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How We Helped a Family on a Tier Two Visa Buy Their First Home With a 5% Deposit

Turned away by multiple lenders. Three children, a visa, and a deposit from India. We found the right door.
“We thought we’d be treated like everyone else.”

4.5 years

Time in the UK before application

5%

Deposit - the minimum threshold

120+

Lenders in our network

Family of 5

Now in their own home

That’s the assumption that catches so many people out. Our clients had been living and working in the UK for four and a half years. They had steady incomes, a growing family, and a deposit saved and ready to go. In their minds, they had done everything right.

But when they started approaching lenders directly, the rejections came quickly. Not because they weren’t creditworthy. Not because they couldn’t afford the repayments. But because the specifics of their situation – a Tier Two visa, a 5% deposit, and funds coming from India – placed them outside the criteria of mainstream lenders.

By the time they found us, they were frustrated and deflated. They came through a recommendation from someone in a similar position who had been through the process with us. That personal referral said everything.

The Challenges They Were Facing

This case had several layers to it, and it’s worth being honest about that.

First, the visa. Lenders treat visa applications differently depending on the type of visa, how long the applicant has been in the UK, and how much time remains before it expires or leads to full residency. A Tier Two visa held for four and a half years is a very different proposition to someone who landed six months ago. Time in country builds confidence for lenders – it shows stability, credit history, and financial behaviour over an extended period.

Second, the deposit size. At 5%, this is the minimum threshold and it narrows the field significantly. Where a 10% deposit might open the door to five or six lenders, a 5% deposit may mean only one lender will consider the application. That lender has to be the right one.

Third, the source of funds. The deposit was coming from India, which meant additional due diligence was required. Lenders take the origin of funds seriously – depending on the country, there are additional verification checks to satisfy anti-money laundering requirements. This isn’t a reflection on the client. It is simply the process, and it has to be done properly.

Any one of these factors can complicate a mortgage application. All three together meant that standard routes simply were not going to work.

What We Did

The first thing we did was what we always do – we sat down with them properly and understood the full picture. When did they arrive in the UK? What did their visa timeline look like? Where had the deposit come from, and could it be documented clearly?

From there, it was a knowledge exercise. With access to over 120 lenders and more than 12,000 products, our job is to know which doors are open before we knock on them. We identified the lender whose criteria matched this specific set of circumstances – visa type, time in country, deposit level, and source of funds.

We then worked through the documentation. The funds from India needed to be traced, verified, and in some cases translated and certified by a professional. It was thorough work, but it was the right work – done properly upfront, it meant the application could proceed cleanly.

The result was a mortgage offer. And then completion. A family of five – two adults and three children – moved into their own home. Stability, space, and roots, instead of renting in a market that keeps changing around them.

Why Other Lenders Said No

It is worth being clear about this, because it is not a reflection on those lenders or on the clients. Every lender has its own criteria, and those criteria are applied consistently. A lender that does not accept 5% deposits from visa holders is not making a judgement – it is following its own policy.

The difference a broker makes is knowing which lender’s policy fits which client’s circumstances. Submitting an application to the wrong lender does not just result in a rejection – it can leave a mark on your credit file. Knowing where to go in the first place is the value.

What Visa Holders Need to Understand

Mortgages are available to people on visas in the UK. That is the starting point. But the landscape shifts depending on a few key variables.

Time in the UK matters. The longer you have been here, the more evidence there is of how you manage money. A credit score built over four years tells a very different story to one built over six months. Lenders want to see that history.

Deposit size changes everything. This is true for every buyer, but it is particularly important for visa holders. A larger deposit means more lenders will consider you, which means better rates and more choice. If you are early in your visa tenure and saving for a mortgage, the single most impactful thing you can do is grow that deposit.

Visa type has a direct impact on which lenders will work with you. Tier Two, Tier One, Global Talent, BNO – each comes with different lender responses. This is not something to guess at. It is worth speaking to a broker who knows the detail.

The source of your deposit will be scrutinised. If your money is coming from abroad, be prepared to document it thoroughly. This includes bank statements, proof of the funds’ origin, and in some cases translated and certified documents. It is additional work, but it is manageable if you approach it properly.

What About Protection?

Having a family and a mortgage in the UK means having an asset and a risk here, regardless of where you are originally from. For a family with three children, the protection conversation is an important one.

Family income benefit is particularly relevant – this type of cover pays a regular income to your family if you pass away, helping to maintain financial stability rather than leaving a lump sum that needs to be managed. Alongside this, having a will in place is something every homeowner with dependants should consider, and it is something we will always raise.

The fundamentals of protection do not change based on visa status. What matters is that the people who depend on you are looked after if something goes wrong.

Our Honest Advice If You Are in This Position

If you are on a visa, saving for a deposit, and wondering whether a mortgage is even possible for you – here is what we would tell you.

  • 1

    You cannot speed up your visa timeline. What you can control is your credit behaviour and your savings rate. Keep your financial commitments manageable, avoid unnecessary credit, and put as much aside as you can each month. Every percentage point you add to your deposit opens more doors.

  • 2

    And when you are ready, speak to someone who can give you a straight answer. Not just whether it is possible now, but if not, what needs to change and how long it will take. That conversation costs nothing and could save you months of heading in the wrong direction.

Thinking About Your Options?

If you are a visa holder thinking about buying a home in the UK, we are happy to have that initial conversation with you. No obligation, no pressure – just a clear picture of where you stand and what your options are. You can find our contact details on our website or by searching for us on Google. Get in touch through our contact page and we will arrange a time to speak. Mortgages are not just for one type of person. They never were.
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This case study is based on a real client situation. Details have been kept general to protect client confidentiality.