Mortgage Guarantee Scheme 2021

The new mortgage guarantee scheme was launched in April 2021 to give those looking to buy a home with less than 10% deposit a range of extra mortgage options. But how does this government initiative work? Who’s eligible for it, and what alternatives should you consider?

In our guide to the mortgage guarantee scheme, we cover these topics and more. Plus in our FAQ section, we field the burning questions we hear most often about this subject.

What is the mortgage guarantee scheme?

The 2021 mortgage guarantee scheme is an initiative from the UK Government to encourage mortgage lenders to reintroduce 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages to the market. These products, which allow people to get onto the property ladder with just 5% deposit, all but disappeared during the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme has had the desired effect, with five of the UK’s leading mortgage lenders having launched new 95% mortgage products on the day it kicked off (19th April 2021). One other mortgage provider has confirmed that it will join the initiative post-launch, and a host of others have since launched their own 95% LTV mortgages outside of the scheme.

Although the scheme’s main goal is to increase the number of 5% deposit mortgages available, you can actually put down up to 9% deposit if you wish.

How does it work?

The government has incentivised 95% LTV lending by ‘guaranteeing’ a portion of any mortgage offered under it. This basically means that it will share some of the risk that the mortgage lender is taking on, and will compensate them if the property has to be repossessed.

In terms of how it works for you, the customer, there is no extra paperwork to complete or anything like that. You’d simply apply for your mortgage as normal and your mortgage broker should tell you whether a guarantee scheme product is the best fit for your needs.

Bear in mind that there’s no real difference between guarantee scheme mortgages and any other standard 95% LTV mortgage product. By speaking to a mortgage broker before you apply, you can gain access to every 5% deposit mortgage on the market, which means your chances of landing a good deal will be higher than they would be if you limit yourself to the mortgage guarantee scheme.

When does the scheme run until?

The scheme was initially due to run until December 2022, but was renewed by the government that month. It is currently scheduled to conclude at the end of December 2023.

How to apply for the mortgage guarantee scheme

If you think the mortgage guarantee scheme might be the right option for you, your first step should be to speak to a mortgage broker to make sure that’s the case. The 5% deposit mortgages available through the initiative aren’t the only ones on the market, so it’s vital that you compare these products with every alternative to make sure you get the best deal.

A broker who specialises in low-deposit mortgages will compare every guarantee scheme product with the other 95% LTV mortgages on the market, as well as alternative government schemes, such as Help to Buy. They will match these products with your needs and circumstances to narrow down the list of suitable deals and help you choose the best option.

Once your broker has helped you choose the right 5% deposit mortgage for you, the application process from here is the same as it would be for any residential mortgage, whether you’re using the mortgage guarantee scheme or not.

You can find out exactly what the process entails in our guide to mortgage applications.

Eligibility criteria

Mortgage lenders will decide who qualifies for a mortgage under the guarantee scheme in line with their general eligibility criteria. This is basically an assessment of your creditworthiness based on factors including your credit history, your income, your outgoings, your age, and other factors. You can find out exactly what lenders look for when assessing a mortgage applicant in our complete guide to the mortgage application process.

One thing to keep in mind is that a mortgage guarantee scheme lender might be more stringent with their eligibility criteria due to the extra risk posed by your low deposit.

Restrictions

As well as meeting the lender’s eligibility criteria, the mortgage guarantee scheme itself has a set of requirements that the borrower must meet to qualify.

The restrictions you’ll encounter are as follows…

• Reserved for customers with 5-9% deposit
• Property must be valued at under £600,000
• Property must be a primary residence, not a second home or a buy to let
• Mortgage must be offered on a repayment basis, not interest only
• Applicant must be an individual or individuals, not a company
• Lenders are not offering guarantee scheme mortgages on new-build homes

If any of these restrictions apply to you and are threatening to scupper your mortgage plans, keep in mind that the guarantee scheme isn’t the only way to get a 5% deposit mortgage. If you speak to a broker who specialises in arranging low deposit deals, they can go through the alternatives options – some of which don’t have these caveats – with you.

Deposit requirements

You’ll need at least 5% deposit to apply for a mortgage through the guarantee scheme, but it is possible to put down more than that. The lenders who are on board with the initiative have products in their range which go up to 91% LTV for those with 9% deposit.

Putting down more than 5% deposit might boost your chances of getting a favourable interest rate, but the source of your deposit could also affect the deals you qualify for. Some lenders will only accept traditional deposit sources, such as personal savings, inheritance or the sale of another property, while others accept ‘non-standard’ sources.

See our guide to mortgage deposit sources for more information.

Is the scheme open to first-time buyers?

Yes, absolutely. Given that many first-time buyers struggle to save up enough mortgage deposit, they are expected to be the group who benefit the most from the scheme.

That said, first-time buyers should keep in mind that the mortgage guarantee scheme is not their only option if they have just 5% deposit to put down. There are other government schemes and specialist products that might be a better alternative, and a mortgage broker who specialises in low-deposit customers can help you make the right choice.

What terms are available?

The mortgages available through the guarantee scheme generally come with the same term length as any other residential mortgage. A mortgage term of 25 years is considered average, but some lenders will allow you to stretch the debt over 30-35 years.

There are a number of fixed-rate mortgage products available in each mortgage guarantee scheme lender’s offering. The government reached an agreement with participating lenders to ensure that each of their product ranges includes at least one five-year fixed-rate deal.

At launch, the guarantee scheme range includes a mixture of products with between two and five-year fixes, which means you can lock yourself into a deal with a lower interest rate for between two and five years, after which you will switch to the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) – which is usually more expensive – unless you remortgage at that time.

Tracker rate mortgages are also available, and they are often chosen by customers during times of low interest rates. The rates on these mortgages are determined by an external source, usually the Bank of England’s base rate, and can go up or down during the term.

What interest rates to expect

The main thing you need to know about mortgage guarantee scheme rates is that they can be high, but not necessarily higher than other 95% LTV mortgages. Generally speaking, the more deposit you have, the greater your chances of landing a favourable rate; so it should come as no surprise that 5% deposit mortgages have some of the highest rates around.

The benefits of saving up extra deposit are plain to see. On average, 5% deposit mortgages have an interest rate that’s around one percentage point higher than the equivalent products for borrowers with 10% deposit, though not everyone is in a position to save up more.

If saving up more than 5% deposit is a big ask for you, the good news is that it’s still possible to get a favourable interest rate with this amount. Remember, you aren’t limited to the mortgage guarantee scheme products. There are lenders offering 95% LTV mortgages outside of the scheme, some of which might come with a lower interest rate for you.

Other costs and fees

Many of the deals available through the guarantee scheme come with no extra fees, but it’s important to view this in perspective. No fees is all well and good, but if you’re paying more overall because of a higher interest rate, this defeats the purpose of a fee-free product.

While some of the other 95% LTV mortgages may have other costs to foot, such as valuation charges and product fees, they might come with a lower interest rate that will put you in pocket during the course of the mortgage, when the overall cost has been calculated.

A mortgage broker can help you work out the overall cost of every product on the market, with all fees and charges factored in, so you can make an informed decision about whether to choose a mortgage guarantee scheme deal or one of the alternatives instead.

Participating lenders

The mortgage lenders offering products through the guarantee scheme at launch are…

• Lloyds
• Natwest
• Santander
• Barclays
• HSBC
• Virgin Money

All of these lenders are offering a range of 91-95% loan-to-value products, including fixed-rate and tracker agreements. Some of these mortgage providers are also applying their own caveats to these deals. Natwest, for example, has placed a restriction on additional borrowing for seven years after the mortgage has been taken out, while Santander has placed a lower price cap of £400,000 on flats and leasehold properties.

As we’ve mentioned more than once already, if you’re looking for a 5% deposit or 95% LTV mortgage, these lenders are not your only options. Speak to a mortgage broker to find out what other 95% LTV deals and 5% deposit government schemes are available to you.

Alternatives to consider

If you only have 5% deposit to put down on your mortgage, it’s important that you don’t limit yourself to the guarantee scheme since there are other options to think about.

The main alternatives to consider are…

• Other 95% LTV mortgages: These products virtually disappeared from the market during the coronavirus pandemic, but more and more have become available since the peak of the crisis. Many lenders are now offering them outside of the scheme, and some of the best deals can only be accessed through a mortgage broker.
• Shared Ownership: A cross between owning and renting that usually doesn’t require a large deposit
• Guarantor mortgages: If you have 5% deposit and a family member who is willing to help you out financially, a guarantor mortgage could be an option. Your guarantor would need to secure the debt against a property they own and hold equity in or place savings (usually 10% of the property’s value) in an account held by the lender.

These are some of the most popular alternatives to the guarantee scheme, but there could be other options available. See our guide to 95% LTV mortgages for more information or make an enquiry to speak to a broker who specialises in low deposit mortgages. 

Can you apply with bad credit?

You can still apply for a mortgage through the guarantee scheme if you have bad credit, but be prepared for the possibility of even higher interest rates to offset the risk. The exact rate you will pay may depend on the circumstances surrounding your bad credit, such as how long the issue has been on your file, how severe the problem is and why it occurred.

Remortgaging through the scheme

You can remortgage using the mortgage guarantee scheme as this government initiative is open to everyone, including remortgage customers.

Switching to a mortgage that’s available exclusively through the mortgage guarantee scheme could be a potential option if you only have a limited amount of equity – specifically, between 5% and 9% – in your current property to secure your new mortgage agreement against.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the mortgage guarantee scheme is not the only way to remortgage with limited equity/deposit. There are mortgage lenders who offer 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage products outside of the initiative, so it’s a good idea to compare these deals with what’s available through the guarantee scheme

Are there any restrictions on this?

Yes. A few of the participating lenders are applying caveats to remortgages under the guarantee scheme. Natwest, for example, has placed a restriction on additional borrowing for seven years after the agreement has been taken out. And Virgin Money – who are joining the scheme post-launch – will not allow capital-raising remortgages through the scheme.

These are merely two examples of the restrictions you might encounter if you’re using the guarantee scheme to remortgage. But with a mortgage broker on your side, restrictions you come across shouldn’t be deal-breakers. They could help you overcome any hurdles with your current lender or find you an alternative one, if that’s in your best interest.

Speak to a mortgage guarantee scheme advisor

If you think the mortgage guarantee scheme is the best way to get yourself onto the property ladder, the first thing you should do is speak to an expert who can verify that. The scheme isn’t the only way to get a mortgage with 5% deposit, so it’s vital that you compare the deals on offer through it with other schemes and specialist low-deposit mortgage products.

The right mortgage broker will be able to do that for you, and this is where we come in. We offer a free broker-matching service that can pair you up with the ideal advisor for your needs and circumstances. This will be somebody we’ve handpicked because of their track record helping customers with modest deposits land great mortgage deals.

Call 0808 189 2301 or make an enquiry and we’ll set up a free, no-obligation chat between you and a broker who knows the mortgage guarantee scheme inside out today!