Mortgages for Teachers: Your Complete Guide to Getting on the Property Ladder

by | Tuesday 8th Jul 2025 | Mortgage Insights

UK teacher who is buying their first home with support from a mortgage adviser

If you’re a teacher thinking of buying your first home, or indeed your second home, you might be asking yourself how having a teaching career influences your mortgage. The good news is that there are advisers and lenders who have experience of facilitating teachers in achieving their own front door keys, even with irregular income patterns, September starts working, or lower deposits.

This is what all UK teachers should know about getting a mortgage, and why talking to a mortgage adviser can be a lifeline.

Can Teachers Get a Mortgage Easily?

Yes, but not necessarily. Teaching is an extremely respected and stable job, and teachers tend to be good borrowers in the eyes of most lenders. That being said, several teacher-specific circumstances make getting a mortgage just a tad more difficult:

  • Short-term contracts or initial entry into the profession are common among Early Career Teachers
  • Term-time earnings and fixed-term contracts may not suit mainstream lending requirements
  • Commuting or moving for a job can produce tight relocation timelines
  • High house prices close to good schools and in commuter belts mean that affordability can be an issue

This is why it’s so important to use a lender or adviser who understands the profession.

What Impacts Your Mortgage as a Teacher?

Some individual factors can influence your ability to get a mortgage as a teacher:

  1. Employment Status

If you are an Early Career Teacher or taking up your first teaching post in September, some lenders will be reluctant to advance a mortgage until after you have been in post for a few months. Specialist lenders like Teachers Building Society will, however, consider your job offer or contract of employment, so you are able to obtain a mortgage prior to receiving your first payday.

  1. Size of Deposit

It is difficult to save a deposit and pay the rent simultaneously. Certain mortgage lenders, however, offer mortgages for just a 5% deposit, which makes it easier for teachers to buy earlier.

  1. Property Prices & Location

Teachers are often found where the cost of property is higher, most often in sought-after school catchments. Some lenders will lend 4 times your income, but Teachers Building Society will lend 5 times combined income, subject to affordability, so that you can borrow what you need in more expensive areas.

  1. Joint Applications

Applying with a non-teaching partner? No problem. One of the applicants simply has to be a teacher when applying through Teachers Building Society, so joint applications are welcomed.

Why Use a Mortgage Adviser?

A mortgage adviser is your guide specialist along the way of purchasing a house. Here’s why teachers should seriously consider using one:

  1. Teacher Mortgages Knowledge – Advisers can get you a lender familiar with teaching contracts and salary scales.
  2. Specialist Lender Access – Some lenders, for instance, Teachers Building Society, are only available via a broker or adviser.
  3. Time-Saving – Advisers handle the paperwork, chase the lender, and guide you from application to completion.
  4. Find the Best Deal – They can find mortgages with low charges, lower interest rates, and offers such as free valuations.

Teachers Building Society

Teachers Building Society is a specialist UK mortgage lender with a proud history of assisting teachers to buy their own homes. Here’s what they have to offer:

  • Support for Early Career Teachers – Get accepted on your job offer or contract, even before your start date
  • Early Move-In – Move into your new home up to two months before your September start
  • Low Deposit Schemes – Buy with low 5% deposit
  • Higher Income Multiples – Borrow a maximum of 5 times joint income, subject to affordability checks
  • Applications Welcome – The single applicant needs to be a teacher
  • Valuations Free of Charge – Save upfront with free valuations on your property, which leaves more for fixtures and appliances

Your Next Step As a Teacher: Purchasing a Home

As a teacher, you spend your time assisting others, but now you get your turn. With exclusive mortgage offers, your own personal guidance from a mortgage adviser, and assistance from specialist lenders like Teachers Building Society, having a home of your own may be more achievable than you think. If you’re willing to talk through your mortgage possibilities, speak to one of our mortgage advisers today.

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If you have any questions about UK mortgage news or or anything you’ve read then please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

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