Virgin Money has made changes to its mortgage lending policy in order to make it easier to be eligible for one of their products.

The lender can now use 100% of income from second jobs, where it has been received for at least 12 months. Until now, Virgin Money used 50% and needed two years of employment history.

In addition, it is now easier to deal with contractors’ contracts. Virgin Money now only needs to see a contractor’s contract renewal if there’s less than one month left on it; this previously used to be three months.

Meanwhile, for people in probation, Virgin Money now only needs a copy of their contract, plus a payslip, to prove that it is permanent. It used to require either proof of two-years’ employment, or an employer letter.

Craig Calder, head of secured lending at Virgin Money said: “We constantly look for ways to improve our mortgage business and the latest changes to our lending policy will make it is easier to get a mortgage with Virgin Money.

“The application process for contractors or those who are in a probationary period in a new role will be far simpler, and we’re able to say yes to more customers who have income from a second job.”