Can Armed Forces personnel get a mortgage?

Yes. Serving Armed Forces personnel can apply for a mortgage, but lenders will assess income, affordability, deposit, credit history and the property being purchased.

What is Forces Help to Buy?

Forces Help to Buy is an interest-free advance for eligible Regular Armed Forces personnel. It can provide up to 50% of salary, capped at £25,000, towards buying a property.

Can I use Forces Help to Buy as a mortgage deposit?

Some lenders may accept Forces Help to Buy as part of the deposit, but they may also include the repayment when assessing affordability.

Do military allowances count towards mortgage affordability?

Some lenders may consider certain types of additional military income, but criteria varies. It depends on the type of income and how consistently it is received.

Is Forces Help to Buy only for first-time buyers?

No. It can support first-time buyers, but the scheme can also help eligible personnel move home because of assignment or changing family needs.

Will Forces Help to Buy affect how much I can borrow?

It could. The extra deposit may help, but the monthly repayment may also be treated as a commitment by the lender.

For serving UK Armed Forces personnel

Armed Forces Mortgages

Serving in the Armed Forces can make buying a home feel more complicated than it needs to be. Whether you're using Forces Help to Buy, buying your first home, moving because of a posting, or planning around military income, we can help you understand your mortgage options.

Armed Forces mortgage applications are usually assessed using the same broad rules as other applicants, but service life can introduce extra considerations.

Forces Help to Buy

Understand how the scheme could support your deposit.

Military income

Get help presenting your income clearly to lenders.

Buying around service life

Support if postings, deployment or family needs affect your plans.

See how Forces Help to Buy could support your deposit

Use our Forces Help to Buy calculator to estimate how much you could receive towards your deposit and what your monthly repayments might look like.

Try the Forces Help to Buy calculator

Mortgage support for serving Armed Forces personnel

When you apply for a mortgage as a serving member of the Armed Forces, lenders will look at many of the same things they would for any applicant. Service life can simply add a few extra points to think through.

Things a lender may consider include:

Basic salary
Allowances and specialist pay
Frequent moves or postings
Where your deposit is coming from
Forces Help to Buy
Time left in service
Credit profile and affordability
Whether you're buying alone or with a partner

How Forces Help to Buy works

Forces Help to Buy is an interest-free advance that can help eligible Regular Armed Forces personnel buy a home. It can provide up to 50% of salary, capped at £25,000, and is usually repaid through salary deductions over up to 10 years. The scheme became an enduring policy from 1 January 2023.

It can help Regular Armed Forces personnel buy their first home, move to another property on assignment, or move as family needs change.

Feature	How it works
Maximum amount	Up to 50% of salary, capped at £25,000
Interest	Interest-free
Repayment	Usually over up to 10 years
Main use	Deposit and eligible buying costs
Application route	Usually through JPA

For full eligibility and how to apply, see the GOV.UK guidance on Forces Help to Buy.

Can you use Forces Help to Buy as your mortgage deposit?

Some lenders may accept Forces Help to Buy funds towards a deposit, but they may also factor the repayment into their affordability assessment.

It may help increase the deposit available.
A larger deposit could help reduce loan-to-value.
Lenders may still assess the monthly repayment as a financial commitment.
The scheme doesn't guarantee mortgage approval.
The best lender may depend on your wider circumstances.

Planning to use Forces Help to Buy and unsure where you stand?

We can help you understand how the scheme could affect your deposit and affordability before you apply.

Who we help

Serving Army personnelServing Royal Navy personnelServing RAF personnelFirst-time buyers using Forces Help to BuyArmed Forces families moving homePersonnel buying after a posting or relocationApplicants buying with a civilian partnerUnsure how lenders treat service income or allowances

Common mortgage questions for Armed Forces applicants

How we can help with an Armed Forces mortgage

Help understanding how much you may be able to borrow.
Help checking how Forces Help to Buy could affect deposit and affordability.
Help finding lenders that may be suitable for service personnel.
Help preparing documents before applying.
Help if you're buying around deployment, relocation or family changes.

How it works

Tell us about your situation. Share your income, deposit, Forces Help to Buy plans and property goals.
We review your options. We'll look at how your circumstances may fit with lender criteria.
Prepare your application. We'll help you understand what documents may be needed.
Move forward with confidence. You'll have clearer next steps before submitting a mortgage application.

Helpful guides

A few more resources that may help as you plan your next move:

Ready to take the next step?

Speak to one of our expert advisers today. No obligation, no jargon — just honest, expert advice.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.