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First time buyers

Helping you get started on your home ownership journey

Find out how much you could borrow

Use our mortgage calculator

See how much deposit you may need

Use our home deposit calculator

Compare our rates

See how much your monthly payments could be

Get a decision in principle

Tells you if we could lend you the amount you need. It’s free, no obligation and valid for 60 days

Useful information

This can also be called a 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgage. 

It allows you to buy a home with a deposit of between 5% and 10% of the total price. 

For example, if your new home costs £200,000, a 5% deposit would be £10,000. This means you’d need a mortgage of £190,000. 

If you can put down a bigger deposit, you’ll have more deals with lower interest rates to choose from. 

It could also reduce your risk of negative equity. This is when the value of your home is less than the amount you owe on your mortgage. 

Take a look at our Negative equity page for more information on this.

Designed to help make buying your first home easier

Shared Ownership

This scheme allows you to part-own, part-rent when you first buy your home. You can buy the remaining shares in your home as time goes on until you own 100% of the property.

  • The schemes are run by non-profit housing associations which own, let and manage rental housing
  • You need a minimum 10% deposit for the share of the home you’re buying with a mortgage
  • You pay a subsidised rent to the housing association for the part you rent.

To find out if you’re eligible for a Shared Ownership scheme take a look at the government’s information pages

Forces Help to Buy

This is a Ministry of Defence (MOD) scheme to help regular armed forces personnel buy their first home.

  • The scheme lets you borrow up to 50% of your annual salary, up to a maximum of £25,000, to use towards the deposit on your first home
  • The loan is interest-free and must be paid back to the MOD within 10 years through your salary
  • You will need to check with the MOD to see if you qualify for this scheme
  • Call us to apply for one of these mortgages. They’re not available online or in branch.

Find out more about Forces Help to Buy

Help to Buy: ISA

If you have a Help to Buy: ISA, you can continue to save into your account until 30 November 2029. If you want to claim the 25% government bonus on your savings your conveyancer must do this by 1 December 2030 (eligibility applies). To check eligibility for the government bonus, visit the Help to Buy government website. The scheme has now closed to new applicants.

This is a brief summary of the 3 different types of mortgages we offer

Fixed rateTracker rateLifetime Tracker
Best for:
For people who want to know how much they need to repay for the next few years




You can fix your deal for 2, 3 or 5 years. During this fixed period your monthly payments will stay the same. After your fixed period you’ll move onto the Santander Standard Variable Rate. If you want to finish your deal early, you may have to pay an early repayment charge.
Best for:
For people who think interest rates might change in the next few years or want to make unlimited overpayments.




You can choose a mortgage with an initial rate period and during this period your rate tracks above the Bank of England base rate. With this type of mortgage your payments may vary. The initial rate period is usually 2 years and after that you move onto the Santander Standard Variable Rate.
Best for:
For those who don’t want to look for a new mortgage deal again or who want to make unlimited overpayments.




With a Lifetime Tracker mortgage your rate will track above the Bank of England base rate for the life of your mortgage term. Your payments may vary with this type of mortgage. 

The graphs are for illustrative purposes only.

For an in-depth comparison of the mortgage types on offer read our guide to mortgages

Repayment mortgage

Your monthly payment covers both the amount you’ve borrowed and interest. So as long as you keep up your payments, your mortgage will be paid off at the end.

Interest only mortgage

Your monthly payment only pays off the interest. You’ll still need to repay the amount you borrowed at the end of your mortgage and will need a separate plan in place to do this (such as an investment or endowment). We may limit the amount allowed on interest only.

Combination

You can choose to pay part of your mortgage as repayment and the other part as interest only.

Apply for a mortgage

Before applying for a mortgage, you'll first need to get a decision in principle (DIP) from us online or by phone. A DIP tells you if we could lend you the amount that you need for your mortgage. It also won't affect your credit rating. 

Online decision in principle 

Get a no obligation decision in principle before you apply
 

Start my decision in principle

Continue my decision in principle

Online mortgage application

Once you’ve got your online decision in principle, you can apply for your mortgage

Start my mortgage application

Continue my mortgage application

By phone

0800 068 6064

Our mortgage team is here to help 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 2pm Saturday
 

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Applications are subject to status and lending criteria. Applicants must be UK residents aged 18 or over. The amount we will lend depends on your circumstances, the amount borrowed and the property. A higher deposit may be required for a flat or new build.

Other things to consider

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