First-time buyers are having to put down deposits of over £100,000 in an increasing number of areas, new research has found.
Analysing real deposit data from lender Halifax in almost every local authority in the UK, we’ve discovered that, in 19 local authorities, some people buying their first home are putting down six-figure deposits , with London’s Camden topping the charts at an average £174,974 – 28% of the property price.
At the other end of the spectrum those purchasing in Barrow-in-Furness are paying out less than anywhere else in the UK: first-time buyer deposits in the Cumbrian borough average just £13,701, or 12% of the property price.
You can find out what’s happening in your area with our map, below.
London first-time buyers paying over the odds
As ever, first-time buyers in the capital are paying more than anywhere else in the country – in fact London boroughs occupy the 12 top spots on the list, compiled by Halifax.
After Camden, Wandsworth (£155,811), Islington (£148,558) and Lambeth (£139,915) command the highest up-front payments.
The number of areas with an average deposit size above £100,000 has increased from 17 when the research was last carried out in May 2017 to 19 now.
Table: top 10 most expensive areas for first-time buyers by deposit size
Local authority area | Average deposit (£) | Average deposit (%) | |
1 | Camden | £174,974 | 28% |
2 | Wandsworth | £155,811 | 28% |
3 | Islington | £148,558 | 26% |
4 | Lambeth | £139,915 | 30% |
5 | Barnet | £133,091 | 30% |
6 | Hammersmith and Fulham | £133,080 | 28% |
7 | Hackney | £132,563 | 27% |
8 | Southwark | £131,189 | 28% |
9 | Richmond upon Thames | £130,758 | 24% |
10 | Westminster | £128,260 | 19% |
Only four areas outside London – Winchester (£109,060), Cambridge (£107,084), Guildford (£104,392) and Elmbridge (£102,994) – saw average deposits of over £100,000.
Table: top 10 most expensive areas for first-time buyers outside London
Local authority area | Average deposit (£) | Average deposit (%) | |
1 | Winchester | £109,060 | 29% |
2 | Cambridge | £107,084 | 28% |
3 | Guildford | £104,392 | 26% |
4 | Elmbridge | £102,994 | 22% |
5 | Waverley | £96,081 | 26% |
6 | Hertsmere | £89,975 | 21% |
7 | Brentwood | £89,955 | 24% |
8 | Runnymede | £86,796 | 22% |
9 | Chiltern | £86,209 | 21% |
10 | Oxford | £82,006 | 25% |
The cheapest areas for first-time buyers
First-timers buying in the north of England, Scotland and Wales generally pay substantially less than those living in London and the south east.
The cheapest local authority for first-time buyers in England is Barrow-in-Furness (£13,701); in Scotland it’s West Dunbartonshire (£14,010) and in Wales it’s Merthyr Tydfil at £14,446.
Table: top 10 cheapest areas for first-time buyers by deposit size
Local authority area | Average deposit (£) | Average deposit (%) | |
1 | Barrow-in-Furness | £13,701 | 12% |
2 | West Dunbartonshire | £14,010 | 14% |
3 | North Lanarkshire | £14,060 | 13% |
4 | Burnley | £14,415 | 15% |
5 | Merthyr Tydfil | £14,446 | 14% |
6 | North Ayrshire | £14,477 | 15% |
7 | Mansfield | £14,505 | 12% |
8 | Hyndburn | £14,642 | 15% |
9 | Barnsley | £14,782 | 13% |
10 | Inverclyde | £15,216 | 15% |
Map: first-time buyer deposits by local authority
Our interactive map enables you to see how much first-time buyers are paying throughout the UK. Hover over any area to see deposit sizes in pounds and percentage terms.
How much deposit do you need to get a mortgage?
Of course, averages only tell part of the story: there are people paying a lot more – but also a lot less – than the figures in our tables and map.
Generally speaking, the bigger the deposit you’re able to pay upfront, the better mortgage rate you’ll get. Most mortgage providers will expect you to put down at least 10% of the property price and then lend you a mortgage to cover the rest of the cost.
- Find out how long it’ll take you to save up with our mortgage deposit affordability calculator
However, if you’re keen to buy a property soon and haven’t saved up that much, you may want to consider a Help to Buy equity loan. This enables you to put down as little as 5% on a new-build property, with the government loaning you an extra chunk of the property’s value and you taking out a mortgage to cover the rest.
The scheme works slightly differently depending on where you live. Click to find out more about:
- Help to Buy (England excluding London)
- London Help to Buy
- Help to Buy Wales
- Help to Buy Scotland
You may also be interested in shared ownership, where you buy between 25% and 75% of the property (made up of a combination of your deposit and a mortgage) and pay rent on the rest.
- Find out more about shared ownership