Barclays increases cap on bonus, overtime and commission income when considering mortgage affordability

13 October 2025

Barclays today announces further improvements to its affordability calculations for customers. The bank is increasing the amount of regular bonus, overtime and commission income it takes into account when determining affordability. Previously these forms of income were capped at a value equal to the customer’s basic salary plus allowances, but Barclays will now consider bonus, overtime and commission income up to 4x basic salary plus allowances

For example, someone in a commission-heavy industry on a basic annual salary of £30,000 p/a but earning £120,000 in commission would previously have been considered to have income totalling £60,000. With these changes, up to £150,000 could be taken into account.

This move comes after Barclays recently enhanced affordability calculations in other areas, including for the self-employed, interest-only borrowers and buy-to-let.

Lee Chiswell, Head of Mortgages at Barclays, said:

“We know that affordability is probably the greatest barrier for most consumers who want to buy a home. We’ve taken a long look at how we can support customers, particularly first-time buyers, and as a result have made several tweaks to our lending criteria. Taken together, these will make all the difference for a range of people with different income types, getting people into homes that would previously have been out of reach.”