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Mortgages for police officers and staff: a practical guide
There is no special mortgage for police officers, and most lenders don't offer police-only rates. What makes the difference is lender criteria: whether a lender counts your overtime, unsocial hours pay and London allowances, and how it treats probation, secondments and your police pension. Pick a lender whose rules fit your payslip and you can often borrow noticeably more. This guide explains how it works for officers, staff and their families.
Updated on 17 September 2026 to reflect the 3.5% police pay award from 1 September 2026. Looking for advice now? See our police mortgages service.
Police-only rates?
Rarely
You get the same deals as everyone else. The gain is in how your pay is counted
Overtime
Varies most
Some lenders ignore it, some use part, some use all of it if it's regular
2026 pay award
3.5%
For officers of all ranks in England and Wales, from 1 September 2026
2015 scheme pension age
60
Worth planning for if your mortgage term runs past retirement
Do police officers get special mortgage deals?
Not usually. There is no government mortgage scheme just for the police, and very few lenders price products by occupation. Police officers choose from the same mortgages as any other buyer.
Lenders do tend to see police employment as stable, with clear pay scales and a strong pension. The challenge is that police pay is several lines on a payslip, and each lender decides how much of it to use. That choice can change what you can borrow by tens of thousands of pounds.
How lenders assess police pay
These are typical approaches across the market. Criteria vary between lenders and change often.
| Pay element | How lenders typically treat it |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | Counted in full. Lenders use your current pay point, so apply with payslips showing the 2026 award once it's paid. |
| Overtime | The widest variation. Some ignore it, some use around half, some use all of it with three to twelve months of consistent payslips or a P60. |
| Unsocial hours allowance | Federated ranks receive 10% of hourly basic pay for hours worked between 8pm and 6am. Many lenders count it if it appears regularly; some treat it like overtime. |
| London weighting and London allowance | Paid to Met and City of London officers. Many lenders add them to basic pay. Some forces near London pay a South East allowance, which is treated less consistently. |
| On-call and other allowances | Often counted only if paid regularly and shown over several months. |
| Bonus and one-off payments | Usually left out, including back pay from a pay award. They can help with a deposit. |
| Police pension (retired officers) | Normally accepted as income, with a pension statement or award letter. |
Nothing here guarantees a particular lender will use a particular income. If your pay mixes several sources, our guide when your payslip isn't a simple story goes into more detail.
One officer's payslip, three lender approaches
Illustrative: £40,000 basic, £2,000 unsocial hours pay and £6,000 regular overtime, borrowing at 4.5 times income
Probationers, PCSOs, specials and police staff
Police employment isn't one type of contract, and automated lender systems can misread it. None of these situations rules you out, but they narrow the list of lenders worth approaching.
Probationers and new recruits
Two years on most routes, three on the degree apprenticeship
Most lenders treat police officers like any other employee, with payslips and a P60. Many accept probationers, some after a few payslips. Overtime may not count until there's a track record.
PCSOs and police staff
Employed on police staff terms
Assessed like other employees: permanent contracts are straightforward, fixed-term ones depend on the lender. Shift allowances are treated much as they are for officers.
Special constables
Volunteers alongside another job
Specials are unpaid, so lenders base the mortgage on your main job. Expenses you're reimbursed aren't income.
Secondments and force transfers
Same career, new paperwork
On secondment, lenders may want confirmation you're still employed by your home force, and may not count temporary allowances. After a transfer, continuous police service usually helps, but some lenders want a payslip from the new force.
Moving force or buying before a posting
If a transfer or promotion could mean moving, choose your mortgage with that in mind.
- Portability: most fixed rates can be moved to a new home, subject to the lender approving the new property and loan. That can avoid early repayment charges.
- Shorter fixes or low charges: useful if a move is likely within a couple of years. See how long to fix for.
- Timing gaps: if you need to buy before your sale completes, bridging finance can fill the gap, at a higher cost. Some bridging loans are not regulated by the FCA.
Buying in London and other high-cost areas
In London, the income a lender counts can decide whether a purchase works at all. Whether London weighting and London allowance are added to basic pay, and how overtime is treated, matters more than a small difference in rate.
Other options include a longer term, buying with a partner, or a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage where a family member helps with income. Our September 2026 rates update shows what bigger loans cost each month, with average two and five-year fixes around 5.7% to 5.8% in mid-September.
Police pensions and borrowing into retirement
Most serving officers are now in the Police Pension Scheme 2015, with a normal pension age of 60. Officers with earlier service may also have benefits from the 1987 or 2006 schemes, which can allow retirement at a different age.
That matters if your term runs past retirement. Lenders will want to see the mortgage stays affordable on your pension. Maximum ages at the end of the term vary widely, and some lenders go well into later life.
Retirement options lenders consider
- Borrowing on your pension
- Many lenders accept a police pension as income, including after retirement
- Using a lump sum
- Commuting part of your pension to reduce or clear the mortgage, which also reduces your income
- Interest-only
- Lower payments with a clear plan to repay, such as downsizing. See our interest-only guide
- Remortgaging before you retire
- Applying while your salary is still paid can widen the choice of lenders. See remortgaging
Shift work and budgeting
Overtime is rarely guaranteed. Budget your mortgage payment on basic pay and regular allowances, and treat overtime as extra.
- Keep an emergency fund, often three to six months of essential outgoings.
- Set your mortgage and bills to go out by direct debit just after payday.
- Use overtime months to overpay your mortgage, within your lender's allowance.
- Review your budget after a change of role, shift pattern or force.
Protecting your mortgage: what you may already have
Check existing cover before buying more. What each policy pays depends on the scheme rules and terms.
| Cover | What it typically provides | Worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Police pension death benefits | In the 2015 scheme, a lump sum of three times pay for active members, plus pensions for eligible partners and children | Whether it would clear the mortgage, and that it stops if you leave the service |
| Police Federation group insurance | Local branches run group schemes for members, which may include life and other cover | How much it pays, and whether it continues if you leave or retire |
| Sick pay and ill-health retirement | Provided under police regulations and pension rules, depending on circumstances | How long full pay lasts, and whether a partner's income would cover payments |
Police staff are usually in the Local Government Pension Scheme, which has its own benefits. Some people find existing cover is enough, others add personal policies. See life and critical illness insurance and income protection insurance.
Schemes that may help
Shared ownership
Buy a share, pay rent on the rest
Buy part of a home and increase your share over time. Useful where prices are high relative to pay.
First Homes
England, first-time buyers, new builds
A discount of at least 30% on selected new homes, where councils offer it. Councils can prioritise local key workers. Supply varies a lot by area.
Lifetime ISA
Saving for a first home
A government bonus of 25% on up to £4,000 a year of savings. Read how a Lifetime ISA can boost your deposit.
Standard first-time buyer mortgages
From a 5% deposit
Available to officers like anyone else, usually at higher rates than with a bigger deposit. See first-time buyer mortgages.
Scheme rules are set by government, councils and providers, and can change.
How to prepare your application
- Gather your payslipsAt least three months, and up to twelve if you want overtime counted. Add your latest P60.
- Show your overtime historySteady overtime over several months counts for more than one busy month.
- Check your credit fileFix errors, register on the electoral roll and avoid new credit. See why your credit score matters.
- Get paperwork for special casesSecondment letters, transfer confirmation or pension statements, if they apply.
- Match the lender firstGet an agreement in principle from a lender whose criteria fit your pay, then apply once.
How Quick Mortgages helps the police family
We're a whole-of-market broker with a panel of 110+ lenders, not tied to any of them, and there are no broker fees for our advice. We go through police payslips line by line to find lenders that count the income you actually earn, and we're proud supporters of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
We're based in Birmingham and advise officers, staff and families across the UK by phone or video, around your shifts. Find out more on our police mortgages page, or buying a home.
Police mortgages: FAQs
Do police officers get better mortgage rates?
Not usually. Most lenders don't offer police-only rates. The benefit comes from choosing a lender whose criteria count your overtime and allowances, which can increase what you can borrow.
Can a probationer police officer get a mortgage?
Usually, yes. Many lenders accept probationers in a permanent role, though some want a few months of payslips first and may not count overtime straight away.
Is police overtime counted for a mortgage?
It depends on the lender. Some ignore it, some use a proportion, and some use all of it if your payslips show it's regular.
How much can a police officer borrow?
Many lenders cap borrowing at around 4.5 times income, with some going higher for certain applicants. What income they count often matters more than the multiple.
Can I get a mortgage on a police pension?
Yes. Many lenders accept a police pension as income. Your age at the end of the term and whether any lump sum reduces the loan affect which lenders fit.
Can my partner and I apply together if only one of us is in the police?
Yes. Lenders combine both incomes. If your partner is self-employed or has variable pay, lender choice matters for both of you. See self-employed mortgages.
Sources
- Home Office and Police Federation of England and Wales, 2026 police pay award announcement (3.5% for all ranks, PRRB recommended 3.9%)
- Police Remuneration Review Body, Twelfth Report on England and Wales 2026
- Police Federation of England and Wales, pay and allowances guidance (unsocial hours allowance)
- Police Federation of England and Wales and police pension administrators, 2015 CARE scheme guidance (normal pension age, death benefits)
- College of Policing, police constable entry routes (probation periods)
- GOV.UK, First Homes scheme, shared ownership and Lifetime ISA guidance
- Moneyfacts average fixed rates, 15 September 2026
Correct on 17 September 2026 and may change.
Disclaimer:
This article is for general guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Mortgage products and their terms can vary, and it is important to seek advice from a qualified, regulated professional who can assess your individual circumstances. Please ensure you consider your unique needs before making any financial decisions.
While every effort is made to ensure that the information provided on this blog is accurate and up-to-date, we do not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. The mortgage market can change rapidly, and the information on this blog may become outdated. We recommend verifying any information before acting on it and seeking tailored advice.
THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
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