Savings or investments
Show how much is available, when you can access it and the account history or sale record. A lender and conveyancer may ask how the funds built up.
Mortgage deposit advice in the UK
Mortgage deposits: plan the amount and the source
Your deposit is the part of the purchase price you are funding without the new mortgage. The amount you may need depends on the property, the mortgage available to you and where your money is coming from. Count Ready can help you test the plan before you commit to a purchase.
Start with three figuresLikely price · available funds · other buying costs
How much deposit do you need for a mortgage?
There is no deposit percentage that works for every UK purchase. Your likely price and the mortgage you can afford set the starting calculation; the lender then considers the property, borrower, loan-to-value and source of funds under its current criteria.
Some homebuyers can explore lower-deposit options, while others need more of their own money because of the property or their circumstances. A larger deposit reduces the amount you need to borrow and may widen the mortgage choices available, but it does not guarantee a rate or acceptance. Ask for a case-specific assessment before assuming that an advertised product fits.
Mortgage deposit versus exchange deposit: your mortgage deposit is the buyer contribution to the price. In an England or Wales purchase, the contract may require part of that contribution when contracts are exchanged. It is usually credited towards the price, not charged a second time. Read the separate mortgage versus exchange deposit guide and ask your conveyancer for the actual payment timetable.
How does your deposit affect loan-to-value?
Illustrative purchase price£300,000
Illustrative buyer contribution£45,000
Mortgage requested for the price£255,000
Simple price-based LTV85%
In this example, £255,000 is 85% of £300,000. It is arithmetic, not a borrowing assessment, mortgage offer or lender valuation. A lender may use a different value, limit the loan for the property or find the repayments unaffordable. You also need money for buying costs outside the £45,000 price contribution.
If you already own a home, usable equity may contribute to your next purchase after the existing mortgage, selling costs and any charges are allowed for. It is not the same as the full sale price. Tell us if your purchase depends on selling first.
What can count towards a mortgage deposit?
Sale proceeds or equity
Explain the expected sale price, outstanding borrowing and likely costs. Your conveyancer can confirm what money is available and when.
A genuine gift or inheritance
Disclose who provided it and whether repayment or an interest in the property is expected. The lender and conveyancer will explain the declaration and evidence needed.
Other sources, including business funds, overseas transfers, grants or borrowed money, can raise extra lender, legal or affordability questions. Tell your adviser the real source early. Do not describe a repayable loan as a gift or move funds simply to hide their origin. For the detailed gift route, use our existing gifted-deposit mortgage page; for a wider list, see what you can use for a deposit.
Prepare evidence, but send it securely: bank or savings statements, sale paperwork, gift details or inheritance documents may be requested later. The exact list varies. Do not put account numbers, identity documents or statements in an open callback message; ask the adviser how to share them securely.
What else should your buying budget cover?
Keeping every pound for the deposit can leave a purchase short of cash. Build a separate allowance for conveyancing, searches, a survey, moving, insurance, possible mortgage fees and an emergency reserve. Property transaction tax depends on the nation, price and buyer circumstances: Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland, Land Transaction Tax in Wales, and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland.
A useful starting calculation
- Choose a realistic price range and list the money you can actually access.
- Set aside buying costs and a buffer before treating the balance as your contribution to the price.
- Check the mortgage amount and repayments against your income and commitments.
- Confirm the source of each contribution and when the money must reach the conveyancer.
For an England or Northern Ireland purchase, the SDLT calculator may help you start a tax estimate. Check the current result and your liability with your conveyancer. The separate exchange-deposit guide explains the contract payment stage.
Which deposit question fits your situation?
Buying your first homeUnderstand the wider mortgage journey, affordability and preparation.Working with a smaller depositExplore the trade-offs and evidence for a low-deposit application.Little or no cash depositUnderstand why this is a specialist route with specific risks and checks.Help from familyPrepare the gift details and understand lender and legal checks.Buying to letReview rental assessment, LTV and the wider investment cash budget.Self-employed incomeDiscuss the income evidence alongside the deposit and affordability.
Buying through shared ownership or moving home can change how the contribution is calculated or released. Use the shared ownership or next-home deposit owner for those specific questions.
Turn a deposit figure into a workable mortgage plan
Explain the purchase
Tell us whether you are buying your first home, moving, buying to let or buying with someone else, plus a price range and your timescale.
Show the funding picture
Give the approximate amount available, where it comes from and any sale, gift or account-access condition. An outline is enough for the first conversation.
Review mortgage fit
We can discuss affordability, property and lender evidence, and the possible effect of your contribution on the mortgage routes to assess.
Plan the next step
If a route is worth exploring, we explain what to prepare and what to confirm with your conveyancer. A lender makes the mortgage decision after its checks.
The About Count Ready page and site footer give business and regulatory information. The footer links to the current Terms of Business; any applicable fee should be explained before chargeable work.
A practical next conversation
Ask whether your deposit plan is ready for a mortgage search
Share the purchase purpose, approximate price, money available, source of funds and timing. We can help identify what needs checking before an application, including affordability and evidence. You do not need to send financial documents through the initial form.
Check the business for yourself
Review the advice service before you make contact
Read the live public feedback and Count Ready’s business information in context. Reviews describe individual experiences; they do not predict your mortgage outcome.
Mortgage deposit questions
What is a mortgage deposit?
It is the part of the agreed purchase price funded without the new mortgage, subject to checks on where the money comes from. The proposed loan covers the remaining price if the lender agrees to lend that amount.
Is there one minimum deposit for every mortgage?
No. Products, properties and borrower circumstances differ, and lender criteria change. Ask an adviser to check current options against your price, available funds and affordability rather than relying on one percentage.
Can a family member help with my deposit?
They may be able to make a genuine gift. Tell the adviser and conveyancer who is providing it, where it came from and whether repayment or a property interest is expected. The lender decides what declarations and evidence it requires.
Can I use a personal loan for the deposit?
Disclose it before applying. An additional loan affects affordability and may not be an acceptable deposit source under the lender’s current policy. Do not present borrowed money as savings or a gift.
Does a larger deposit guarantee a better mortgage?
No. A lower loan-to-value can widen choices or affect pricing, but income, credit, property, fees and the lender’s criteria still matter. Compare the total cost and keep enough cash for buying costs.
When do I pay the deposit?
Your conveyancer should confirm the contractual amount and deadline. In England and Wales, part may be required at exchange, with the balance accounted for at completion. Scottish and Northern Irish processes differ; follow your local conveyancer’s instructions.
Sources and limits
- MoneyHelper: how mortgage deposits and loan-to-value work.
- MoneyHelper: costs of buying and moving.
- GOV.UK: buying a home, source-of-funds checks and exchange.
- MoneyHelper: mortgage application evidence.
Sources checked 23 October 2026. This is general UK information, not an individual mortgage recommendation, lender decision, legal opinion or tax advice. Check current lender policy, product terms and nation-specific property costs when you act.