If you’re paid under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), securing a mortgage can feel challenging. Many high-street banks treat CIS workers as self-employed and ask for 2–3 years of accounts. For contractors with only a short trading history, or those who’ve had credit issues, this can be a real barrier.
At Adverse Mortgage Advisors, we specialise in CIS contractor mortgages. With access to lenders who understand the construction industry, we can use your CIS payslips instead of full accounts, helping you prove affordability quickly and often borrow more than you could with a traditional lender.
How CIS Contractor Mortgages Work
Unlike standard mortgages for the self-employed, a CIS mortgage can be based on your gross income from CIS payslips, not just your net profit after expenses. This means:
This makes CIS mortgages one of the most flexible routes for contractors in the construction industry.
Being a contractor with bad credit—such as CCJs, defaults, or missed payments—doesn’t mean you can’t get a mortgage. High-street lenders may decline applications, but our panel of specialist CIS mortgage lenders takes a more flexible view. If you have steady income from CIS, we can often find a suitable mortgage, even with a challenging credit history.
If you have questions about getting a mortgage with an adverse credit score, read our FAQs. Our wealth of knowledge within this market means that we’re confident in our ability to offer specialist mortgage advice and secure the mortgage you want regardless of your credit history.
Yes. Unlike standard self-employed mortgages, many CIS mortgage lenders will accept 3–6 months of CIS payslips instead of two full years of accounts. This makes it much easier for construction workers and subcontractors to get approved.
Most specialist lenders will use your gross income before tax from your CIS payslips, rather than net profit. This often means you can borrow more than you would with a traditional self-employed mortgage.
Yes. Even if you’ve had defaults, CCJs, missed payments, or other credit issues, some lenders are still willing to approve CIS contractors, provided you have a steady record of income through the scheme.
Typically, you’ll need:
