UK mortgages from first-time buyer through remortgaging — deposits, affordability, fix lengths, and the rules that change at LTV cliffs.
How England's Shared Ownership scheme actually works, the part-buy-part-rent split, staircasing to full ownership, the lease and service charge realities, and who the scheme genuinely suits.
How an offset mortgage links your savings against your mortgage balance, the tax-efficient interest saving that follows, who the product actually suits, and what you give up compared to a standard mortgage.
The arithmetic comparison between overpaying a UK mortgage and investing the same money, the risk-free-return framing, the tax wrappers that change the answer, and why the decision is rarely purely numerical.
How the post-Section 24 tax regime reshaped buy-to-let returns, the additional SDLT on second properties, the CGT rules on disposal, and the company-structure option some landlords use to mitigate it.
A guarantor mortgage uses a family member's income or savings to support your application. Types include family deposit, springboard, and joint borrower.
If you lose your job your mortgage doesn't end — but you risk arrears. Options: contact lender early, payment holiday, SMI, partial payments, sell.
UK home-buying fees beyond the deposit: SDLT, conveyancing, survey, mortgage fees, removals. Budget 5-10% of property price on top of deposit.
There's no fixed credit score for a UK mortgage — lenders use their own scoring models. Most mainstream lenders accept 'Good' on Experian (881+). Specialist routes for lower.
2-year fix gives flexibility, 5-year gives certainty. The maths depends on rate-curve expectations. Often 5-year offers slightly lower rates in falling-rate environments.
Minimum deposit is 5% of property price for most UK lenders. Higher deposits unlock better mortgage rates at the 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% and 60% LTV bands.
Most UK lenders cap at 4–4.5× gross income. Some go to 5–5.5× for higher earners or specific products. The factors that affect your actual borrowing limit.
Remortgaging means switching mortgage product, usually for a better rate. Start 6 months before your fix ends. Product transfer vs full remortgage explained.
Most UK high-street lenders only accept GBP income paid in the UK. Specialist lenders accept overseas income with caveats — eligibility and FX-discount rules.
Most UK fixed-rate mortgages are portable — you keep the same rate when moving. The lender re-runs affordability and the property must meet their criteria.
Yes — most UK fixed-rate mortgages allow 10% overpayments per year without penalty. The maths of overpaying vs investing, and Early Repayment Charge mechanics.
Yes — ILR holders are treated essentially the same as UK citizens by most lenders. Income, deposit, credit and time-in-UK rules explained for 2026/27.
Yes — some UK lenders accept 1 year of self-employed accounts, including Halifax, Kensington and specialist lenders. The criteria and rate trade-offs.
Yes — most UK lenders offer mortgages to visa holders, though deposit and time-in-UK requirements vary. Skilled Worker, ILR and spouse visa criteria explained.
Yes — Skilled Worker visa holders qualify for UK mortgages with most lenders. The deposit, UK history and income criteria explained, plus broker tips.
When to begin remortgaging in the UK, the six-month rate-lock window, the product-transfer vs full remortgage choice, and the fees and pitfalls that cost people money.
The three main UK mortgage types compared — what fixes do, how trackers follow the Bank of England, what the standard variable rate actually means, and when each tends to suit.
How the pieces fit together for someone buying their first home in the UK — Lifetime ISA bonus, deposit, mortgage affordability, stamp duty relief, and the traps that catch people late.