A quick overview of UK mortgage schemes
There are multiple mortgage schemes available in the UK for anyone who would struggle to get onto the property ladder without a helping hand. These range from help with your deposit to co-ownership initiatives for anyone who can’t afford to buy outright on their own.
You can read about the latest support available in our guide to UK mortgage schemes.
What mortgage schemes are available in the UK?
Some mortgage schemes are available nationwide, while others are limited to parts of the UK, such as England & Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Some of the most popular mortgage schemes in the UK include:
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Shared Ownership
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Right to Buy
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Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
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Deposit Unlock
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Rent to Buy
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First Homes
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Forces Help to Buy
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And more
Summary of the UK’s best mortgage schemes
This table offers a quick at-a-glance summary of the UK’s leading mortgage schemes, from government initiatives to schemes from local housing firms.
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Scheme Name |
Details |
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Shared Ownership |
Purchase a share of a property (typically 10–75%) and pay rent on the remaining portion, with the option to buy more shares later ("staircasing"). |
|
Right to Buy |
Allows eligible council tenants (of 3+ years) to buy their rented home at a significant discount, often up to 70% of the market value. |
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First Homes Scheme |
Enables first-time buyers in England to purchase specific new-build homes at a discount of 30% to 50% below market value. |
|
Help to Buy (Wales) |
Provides a shared equity loan (usually up to 20%) to buyers of new-build homes in Wales, requiring only a 5% deposit. |
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HOLD Mortgages |
"Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities" allows purchase of a shared-ownership property on the open market if other schemes don't meet specific needs. |
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Homebuy (Wales) |
Provides an equity loan (typically 30–50%) to help those who cannot afford to buy a suitable home on the open market. |
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Lifetime ISAs |
A savings account for those aged 18-40 where the government adds a 25% bonus (up to £1,000/year) for a first home or retirement. |
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Mortgage Guarantee Scheme |
A government backing that encourages lenders to offer 95% LTV mortgages (5% deposit) to buyers with smaller deposits. |
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Northern Ireland Co-Own |
A shared ownership scheme for Northern Ireland where you buy a share of a home and pay rent on the rest to Co-Ownership Housing. |
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Rent to Buy |
Allows you to rent a home at a reduced rate (typically 80% of market rent) for up to 5 years, helping you save a deposit to buy it. |
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Right to Acquire |
Similar to Right to Buy but for Housing Association tenants, offering a fixed discount (typically £9,000–£16,000) to buy their rented home. |
Featured Articles
A Guide to UK Mortgage Schemes
An overview of the mortgage schemes available
A Guide to Shared Ownership Mortgages
Find a broker to help with your Shared Ownership mortgage
Shared Ownership Mortgages in Wales
A guide to Shared Ownership mortgages in Wales
Mortgage Schemes in Scotland
Find out what mortgage schemes are available in Scotland
Older People's Shared Ownership
Shared Ownership mortgage deals for the elderly
Right to Buy Mortgages
A guide to the Right to Buy mortgage scheme
Getting a Right to Buy Mortgage with Bad Credit: Step by Step
Our guide to bad credit Right to Buy mortgages
First Homes Scheme Mortgages
All you need to know about First Homes Scheme mortgages
Getting a Shared Ownership Mortgage With Bad Credit
A guide to bad credit Shared Ownership mortgages
Shared Ownership Mortgage Lenders
How to find a Shared Ownership mortgage lender
Right to Acquire Mortgages
A guide to Right to Acquire mortgages
Shared Ownership Mortgage Calculator
Calculate your Shared Ownership mortgage hereMore Articles Related to Government Schemes
FAQs
Generally, you cannot combine most government schemes (like using Shared Ownership with First Homes). However, there are exceptions. For example, the Forces Help to Buy scheme can sometimes be used alongside other home ownership schemes. Additionally, you can use the savings bonus from a Lifetime ISA (LISA) as your deposit for almost any of these schemes, including Shared Ownership and First Homes.
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THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
IF YOU ARE THINKING OF CONSOLIDATING EXISTING BORROWING YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BE EXTENDING THE TERMS OF THE DEBT AND INCREASING THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU REPAY.
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