Mortgages for teachers
Find out how mortgages for teachers work and how you can get a deal tailored around your profession.
What is a teacher's mortgage
In reality, a teacher’s mortgage is no different to any other mortgage. It refers to products offered by specialist lenders who can tailor their deals to people in your profession.
They can also come with improved terms because many lenders will see you as a low-risk applicant as a teacher.
Speaking to our expert advisors is one of the best ways to find a mortgage that works for you as a teacher. Many high street lenders won’t offer bespoke deals for teachers, but a broker can take the time to understand your situation and find you a deal that works for you.
Do teachers get cheaper mortgages?
Although there are no longer any specific mortgage schemes for teachers and other public sector workers, you could still qualify for professional mortgage terms.
Many lenders look favourably on applicants with professional occupations like teachers, doctors, solicitors, police officers and accountants. This is because you are likely to have a reliable career with good progression, which makes you less risky in the eyes of mortgage lenders.
To reward this, lenders can offer a series of benefits to professionals. These can help you to borrow more and make your mortgage more flexible or even cheaper.
What incentives can teachers get?
As a teacher, you might be able to access mortgages with some of the following incentives:
Most lenders allow you to borrow 4 or 4.5 times your income as a mortgage. However, professionals, including teachers, can find lenders offering multiples of 5 or 5.5 your annual salary.
Some lenders can boost their maximum loan-to-value (LTV) to 95% if you’re a teacher, so you would only need a 5% deposit saved up.
You might be able to find exclusive interest rates, longer mortgage terms, lower fees or cashback if you’re a professional.
The lenders specialising in mortgages for teachers understand how your job works. They are better placed to accurately assess your income and can be flexible to work around your busy schedule.
Who qualifies for a teacher's mortgage?
To be considered for a teacher’s mortgage, most lenders will require that you are in one of the following roles:
Fully qualified teacher in position at a school
Qualified lecturer at a college or university
Early career teachers (ECT)
Teaching assistant with an NVQ level 3
Nursery nurse with an NVQ level 3
If you’re in teacher training or have only just qualified, you might find it more difficult to qualify. A lot of lenders want you to have several years' worth of experience before they offer you professional mortgage terms. Some lenders, however, will include teachers in training, so it’s worth shopping around.
It’s important to remember that you’ll still need to meet all of the lender’s standard eligibility rules to be accepted, including:
Having a deposit of at least 5% of the purchase price
Having a good credit record - all lenders will check your credit report as part of the application process
Being able to afford the monthly repayments
Being 18 or older (this is 21 with some lenders)
Being a permanent UK resident
How to get a teacher mortgage
To find a mortgage as a teacher that works for you, follow these steps:
Use a mortgage calculator to help you understand what you can afford. You should also look to get a Mortgage in Principle, which you’ll need before you can start making offers.
You’ll need to supply several documents as part of the application process. These include bank statements, utility bills and payslips. You'll also need to provide evidence of your job role to prove your eligibility for a professional mortgage.
It’s important to check your credit report before you apply. All lenders will run a check on your credit record, and if you have a poor score, you may not be accepted, so it’s worth making sure your score is good enough.
The best way to find mortgage lenders that specialise in mortgages for teachers is to use a broker. They can search the market for you and help you find a mortgage deal that is right for your personal and professional situation.
Our expert says...
“Your hard work and dedication as a teacher could earn you certain benefits when getting a mortgage, but the right deal isn’t always easy to find.
You could access several perks from mortgage lenders who specialise in products for professionals. To find a mortgage that rewards teachers, speak to one of our advisors who can search the market for you to find the right deal.”
Mortgages for teachers FAQs
Getting a mortgage as an NQT is possible, but it can be more difficult. If you haven’t been working for long, it is harder for lenders to make a judgment on your income and the stability of your job.
For this reason, some lenders won’t offer you a mortgage unless you’ve been working for a year or more. However, by using a broker, you can find specialist lenders who understand the teaching profession and are willing to lend to NQTs.
You may work on a temporary or zero-hours contract if you're a supply teacher. This can make getting a mortgage difficult, as many lenders require you to have a full-time role.
However, lenders that specialise in mortgages for teachers may be willing to lend to you as a supply teacher. It will help if you have worked as a supply teacher for several years, as this gives them confidence that you will earn enough to afford your mortgage payments.
Since the ‘key workers’ scheme was removed in 2019, there are no longer any specific schemes designed for teachers and other public sector workers. However, you can access other mortgage schemes that are available to first-time buyers, including:
The exact amount you’ll be able to borrow will depend on the lender, your annual income and affordability.
Most lenders offer loans worth 4 or 4.5 times your income. However, as a teacher, you could find a lender willing to offer up to 6 times your income. They see you as a low-risk applicant with a reliable income and good long-term career prospects.
For example, if you earn £30,000, you might be able to borrow up to £135,000 with a standard high-street lender. However, a lender that specialises in mortgages for professionals could offer a loan of up to £180,000.
It’s important to remember that your affordability and credit score will also influence how much you can borrow. For example, if you have several debts, this can reduce how much you can borrow.
It is still possible to get a mortgage if you have poor credit; however, it will mean you’re unlikely to get the best possible deal.
Most lenders are wary of lending to applicants with a poor credit record because they are more likely to struggle to keep up with their repayments. To reduce the risk to them, lenders may offer a mortgage at a higher rate or on less favourable terms if you have bad credit.
However, as a teacher, some lenders can be more flexible because your profession means you are seen as a more reliable borrower. However, some benefits, like a larger loan or higher LTV, might not be available if you have a poor credit record.
Getting a new mortgage as a retired teacher could be possible if you can prove your pension can cover your repayments.
The Teacher’s Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme, which means you’ll receive a reliable income into retirement.
This can help you prove your affordability to lenders, but you will still need to meet all other criteria. The biggest stumbling block could be finding a lender willing to lend to you as an older borrower.
Many banks won’t offer mortgages to you if you’re over a certain age, for example, 70 years old. Using a broker like Better.co.uk can help, as our advisors can search the market for lenders willing to lend to older borrowers.
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Important info & marketing claims
You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage. Your savings will depend on personal circumstances.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
*The savings figure of £656 is based on Better.co.uk remortgage customers in April 2024. Read more on our marketing claims page.
We can't always guarantee we will be able to help you with your mortgage application depending on your credit history and circumstances.
Average mortgage decision and approval times are based on Better.co.uk's historic data for lenders we submit applications to.
Tracker rates are identified after comparing over 12,000 mortgage products from over 100 mortgage lenders.
As of January 2023, Better.co.uk has access to over 100 lenders. This number is subject to change.
For buy-to-let landlords, there's no guarantee that it will be possible to arrange continuous letting of a property, nor that rental income will be sufficient to meet the cost of the mortgage.