether your employment is still secure.

Supporting your application with a letter from your employer confirming your return date and post-leave salary can reassure lenders of your long-term financial stability..

Health Issues or Caring Responsibilities

If you’ve taken a break due to illness or to care for a loved one, lenders will usually request further information as part of your application. While, understandably, this may feel personal, it’s important to provide a clear and honest explanation.

Your letter of explanation should outline:

• When the break occurred and how long it lasted
• The nature of the break, whether it was due to your own health or caring duties
• Whether the situation has now been resolved or is ongoing but manageable
• Your current working status – specifically whether you’ve returned to your previous role or started a new one
• Your current income and whether it has stabilised.

Providing this added context, supported by payslips or an employer letter, can bolster your mortgage application and reassure lenders that your financial situation is now stable and sustainable.

Depending on your specific case, some lenders may also ask for confirmation from a healthcare professional or employer to support your explanation.

Redundancy

Redundancy can happen at the most unexpected times of life and can be a significant financial setback, but it doesn’t automatically prevent you from securing a mortgage.

Lenders understand that employment circumstances change – especially in today’s job market – and many will consider both mortgage and remortgage applications after a redundancy as long as you can provide the right evidence and documentation.

Here’s what lenders will typically want to see if you’ve faced a redundancy:

• The exact date of your redundancy – to gauge the length of your employment gap
• Proof of a new job, including a contract of employment
• Details of any income received during the gap, including redundancy pay, benefits, or savings used to cover living costs.

Additionally, to help protect yourself against future uncertainties, you may want to explore mortgage redundancy insurance. As the name suggests, this type of insurance can help cover your mortgage repayments if you face another unexpected redundancy.

Returning to Education or Retraining

Taking time out to study or retrain can often be a fantastic benefit, leading to high-profile job opportunities and an increase in income. However, what is most important to lenders is what your current financial position looks like as a result.

Lenders will focus on current financial standing and whether you’re now in stable, ongoing work with a reliable income that meets their affordability criteria.

If your time away led to a new job or a better-paying role, this can work in your favour – but only if it’s supported with the right documentation.

As such, it can help providing a letter of explanation that briefly explains:

• The dates of the education or training
• That you’ve since returned to employment
• Your current income and employment type

Crucially, you don’t need to go into detail about the course itself. Instead, lenders want reassurance – they want you to make it clear to them that your finances are now secure and sustainable.

What If I’m Self-Employed After My Break?

Switching to self-employment after a career break is increasingly common, but in reality it can complicate your mortgage application.

Securing a mortgage as a self-employed or freelance worker will require:

• 2+ years of trading history
• HMRC tax calculations, tax year overviews and tax returns
• Business bank statements and future income projections

If you’re getting a mortgage when self-employed, lenders will shift their focus to how consistent and reliable your business income is.

Some specialist lenders may offer mortgages for self-employed applicants with just one year of accounts, but these typically require:

• Strong earnings
• Evidence of current and future contracts
• Strong credit score
• Bigger initial deposit amount

At Boon Brokers, we specialise in helping self-employed applicants find the mortgage that matches their needs. With access to the whole-of-market, including specialist lenders who understand non-traditional income, we can help you present a strong case and find a mortgage that suits your circumstances.

Does a Career Break Affect My Credit Score?

A career break will not directly affect your credit score. This is because credit reference agencies don’t record your personal employment status.

However, what is important to keep in mind is what happens during that break can impact your score. This can be specific to the reasons behind your personal career break, but if it leads to missed payments, increased reliance on credit, or financial instability – this will all negatively affect your credit score.

When reviewing your credit score for mortgage approval, lenders will check:

• Payment history (any missed or late payments)
• Credit utilisation (how much of your available credit you’re using)
• The number of recent credit applications

In short: When lenders assess your credit profile, they will look at your repayment history, the available credit that you’re using, and whether you’ve applied for multiple new credit accounts recently. Each of these factors will provide them with an insight into how likely you will be able to manage future mortgage repayments.

To help improve any mortgage application, it can help to take steps to improve your credit health before applying. This includes paying down debts, avoiding new credit applications, and making sure you’re registered on the electoral roll.

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Getting a Mortgage?

It’s important to keep in mind that returning to work after a career break doesn’t disqualify you from getting a mortgage. However, lenders will be closely assessing your current financial stability and management.

By understanding this principle and preparing your application accordingly, you can significantly increase your chances of approval.

Here we’ve provided the top tips that can help improve your chances of getting a mortgage:

Secure a Permanent and Stable Job

While this may be an obvious first tip – one of the most important factors that lenders will consider is your  employment security.

Most lenders prefer borrowers on permanent contracts, as this reassures them that your income is reliable and ongoing. While some lenders may still consider your application during a working probation period – especially if you’re in a similar role or industry as before your break – it will generally decrease the amount of lender options and chances of success.

Similarly, if you’re in a temporary, fixed-term, or zero-hours position, you may need to provide more detail and evidence of your financial security in your application. Lenders may request previous contracts, current and future income expectations, a longer employment history, and confirmation that your current role is likely to continue.

Understanding How Much You Can Borrow

One of the most common questions we get asked here at Boon Brokers: “How much do I need to earn to get a mortgage?”

While income requirements will vary depending on your chosen lender and personal financial profile, most lenders offer around 4 to 4.5 times your annual salary, depending on your outgoings and overall affordability.

Additionally, other factors, like your credit score, deposit size, and existing debts, will all influence how much you can borrow. If your income is variable (due to overtime, commission, or bonuses), lenders may only count a portion of it or ask for more evidence of consistency.

Provide at Least 3 Months of Payslips

If you’ve only recently returned to work, aim to provide at least three months’ worth of payslips. This is the golden rule as it will help lenders see that your income has stabilised.

If you’re paid monthly, three payslips are usually sufficient. But if you have variable pay, such as bonuses or fluctuating hours, lenders may request 6 – 12 months of income history to build a clearer picture of your earning potential.

You may also be asked for additional documents such as your employment contract, a letter confirming your job start date and salary, or bank statements that match your payslips.

Save for a Larger Deposit

While the minimum deposit for a mortgage is usually 5–10%, if you’ve had a recent job gap, lenders may require more. This can sometimes reach 15% or even 20% and is in place to offset the perceived added risk.However, there are additional benefits to saving for a larger deposit.

A larger deposit not only improves your approval chances but can also unlock access to better interest rates and a wider choice of mortgage products. It reduces the lender’s loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, which makes you a more appealing applicant overall.

Check and Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score plays a crucial role in how lenders assess your application. Even if your career break didn’t directly affect your credit file, relying on credit cards or missing payments during that time could have left a mark.

An important step, before applying, is to check your credit report and take steps to improve it where possible. A strong credit score not only improves your chances of approval but could also help you secure more competitive rates.

Improve your credit score and mortgage by:

• Paying off outstanding debts
• Avoiding new credit applications in the months before applying
• Ensuring you’re registered on the electoral roll
• Checking your credit report for errors or outdated information

Avoid New Financial Commitments

It’s important to keep your financial profile as steady as possible before applying. Taking out new loans or finance agreements, such as car finance or large personal loans, can reduce your borrowing power and negatively impact your affordability assessment.

Simply: Lenders want to see a borrower with a stable financial profile, this includes reliable financial management with income security.

As such, it is best to avoid planning any major purchases or new credit commitments before your mortgage application.

Should I Speak to a Mortgage Broker?

Yes. Working with a trusted and regulated mortgage broker can help streamline your mortgage application and help you navigate the world of mortgage to find you the best mortgage deals on the market today.

At Boon Brokers, we offer fee-free expert advice and access to the whole-of-market, including both high-street and specialist lenders who are familiar with:

• Applicants returning to work after maternity, redundancy or illness
• Borrowers switching to self-employment
• Career changers or those with multiple recent jobs

Our dedicated mortgage experts can help advise you on how to draft a job gap letter for a mortgage, collate the necessary documents, and present your case clearly to lenders – giving you the best chance of securing the right deal.

As a whole-of-market mortgage brokers, we also have access to over 100+ mortgage lenders, allowing us to compare the leading mortgage products on the market to match you with the best mortgage that suits your needs.

Contact Boon Brokers today and start your mortgage journey with the help of a fee-free mortgage adviser who can help find your perfect mortgage.