Engineering contractors — civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, chemical and process — are a large and growing part of the UK contracting workforce, often with strong day rates and long contracts that support substantial mortgages. The problem is mainstream lenders often misread that income.
We place engineering contractor mortgages with lenders who assess day rate income correctly, across all disciplines and sectors — from infrastructure to nuclear, offshore to building services — so your contract income is valued at what it’s really worth.
Whether you're a civil, structural, mechanical or electrical contractor, we work with specialist lenders who understand engineering income and contractor careers—not just company accounts.
Professional registrations such as CEng, IEng and EngTech may help you access specialist mortgage products with selected lenders.
We present your income using the assessment method that best reflects your engineering contract and earning potential.
Every lender has different contractor criteria. We match your application to the lender most suited to your contract structure and experience.
By selecting the right lender and assessment method, your mortgage can better reflect your true income.
Engineering contractors working through a limited company outside IR35 are assessed on day rate annualisation by specialist lenders. A structural engineer on £450 per day has an annualised income of £103,500 — compared to the £40,000 to £55,000 their accounts might show. A senior civil engineer on £650 per day has an annualised income of £149,500.
Halifax, Accord, Saffron, Aldermore and Hodge Bank all have contractor policies that accommodate engineering day rates. The specific lender best suited to your application depends on your contract type, IR35 status, contracting history and any specialist aspects of your work.
Whether you're working on long-term infrastructure programmes or specialist engineering contracts, we understand how these projects are viewed by contractor-friendly lenders.
Engineers working offshore — on oil and gas platforms, offshore wind installations or marine engineering projects — often have rotation-based working patterns (e.g. four weeks on, four weeks off). This produces a different bank statement picture from standard Monday-to-Friday contracting, with larger periodic payments rather than regular monthly income.
We work with lenders who understand offshore working patterns and can accommodate irregular income timing. The key is evidencing the annual income total rather than the monthly consistency.
Engineering contractors working on large infrastructure projects or with major contractors are increasingly subject to inside IR35 determinations. As with all IR35 cases, the critical factor is finding a lender who uses gross contract value rather than PAYE take-home for assessment. We route all inside IR35 engineering cases to the most appropriate lenders.