Police Overtime to
Deposit Calculator
Calculate how many overtime shifts you would need to reach a house deposit target, based on rank, pay point and overtime rate.
Worked Example (June 2026 prices)
A top-scale constable's base pay is £52,015 (from 1 September 2026), about £25 an hour, so an 8-hour double-time shift is worth about £400 gross before tax and pension. A 10% deposit on the North East average price (£166,000, UK House Price Index June 2026) is £16,600, about 42 such shifts before tax. In London (average £554,000) a 10% deposit is £55,400, about 139 shifts before tax. Use the calculator for take-home figures.
Sources: UK House Price Index for June 2026 (HM Land Registry and ONS), the site's pay scales data. Last reviewed 30 September 2026.
1. Career & Pay Settings
2. Overtime Strategy
3. Goal Settings
Average prices: UK House Price Index, June 2026 (all property types). Lenders set their own deposit requirements.
Based on 4 extra shifts per month. This is a simple rule of thumb, not an official or medical measure. Rest and recovery matter.
Approximate take-home reward per 8-hour 1.5x shift.
Section 01:
Overtime and Deposits
For many officers, overtime is one of the few ways to build a deposit faster than base pay alone allows. The UK average house price was £271,000 in May 2026 (ONS), against a constable base pay of £32,255 to £52,015, so the deposit and borrowing needed can be large relative to pay.
Overtime Is Not Guaranteed
Overtime depends on operational demand and approval, and can change from month to month. Plan your deposit so it does not depend entirely on overtime that may not be available.
Section 02:
Deposit Targets and Shifts
Deposit requirements depend on the lender and the mortgage product, and lower loan-to-value products usually have lower interest rates than higher ones. The two examples below show what 5% and 10% of a regional average price would mean in shifts for a top-scale constable at double time (about £400 gross per 8-hour shift, before tax and pension).
North East Example
- Avg Price: £166,000 (UK HPI, June 2026)
- 5% Deposit: £8,300 (about 21 shifts gross)
- 10% Deposit: £16,600 (about 42 shifts gross)
London Example
- Avg Price: £554,000 (UK HPI, June 2026)
- 5% Deposit: £27,700 (about 70 shifts gross)
- 10% Deposit: £55,400 (about 139 shifts gross)
Shift counts are before tax, so you need more shifts once tax, National Insurance and pension are taken into account. Higher overtime multiples (for example double time, which usually applies in limited circumstances such as public holidays) shorten the time to goal, but availability is not guaranteed.
Section 03:
Workload and Sustainability
A deposit plan also has to be sustainable for you. Overtime can involve long or demanding duties, and extra shifts reduce your rest and recovery time. The calculator shows a simple workload marker based on the number of extra shifts a month. It is this tool's own rule of thumb, not an official or medical measure:
- Light extra load (fewer than 3 shifts a month)
A small addition to your normal pattern.
- Moderate extra load (5 to 7 shifts a month)
A noticeable reduction in rest days. Think about recovery and family commitments.
- Heavy extra load (8 or more shifts a month)
A large reduction in rest time. Consider how long you could keep this up, and speak to your force about wellbeing support if you need to.
Section 04:
Dual vs Single Income Dynamics
A second income changes what you can afford. Lenders assess the incomes and commitments of everyone on the application, so a partner's income can raise borrowing and make a deposit easier to build. Two top-scale constable base salaries would total £104,030 (2 x £52,015), though what a lender offers depends on the lender, your deposit, credit history and other commitments.
If both partners work overtime, plan for rest and family time as well as the savings target. Overtime may not be available to either of you every month.
Section 05:
The Long-Term "Overtime Trap"
Overtime is generally not pensionable. That means it does not normally build your police pension, so relying on overtime for regular spending is different from a pensionable pay rise.
Overtime can help you buy a home now, but it does not add to your pensionable pay. Your pension is based on pensionable pay, so if you plan around income that is partly overtime, check what your retirement income would look like on pensionable pay alone.
Strategy: Use overtime for one-off capital goals (deposits, debt clearance) where you can, and be careful about relying on it for recurring costs.
Deposit & Overtime FAQ
How much overtime do police officers need to save for a deposit?
Divide your target deposit by the take-home value of a shift. As an illustration, a top-scale constable's base pay of £52,015 works out at about £25 an hour (£52,015 divided by 2,080 hours), so an 8-hour shift at time and a half is worth about £300 gross and at double time about £400 gross, before tax, National Insurance and pension. Use the calculator to see the shifts needed for your own target.
Is overtime income counted for mortgage lending?
Lenders decide this individually. Some may count part of regular, evidenced overtime and others may not count it at all. The proportion and the evidence period differ between lenders, so ask a mortgage adviser what your lender will accept.
Is working 8 rest days a month sustainable?
There is no official threshold. The calculator's workload marker is a rule of thumb, not an official or medical measure. Regular heavy overtime reduces rest and recovery, and overtime is not guaranteed, so think about your wellbeing and speak to your force about any concerns.
Does overtime affect my tax band?
Overtime adds to your taxable income. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, income above the higher-rate threshold (£50,270 of total income including the personal allowance) is taxed at 40% instead of 20%, so the take-home value of extra shifts can fall once you cross it. The calculator uses the site's pay engine for 2026/27 tax and National Insurance to estimate this.
Can overtime push me into higher pension contributions?
Overtime is generally not pensionable for most officers, so it does not normally count towards your pension contribution or pension benefits. Check your force's payroll rules for the position in your case.
Does working overtime impact my local regional allowance?
No. Allowances such as London Weighting or a South East allowance depend on your force and role, not on the hours you work. How overtime is calculated in your case is set by the pay rules and your force's payroll, so check with them.
Is there a police 5% deposit scheme?
This tool does not assume any police-specific deposit scheme. Availability of 95% loan-to-value mortgages and their interest rates changes over time and differs by lender, so check current products with a mortgage adviser.
Should I save overtime in a Lifetime ISA (LISA)?
A LISA can add a government bonus of 25% on up to £4,000 saved a year for eligible first-time buyers, but there are conditions on age, property price and withdrawals. Check the current rules on gov.uk and take advice before using one.
Does the 2015 Pension Scheme count towards my wealth for mortgage?
Lenders do not count pension value as a deposit. Pension contributions are deducted from your pay, which reduces take-home pay, and lenders consider your income and outgoings when they assess affordability.
How many shifts do I need for a London property deposit?
UK House Price Index data for June 2026 gives a London average price of £554,000, so a 10% deposit is £55,400. At about £400 gross per double-time shift for a top-scale constable, that is roughly 139 shifts before tax, so more once tax and pension are taken into account. Spread over three years it is around four shifts a month before tax.
Do lenders prefer dual-income police households?
Lenders assess the incomes and commitments of everyone on the application. Two top-scale constable base salaries would total £104,030 (2 x £52,015), but what a lender will offer depends on the lender, deposit, credit history and other commitments. Ask an adviser.
Is it better to pay off debt or save for a deposit with overtime?
Lenders look at your existing debts and credit commitments when they assess affordability, so clearing expensive debt can matter. The right balance depends on your situation, so take independent advice.
Can I use overtime to bridge a 'valuation gap'?
If a property is valued below the agreed purchase price, the lender may lend less and you would need to cover the difference, or renegotiate. Having some cash reserve can help, and overtime is one way to build one. It is not guaranteed.
Are student loan deductions applied to overtime?
Yes. Student loan repayments are a percentage of earnings above the threshold for your repayment plan, so extra earnings from overtime increase that month's deduction. The calculator does not include student loan repayments.
Will working too much overtime affect my health?
Regular heavy overtime reduces time for rest and recovery and can affect sleep and family life. Treat overtime as a financial tool to be used with care, and speak to your force about wellbeing support if you are struggling.