First Start Mortgages (JBSP)

Boost your clients’ borrowing power with the support of a sponsor.

First Start calculator
First Start products
Lending criteria

Whether your client is buying their first home, moving after a change in circumstances, or returning to the market after a break, First Start (JBSP) helps increase borrowing power by combining their income with that of a sponsor. It’s a flexible solution for those who need a little extra support to make their next move.

Who is First Start for?

First Start is ideal for clients who:

Are first time buyers or home movers
Need additional income support to meet affordability
Are buying on their own after a change in personal circumstances
Are returning to the market after a break.

Who qualifies as a sponsor?

A sponsor is typically a close relative, such as a parent or step-parent, who is added to the mortgage as a co-borrower.

To qualify, a sponsor must:

Be a residential owner-occupier, living in the UK
Have a minimum income of £30,000
Be no older than 60 at application, and no older than 80 at the end of the term
Be willing to be jointly and individually liable for the full mortgage amount.

Sponsors can choose whether to be registered as a joint owner of the property. If they choose not to, they must receive independent legal advice before completion.

Why choose First Start with us?

We offer a practical and supportive approach to First Start cases, including:

Up to 95% LTV (including fees)
Maximum loan of £500,000
Up to 4 applicants (only sponsor and highest earner’s income assessed)
Minimum income requirements:
- Sponsor: £30,000
- Highest earning applicant: £20,000
Purchases and repayment basis only
Applicants must not own any other property at completion (excludes sponsor who is required to be a residential owner-occupier, living in the UK)
One account must be used for monthly payments.

Where the term extends into retirement, refer to our lending criteria.

Borrowing power: on your own, with a partner, or with First Start

Borrowing power on your own

Applicant 1 income	Applicant 2 income	Borrowing power
£25,000	n/a	£112,500

As a single applicant, you could borrow £112,500.

Borrowing power with First Start

Applicant 1 income	Sponsor income	Borrowing power
£25,000	£50,000	£336,750

With the help of a sponsor, you could borrow £336,750.

Find out how much your client could borrow with our First Start calculator.

Borrowing power with a partner

Applicant 1 income	Applicant 2 income	Borrowing power
£32,000	£28,000	£269,400

As joint applicants, you could borrow £269,400.

Borrowing power with First Start

Applicant 1 income	Sponsor income	Borrowing power
£32,000	£80,000	£500,000

With the help of a sponsor, you could borrow £500,000.

Find out how much your client could borrow with our First Start calculator.

Ownership options for the sponsor

The sponsor can choose whether the property is:

Owned solely by the applicant(s)
Owned jointly by the applicant(s) and sponsor.

If the sponsor is not on the title, they must receive independent legal advice before completion.

If the sponsor is a joint owner, they’ll be registered at the Land Registry and may be liable for additional stamp duty on second homes.

We strongly recommend independent financial, legal, and tax advice to understand implications such as inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

Important notes

The sponsor and applicant(s) are jointly and individually liable for the full mortgage amount
First Start is available for purchases only
Repayment basis only – Interest Only not available.

Next steps?

Explore our full Residential lending criteria

To check your client's suitability for First Start take a look at our lending criteria

Lending Criteria

Use our First Start calculator

To see how much your client could borrow with the help of a sponsor, use our First Start calculator

First Start Calculator

Search our First Start product range

To see all our current rates for First Start visit our Residential products page

Residential Products