Fixed-Term Mortgage: What to Ask Your Employer

Your contract has an end date. Your mortgage application needs a clear account of what that means—not a reassuring phrase that nobody can substantiate. If you are preparing an Irish mortgage application on a temporary or fixed-term contract, start with the lender’s salary certificate and a short list of questions for payroll or HR.

This is a document-preparation checklist, not a lender eligibility test. It helps you separate confirmed employment details from assumptions about renewal.

Start with the lender’s form, not a generic letter

Ask your mortgage contact which salary certificate or employment confirmation to use before requesting paperwork. CCPC guidance says providers usually require confirmation of employment status, income and contract type. Using the requested form gives your employer a clear set of questions to answer.

Keep the current contract beside the form. Mark anything that needs clarification rather than filling a gap with an estimate. The aim is an accurate, consistent account of your work, not a document that makes temporary employment sound permanent.

Six questions to take to HR

Bank of Ireland’s published salary certificate provides a concrete example: it asks about the employment start date, probation, employment category, contract term and whether the contract is renewable. It also separates basic salary from other pay. Its form is an example of requested information, not a promise to accept a fixed-term applicant.

1. What is my recorded employment start date? Check it against the contract you plan to submit.
2. What is my current contract category and term? Ask HR to describe the actual arrangement.
3. Is probation complete? Request the employer’s confirmed position.
4. What can be confirmed about renewal? Distinguish a signed extension from an expectation.
5. What is my gross basic annual salary? Keep this separate from variable payments.
6. Who can complete and authenticate the requested form? Follow the lender’s instructions for signatures and supporting details.

A renewal conversation is not a new contract

For example, imagine your current agreement ends in March and your manager expects another term. In your preparation notes, put the March end date under “confirmed” and the possible extension under “not yet confirmed”. Ask the mortgage contact what evidence they would need for that situation. This is an organisational example, not a prediction of an underwriting decision.

If HR cannot confirm future work, record that honestly. Ask whether the lender wants further documentation or prefers to assess the application after a renewal. Do not ask an employer to certify an employment commitment it has not made.

Keep basic salary and extra pay separate

AIB’s published income FAQ says its PAYE assessment uses sustainable income and describes this as guaranteed basic salary, excluding bonuses or other once-off income. That is AIB’s stated guidance; it should not be turned into a universal rule for every lender.

Make a simple pay breakdown: basic salary, contractual allowances, overtime and other variable amounts. Ask your mortgage contact which elements can be assessed and what evidence is needed. A higher total on one payslip is a reason to explain the difference, not to assume the whole amount is accepted income.

Leave the conversation with three clear answers

Before submitting, establish which form to use, what the employer can confirm today, and what remains a question for the lender. Keep the responses with your application checklist so you can follow up without repeating the same conversation.

Your next step is a focused document request—not a claim that a particular contract guarantees approval. For the wider application context, read the temporary-contract mortgage guide.

Sources

• CCPC — mortgage applications
• Bank of Ireland — salary certificate
• AIB — proof of income