Reviewed by Sana Hosseini, Medical Mortgage Broker and Australian Credit Representative 371443.
Locum work can be well paid and still difficult to summarise on one payslip. Different hospitals, gaps between placements, agency contracts and business expenses may all affect how a lender understands your income. The aim is to document a sustainable pattern, not to present only your highest-earning months.
Identify how you are paid
Begin by separating PAYG locum income from invoiced contracting income and any income through a company or trust. Collect each contract or engagement letter and note its dates, rate, expected hours and whether an extension is documented. If you receive both PAYG and business income, label them separately. Ask an accountant to confirm the business figures rather than relying on gross invoices as personal earnings.
Show continuity between placements
A short timeline can help: employer or agency, location, role, engagement dates and any gap. Add recent payslips or invoices and bank records as requested, plus signed future engagements where available. Explain an unusual gap—such as planned leave, training or a move—honestly. Lenders decide which history they require; one may want more evidence than another.
Include the less visible commitments
Equipment finance, business loans, personal credit cards and student-loan repayments may still matter even if a contract pays well. Set out your ordinary living expenses and a deposit buffer. APRA’s mortgage lending guidance emphasises assessing the ability to make repayments under stress. For your own planning, test a quieter work period rather than assuming a full calendar of locum shifts.
Compare options before lodging an application
Ask a broker to identify lenders whose current policy can assess your particular mix of employment and contracting evidence. Compare rates, fees, features and possible profession-based concessions without assuming any waiver or approval. Moneysmart recommends asking why a loan is suitable and what alternative options cost.
Starting document pack
- Ahpra registration details and identification.
- Current and recent locum contracts or agency engagement letters.
- Payslips for PAYG roles; invoices and business records for contracting roles.
- Relevant personal and business tax returns and financial statements.
- A dated work-history timeline, with explanations for significant gaps.
- Deposit, debt and household-expense evidence.
Read the broader doctor home-loan service guide or book an appointment to discuss your actual work pattern.General information only. The documents and income a lender accepts depend on its current policy and your circumstances.
Make your locum work history easier to assess
Bring contracts, payment evidence and gaps between placements to a targeted lender conversation.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locum doctor qualify for a home loan?
Potentially. The lender will consider the payment structure, history, continuity and the rest of the application.
How many contracts should I provide?
Requirements vary. Start with current and recent contracts and keep a fuller history available if the lender asks.