NatWest contractor mortgage criteria

Criteria	Verdict	Detail
Contractor day-rate income	Yes	— ×5×46 for High-Income/Day-Rate tier, income ≥£75k; standard PAYE below
Day-rate income	Yes	Notes: £75,000 is the ANNUAL income threshold for the High Income/Day Rate Contractor policy (income = weekly contracted rate x 46), not a daily rate figure.
Contract-based income (first-timer)	No	—
Umbrella company income	Yes	—
Limited-company director income	Yes	— High-income contractor via day rate
CIS income	Yes	—
Fixed-term contract income	Yes	—
Max LTV (standard)	Yes	up to 95% LTV Note: Confirms standard purchase max of 95% on flats and houses. New build LTVs (houses 95%, flats 90%) and interest-only/part-and-part LTVs found on a separate criteria page are scheme/product-specific, not used here. \| New Build flats 90% — scheme-specific, excluded (New Build houses 95% coincides with standard headline)

Criteria

Verdict

Detail

Contractor day-rate income

Yes

—

×5×46 for High-Income/Day-Rate tier, income ≥£75k; standard PAYE below

Day-rate income

Yes

Notes: £75,000 is the ANNUAL income threshold for the High Income/Day Rate Contractor policy (income = weekly contracted rate x 46), not a daily rate figure.

Contract-based income (first-timer)

—

Umbrella company income

Yes

—

Limited-company director income

Yes

—

High-income contractor via day rate

CIS income

Yes

—

Fixed-term contract income

Yes

—

Max LTV (standard)

Yes

up to 95% LTV
Note: Confirms standard purchase max of 95% on flats and houses. New build LTVs (houses 95%, flats 90%) and interest-only/part-and-part LTVs found on a separate criteria page are scheme/product-specific, not used here. | New Build flats 90% — scheme-specific, excluded (New Build houses 95% coincides with standard headline)

Adviser's view

NatWest contractor mortgage criteria at a glance

Income basis: day rate × 5 days × 46 weeks — High-Income/Day-Rate tier, £75k+ a year
Below £75k: standard PAYE-style assessment (no day-rate uplift)
Track record: as little as 6 months considered
Maximum LTV: 95%
Umbrella, CIS and fixed-term: accepted
Limited company directors: day-rate tier available above the £75k line

NatWest offers a genuine day-rate route for higher earners: contractors billing enough to clear £75k a year qualify for its High-Income/Day-Rate tier, using the standard five-times-forty-six-week calculation, with lending available up to 95% loan-to-value and as little as six months' trading history considered. Below that £75k threshold, income reverts to a standard PAYE-style assessment, so the day-rate uplift is really aimed at established, well-paid contractors rather than anyone starting out.

Umbrella company income, CIS earners, and fixed-term contract workers are all accepted comfortably, and limited company directors can also access the high-income day-rate route provided their earnings clear the threshold. It's a lender that rewards contractors who can evidence a strong billing rate more than one who's newer to contracting or earning more modestly — the six-month minimum history is generous by market standards, but the £75k income bar is the real gatekeeper.

The table above holds the verified positions; check your day rate and expected annual income against the £75k line with NatWest directly before applying.

FAQ

Does NatWest do contractor mortgages?

Yes, for higher earners: contractors clearing £75k a year qualify for its High-Income/Day-Rate tier at day rate × 5 × 46 weeks, up to 95% LTV, with as little as 6 months' history considered. Below £75k, income is assessed on a standard PAYE-style basis instead.

What is the NatWest contractor income threshold?

£75,000 a year — roughly £326 a day at 5 days × 46 weeks. Above it, day-rate annualisation applies (including for limited company directors); below it there is no contractor uplift.