Who can a 95% mortgage help?
A 95% mortgage can help buyers who have a smaller deposit but can afford the monthly mortgage payments.
This could include:
- First time buyers with a 5% deposit
- Home movers with limited equity
- Buyers who have saved a deposit while renting
- Buyers using a gifted deposit
- Buyers who want to purchase sooner rather than wait for a larger deposit
- Clients who want to compare 95%, 90% and other deposit options
A 95% mortgage is not for everyone. The route for you depends on your income, deposit, credit profile, property, future plans and how comfortable the monthly payments feel.
Your Mortgage Expert will help you compare the options before you decide.
95% mortgages at a glance
A 95% mortgage is a mortgage where you borrow up to 95% of the property value and use a 5% deposit.
This can help if you have enough income to support the mortgage but don’t want to wait years to save a larger deposit.
A 95% mortgage still needs careful advice. Lenders will check affordability, credit history, income, property type and deposit source. The rate can also be higher than mortgages where you have a larger deposit, because the lender is taking more risk.
A mortgage broker will help you compare your options before you apply, so you understand what is realistic and what the full cost looks like.
Key points to know:
- A 95% mortgage usually means buying with a 5% deposit
- First time buyers and home movers can use 95% mortgage options
- Lender criteria can vary significantly
- Affordability and credit history are important
- The property type can affect lender choice
- A bigger deposit can sometimes improve your options
- Advice helps you compare the full cost, not just the rate
Why use a broker for a 95% mortgage?
A 95% mortgage is not just about finding a lender that accepts a 5% deposit.
You need to know which lender fits your circumstances, how your income will be assessed, whether your deposit source is acceptable, what property types are eligible and what monthly payments could look like.
A mortgage broker can help you avoid wasted time and unsuitable applications.
We will help you:
- Understand your 95% mortgage options
- Check how much you can borrow
- Compare lenders that consider 5% deposit applications
- Review whether your income fits lender criteria
- Check whether your credit profile is likely to cause issues
- Understand whether your deposit source is acceptable
- Compare 95%, 90% and other mortgage options
- Review the full cost, not just the headline rate
- Prepare your documents before applying
- Manage the mortgage process from enquiry to completion
At Your Mortgage Expert our aim is to help you move forward with a clear plan, not guess which lender to approach.
A MORTGAGE IS A LOAN SECURED AGAINST YOUR HOME. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed.
Can first time buyers get a 95% mortgage?
Your Mortgage Expert helps many first time buyers to use 95% mortgage options.
This can be useful if you’ve saved a 5% deposit and want to understand whether buying is realistic now or whether you need to wait.
As a first time buyer, you will usually need to show:
- Proof of income
- Bank statements
- Proof of deposit
- Identification
- Details of credit commitments
- Evidence of gifted deposit if family are helping
- Information about the property you want to buy
Your Mortgage Expert helps you understand what documents are needed, what lenders will look for and what steps to take before you start viewing homes.
Can home movers get a 95% mortgage?
Home movers can use 95% mortgage options where the lender criteria and affordability fit.
This can be useful if you’re moving with limited equity, relocating to a more expensive area, or using most of your sale proceeds for the new purchase.
When you’re moving home, we will help you understand:
- How much deposit you will have after selling
- Whether you can borrow enough for the next property
- Whether your current mortgage affects your plans
- Whether porting your mortgage is worth comparing
- Whether early repayment charges apply
- Which lenders fit your borrowing needs
A 95% mortgage can make a move possible, but the full cost and affordability need to be checked carefully.
95% mortgages and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
Some 95% mortgages are supported by the government’s Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, while others are offered outside the scheme.
The 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is designed to support the availability of 91% to 95% loan to value mortgages. It helps participating lenders offer high loan to value mortgages by providing a government backed guarantee.
From your point of view, the important question is not only whether a mortgage uses the scheme.
The important question is whether the mortgage fits your circumstances.
We’ll help you compare your available options, whether they are supported by the scheme or available through normal lender criteria.
95% mortgage with gifted deposit
Many first time buyers use a gifted deposit from family.
Lenders will usually need evidence that the money is a genuine gift and not a loan that needs to be repaid.
You will normally need to provide:
- Evidence of where the deposit came from
- A gifted deposit letter
- Confirmation that the person giving the money will not own part of the property
- Bank statements or other checks if requested by the lender or solicitor
Our team of mortgage advisers will help you understand what evidence is needed before the application starts.
95% mortgage if you are self employed or have complex income
A 95% mortgage can need more detailed planning if your income is not straightforward.
This can apply if you are:
- Self employed
- A company director
- A contractor
- Paid through CIS
- A freelancer
- Receiving bonus or commission
- Working overtime
- Earning from more than one source
- Recently changed role
Lenders will assess income differently. Some will use more of your income than others. Some will need extra documents before agreeing the mortgage.
We help you understand which lenders fit your income and what documents you need.
95% mortgage for new build homes
Some buyers want to use a 95% mortgage for a new build home.
This can be possible with some lenders, but criteria between lenders can vary. New build properties can be treated differently from older homes and some lenders will apply different loan to value rules depending on the property type.
This is an area where mortgage advice can be particularly helpful.
At Your Mortgage Expert, we will help you check whether the property, deposit, builder incentives and mortgage route fit together before you commit.
Related first time buyer mortgage advice
If you are buying with a smaller deposit, you may also find these first-time buyer mortgage advice pages helpful.
First time buyer support
Deposit and buying options
Documents you need for a 95% mortgage
The documents needed will depend on the lender and your circumstances.
You will usually need:
- Proof of identity
- Proof of address
- Payslips
- Bank statements
- Proof of deposit
- Gifted deposit evidence if relevant
- Tax calculations if self employed
- Tax year overviews if self employed
- Company accounts if relevant
- Details of credit commitments
- Property details
We will explain what is needed early, so your application is prepared properly before it is submitted.
Why choose Your Mortgage Expert?
At Your Mortgage Expert, we help buyers understand whether a 95% mortgage is the route for you and how to prepare before applying.
We will carefully explain all your options and help you understand what is possible in your circumstances. We will look at your deposit, income, affordability, credit profile, property plans and lender criteria. We then compare the options and explain the next steps clearly.
Clients choose us because we offer:
- Clear advice in plain English
- Help understanding 5% deposit mortgage options
- Support comparing 95%, 90% and other mortgage routes
- Guidance on affordability and lender criteria
- Help with gifted deposits and complex income
- Access to a wide range of mortgage options
- Support from enquiry through to completion
- Friendly advice by phone, video or face to face
We are based in Salisbury and help clients locally and across the UK.
Thinking about buying with a 5% deposit?
You don’t need to work out your mortgage options alone.
If you have a 5% deposit and want to know whether buying is realistic, we will help you understand your options, compare lenders and prepare for the next step.
Last reviewed: May 2026
Reviewed by: Your Mortgage Expert mortgage advice team
About this page: This page explains 95% mortgages, 5% deposit mortgage options, lender criteria, gifted deposits, first time buyer and home mover routes, and how mortgage advice can help you compare your options.