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Can my parents gift me money for a house deposit

Feb 13, 2024
Can My Parents Gift Me a Deposit for a House
If you’re struggling to save for a deposit, your parents can help you onto the property ladder by gifting you money. Financial help of this kind is known as the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’. This guide explains what gifted deposits are, how they work and other low-deposit schemes you could be eligible for.

Key Takeaways

Gifted Deposits:
  • A “gifted deposit” refers to money given to a homebuyer to help them buy a property.
  • It can be a contribution towards the deposit or the entire deposit.
Benefits of a Bigger Deposit:
  • Larger deposits lead to cheaper mortgages.
  • Access better first-time buyer rates.
Who Can Gift a Deposit?
  • Most lenders prefer immediate relatives (parents, grandparents, siblings) to gift the money.
  • Partners can also provide a gifted deposit.
  • Distant relatives or friends may not be allowed.
  • The vendor (seller) cannot gift the deposit.
Tax Considerations:
  • Up to £3,000 yearly gift is tax-free.
  • If the person gifting the deposit passes away within seven years of gifting more than £3,000, inheritance tax may apply.

Buying a house through a gifted deposit

Gifting a deposit comes with rules you’ll need to be aware of. 
 
Your mortgage lender may require written proof that the money came from your parents (called a Gifted Deposit Letter). This allows them to confirm that the money isn’t a loan that requires regular repayments and ensures that if they repossess the house, your parents won’t have any legal rights to it. 
 
The Gifted Deposit Letter should include the following information:  
 
  • Your parents’ names
  • Your name
  • The amount of money gifted
  • The source of the money 
  • The nature of your relationship
  • Confirmation that it’s a gift that doesn’t require repayments
  • Evidence that your parents are financially able to support 
 

What are the tax implications of a gifted deposit?

Your parents can gift you up to £3,000 yearly without tax implications. If they give you more money towards a deposit and they pass away within seven years, you must pay inheritance tax.  
 

Buying a house through the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’

If you’re buying your first home through a gifted deposit from your parents, the process will unfold as follows:
 
  1. Inform your solicitor. Let your solicitor and mortgage broker know that the deposit is a gift from your parents.
  2. Provide evidence of the gift. Your parents must provide your solicitor and mortgage broker with a Gifted Deposit Letter outlining how much has been given, any interest due and the repayment terms.
  3. Provide proof of ID. You and your parents must provide proof of ID to your solicitor.
  4. Include proof of funds. You must provide evidence of where the money comes from. This includes bank statements from your parents outlining how they’ve built up that sum.
  5. Draw up a deed of trust. Ensure your solicitor draws up a deed of trust to determine what happens to the money in the future. This should cover whether the amount needs to be repaid and what happens if the property is sold.
 

What other options are there for first-time buyers? 

There are more low-deposit schemes available to help you buy your first home.  
 

Parent Power 

With our Parent Power scheme, whatever your family or friends contribute, we could match it up to a maximum of 5% of the purchase price. 
 

Deposit Unlock  

 
Deposit Unlock lets you buy your new home with a 5% deposit on mortgage products up to £750,000.  
 

Deposit Boost 

 
Already have a 10% deposit? With Deposit Boost, we can boost it by 5%, meaning you’ll need an 85% mortgage. 
 
Browse our brand-new properties across the UK and unique homebuying offers. Call our Sales Advisers today to reserve your new home.
 

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