Lloyds to launch new £5,000 deposit mortgage to help first-time buyers

Lloyds is launching a new low-deposit mortgage that could help first-time buyers get on the property ladder years earlier, with a minimum deposit of just £5,000.

The new product from the UK’s biggest mortgage lender – also available through Halifax and via brokers – is aimed primarily at renters who are already coping with significant regular housing costs, but find it difficult to save tens of thousands of pounds for a traditional deposit without financial support from family.

In recent years, the gap between average rent and mortgage payments has narrowed, meaning many renters are already paying as much each month as they would on a mortgage. Yet saving for a deposit remains the single biggest barrier to home ownership.

Almost two-thirds (64%) of aspiring first-time buyers say raising a deposit is now the hardest part of buying a home. For those without access to the Bank of Mum and Dad – only around four in 10 are able to rely on family support to help with buying costs – the challenge is even greater.

How does the new £5,000 deposit mortgage work?

The new Lloyds mortgage has been designed to make buying a home more accessible, while keeping borrowing responsible and affordable.

Key features include:

• Minimum deposit of £5,000
• For those without financial support from family towards a deposit 
• Available on properties worth up to £300,000
• Maximum loan to value of 98%
• Maximum loan to income ratio of 4.5x
• Five-year fixed rate product
• Interest rate of 5.89%
• Mortgage term of up to 40 years
• No product fees
• Available to both employed and self-employed applicants

Applicants will need to pass strict affordability and credit checks, and the product will not be suitable for all first-time buyers. Those purchasing through shared ownership schemes, new build homes and with gifted deposits are not eligible.

The interest rate available to eligible applicants when the new product officially launches on 18 May will be 5.89% – competitive against offerings from other lenders in the low-deposit market – and will remain subject to change thereafter.

First-time buyers can get more information by visiting: www.lloydsbank.com/mortgages/first-time-buyers/5k-deposit-mortgage

How much do first-time buyers think they need to save?

Today’s average first-time buyer is 32 years old – two years older than a decade ago – as rising rents and cost of living pressures make it harder to save.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of prospective first-time buyers say they have already saved more than £5,000 towards a deposit, yet more than half (58%) believe they will need to save over £20,000 before they can buy. 

By lowering the upfront cost, this new mortgage could help many would-be buyers cut years off the time to save a deposit.

How does buying a home build long-term financial security?

In many parts of the country, monthly mortgage repayments on a typical first-time buyer home are comparable with, or lower than, average private rents.

But the benefits of ownership go beyond just monthly savings. Buying a home can offer greater stability and security, while allowing owners to gradually build equity rather than paying rent with no long-term return.

Manchester, currently the most popular city in the UK for first-time buyers, provides a useful example.

• The average first-time buyer property price in Manchester is £236,0008.
• With a £5,000 deposit, fixed for five years at an interest rate of 5.89% over a 35-year term, monthly repayments would be around £1,3006.
• This compares with an average private rent in the city of £1,347 per month.
• At the end of the five-year fixed period, the homeowner could have added around a further £11,500 of equity, reducing the LTV to below 95% even if house prices remained flat.

What’s the average first-time buyer property price in each region?

How can first-time buyers get access to free online events?

Lloyds is running a series of free online events for first-time buyers, designed to explain the basics of saving for a first home and the key steps in the home-buying journey. The sessions are open to everyone, not just Lloyds customers, and are led by mortgage experts. 

Register for a session

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