Can You Get a 100% Mortgage in 2026? Your No-Deposit Options Explained

 

For many would-be homeowners, the monthly mortgage payment isn't the part holding them back. It's getting the deposit together in the first place.

With rent, household bills and everyday living costs to cover, putting aside thousands of pounds can feel like a difficult task.

But does having no deposit mean buying a home is out of reach?

Not necessarily.

As of August 2026, there are still some mortgages available that allow eligible buyers to borrow up to 100% of a property's value, alongside other options that could help you buy without using a large amount of your own savings.

The important word here is eligible. These mortgages come with specific criteria, so the right route will depend on your income, circumstances, credit history and the property you hope to buy.

At Quealy & Co Financial Services Ltd., we can look at the options available and help you understand what may be achievable for you.

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Do 100% mortgages actually exist in 2026?

Yes. Although the choice is much more limited than with mortgages requiring a 5%, 10% or larger deposit, genuine zero-deposit mortgages are available.

For example, a product that Quealy & Co Financial Services Ltd. have access to does currently allows eligible applicants to borrow up to 100% of the lower of the purchase price or property valuation. It is designed primarily for renters and uses their history of making rental payments as part of the assessment.

There are also family-assisted mortgages where the buyer does not provide a deposit themselves, but a family member provides additional security instead. Another product we have access to, currently offers its Family Springboard Mortgage with up to 100% loan-to-value and no borrower deposit.

Mortgage products and lending criteria can change, so it is important to check what is available when you are ready to apply.

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Option 1: A true 100% mortgage

A genuine 100% mortgage allows you to borrow the full value of the property without putting down a traditional cash deposit.

Some products are designed specifically for people who have demonstrated that they can comfortably make regular rent payments but have struggled to build up a deposit at the same time.

For example, at Quealy & Co we have access to a current Track Record Mortgage that can be available with no deposit. Applicants need to meet a range of conditions, including requirements relating to their age, rental history, credit commitments and borrowing amount.

This could make home ownership possible sooner for some renters, but a 100% mortgage will not be suitable or available for everybody.

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Option 2: Family-assisted mortgages

Another possibility is a family-assisted mortgage.

Rather than giving you a deposit to put towards the property, a parent or other qualifying family member may provide savings or additional security to support the mortgage.

Depending on the lender and product, this can allow the buyer to purchase a home without providing their own cash deposit.

The important point is that the family member is taking on a financial commitment too, so both the buyer and the person providing support need to understand the potential risks before proceeding.

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Option 3: Buying with a gifted deposit

Perhaps your family would rather give you money towards your deposit than provide security for the mortgage.

Many lenders will consider deposits gifted by family members, although their rules about who can provide the gift and what evidence is required can vary.

For example, one product that we have access to currently accepts genuine gifted deposits from qualifying family members, provided the money is a genuine gift rather than a loan and the person giving it will not retain an interest in the property.

This is not technically a 100% mortgage, because there is still a deposit being paid. However, from the buyer's point of view, it could mean purchasing without having to fund the deposit entirely from their own savings.

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Option 4: Low-deposit mortgages

Before assuming you need a 100% mortgage, it is worth looking at how little you may actually need to save.

There are currently products aimed at helping first-time buyers purchase with relatively small deposits. For example, a High Street lender introduced a mortgage in May 2026 allowing eligible first-time buyers purchasing a property of up to £300,000 to proceed with a £5,000 personal deposit, subject to its lending criteria.

A small deposit could potentially open up more options than borrowing at 100% LTV, so it is worth comparing the overall cost and suitability rather than looking at the deposit alone.

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Option 5: Shared Ownership

Shared Ownership can provide another route onto the property ladder if buying a suitable property outright is unaffordable.

You purchase a share of the property and pay rent to the housing provider on the remaining share. Under the current scheme in England, buyers can generally purchase between 10% and 75% of a home's value, with some properties starting at a 10% share.

The deposit is then usually calculated on the share you are buying rather than the full property value.

For example, if you bought a 25% share of a £240,000 property:

• Your share would cost £60,000.
• A 5% deposit on that share would be £3,000.

Government guidance states that Shared Ownership deposits are usually between 5% and 10% of the share being purchased.

You will also need to take account of the rent payable on the remaining share and any applicable service charges when considering affordability.

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What are the risks of a 100% mortgage?

Being able to buy without spending years building a deposit can sound very attractive, but borrowing 100% of a property's value comes with additional risks.

The biggest is negative equity.

If you bought a property for £250,000 with a £250,000 mortgage and the value subsequently fell to £240,000, you could temporarily owe more than your home was worth.

That could make it harder to sell or remortgage until you have either repaid enough of the mortgage or the property's value has increased again.

Low-deposit borrowers should therefore understand the increased risk of negative equity and how this could affect their future options.

You are also borrowing more money than somebody purchasing the same property with a deposit, which can mean paying more interest over the life of the mortgage.

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Is it better to wait and save a 5% deposit?

Not always.

For one buyer, spending another year saving a deposit could make good financial sense. For somebody else, a suitable 100% or family-assisted mortgage could allow them to buy sooner.

The answer depends on much more than the size of your deposit.

Your income, monthly commitments, credit history, current rent, property price and longer-term plans all need to be considered.

That is why it can be useful to speak to a mortgage adviser before deciding that you either can or can't afford to buy.

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No deposit? Talk to us before ruling out buying a home

If you've found yourself scrolling through properties but assuming you can't buy because you haven't built up a large deposit, it is worth finding out what is actually possible.

The mortgage market offers more routes than many buyers realise, from genuine 100% mortgages and family-assisted products to gifted deposits, Shared Ownership and specialist low-deposit options.

At Quealy & Co Financial Services Ltd., we can look at your individual circumstances, explain the options available and help you find a mortgage that is appropriate for you.

For your free initial mortgage consultation, contact our team today on 01795 505761 or email mortgages@quealy.co.uk for bespoke advice tailored to your circumstances.

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Mortgage availability and lending criteria are subject to change. All mortgages are subject to status, affordability, lender criteria and property eligibility.

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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Quealy & Co Financial Services Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 919693. Most Buy to Let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and will not benefit from the same regulatory protection as residential mortgages.