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New Build Boost is a mortgage scheme from Gen H that lets eligible buyers purchase selected new-build homes with a 5% deposit, an 80% mortgage and a 15% interest-free equity loan. We explain how it works, who can apply, the pros and cons, and whether it's better than a standard 95% mortgage.
New Build Boost is a mortgage scheme from Gen H that lets eligible buyers purchase selected new-build homes with a 5% deposit, an 80% mortgage and a 15% interest-free equity loan.
KEY INFORMATION
New Build Boost is a mortgage scheme from Gen H that lets buyers purchase a new build home with a 5% deposit, an 80% mortgage and a 15% interest-free equity loan.
The scheme is designed to help buyers who have saved a 5% deposit but can’t borrow enough through a standard mortgage. With New Build Boost, buyers are assessed using 80% loLoan to Value (LTV) Calculator affordability criteria, rather than 95% lending, so may be able to borrow more than they otherwise could.
The 15% boost isn’t a cash gift or developer deposit contribution. It’s an equity loan that’s frozen for the first five years and remains interest-free for life. After five years, the amount you repay rises or falls in line with your property’s value, up to a maximum of twice the original boost amount.
However, while it has been described as a successor to the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme (or a ‘Help to Buy replacement’), New Build Boost is not a government scheme.
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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Please note some branches of Mortgage Advice Bureau may charge a fee for mortgage advice if you go direct. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed. So make sure you use this site, this form or phone number for fee-free advice.
Here’s a worked example of how New Build Boost would work if you’re buying a home costing £300,000.
| Purchase price | £300,000 |
| Your deposit (5%) | £15,000 |
| Gen H mortgage (80%) | £240,000 |
| New Build Boost equity loan (15%) | £45,000 |
Because you’re borrowing 80% rather than 95% from the mortgage lender, New Build Boost may make it easier to pass affordability checks and could reduce your monthly mortgage repayments compared with a standard 95% mortgage.
You may be eligible for New Build Boost if you:
New Build Boost is currently available across England and Wales on all plots at all Persimmon Homes and Charles Church developments and on selected Lovell Homes developments.
However, it’s important to check availability because developer partnerships and eligible plots can change.
Not necessarily, because ‘deposit boost’ is a general term used to describe several different products.
If you’re searching for a ‘deposit boost scheme’, you could come across:
With New Build Boost, while buyers only need a 5% deposit, the additional 15% ‘boost’ isn’t a cash gift or larger deposit: it is an equity loan provided alongside your mortgage. This means it must eventually be repaid. The amount you repay is linked to the value of your home.
By contrast, a ‘new build deposit contribution’ is usually an incentive paid by the developer towards your deposit which typically doesn’t have to be repaid.
| Feature | New Build Boost | New build deposit contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides it? | Gen H | Housebuilder or developer |
| How does it work? | 15% equity loan alongside an 80% mortgage | Developer contributes towards your deposit |
| Do you repay it? | Yes. It’s an equity loan. | Usually no. It’s normally a sales incentive. |
| Linked to property value? | Yes. Repayment rises or falls with your home’s value after five years. | No. |
| Helps affordability? | Yes. Buyers are assessed using 80% LTV affordability criteria. | Not usually. It mainly reduces the upfront deposit needed. |
Be aware that there are a host of schemes with a similar-sounding name offered by different developers – such as Barratt Homes Deposit Boost, Taylor Wimpey Deposit Match (while Deposit Unlock closed to new completions in April 2026). If you are specifically considering New Build Boost, be sure to check carefully that the home you want to buy is eligible for this particular scheme.
Like any mortgage scheme, New Build Boost has advantages and disadvantages to consider when deciding what’s right for you:
Buying a new build? Speak to the experts advisers at Mortgage Advice Bureau today.
Get fee-free mortgage advice from the award-winning expert advisers at Mortgage Advice Bureau.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Please note some branches of Mortgage Advice Bureau may charge a fee for mortgage advice if you go direct. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed. So make sure you use this site, this form or phone number for fee-free advice.
With New Build Boost, the ‘5% deposit new-build mortgage scheme,’ when you remortgage or sell your home, the equity loan ‘boost’ must be repaid in full.
Our Mortgage Expert Sarah Tucker said: “Since the closure of Help to Buy, we’ve seen a clear gap emerge in the market for buyers who want to purchase a new-build home but who struggle to meet the affordability with a low deposit.”
“New Build Boost is one of the most creative private-sector solutions we’ve seen, combining a standard mortgage with a 15% interest-free equity loan, and a low deposit – allowing buyers to access home ownership sooner.
“It’s encouraging to see lenders and housebuilders working together and I hope to see more of this. However, buyers should take the time to fully understand how equity loan schemes work, including how repayment amounts may change over time.”
Get fee-free mortgage advice from the award-winning expert advisers at Mortgage Advice Bureau.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Please note some branches of Mortgage Advice Bureau may charge a fee for mortgage advice if you go direct. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed. So make sure you use this site, this form or phone number for fee-free advice.
It’s a home-buying scheme from Gen H that lets eligible buyers purchase selected new-build homes with a 5% deposit, using a 15% equity loan alongside an 80% mortgage.
No. it’s a private scheme, administered by Gen H. Unlike Help to Buy (which was a government scheme), Gen H New Build Boost is open to first time buyers and existing homeowners. The ‘interest-free forever’ equity loan is another feature that sets it apart from previous government schemes.
No. This new build mortgage scheme is open to both first timers and existing homeowners looking to purchase, say, a bigger new-build from a participating developer.
This scheme typically requires a minimum 5% deposit, with an 80% mortgage and a 15% equity loan making up the rest.
No. The 15% boost is an equity loan, not free money. It must be repaid and is linked to your home’s value.
The equity loan is interest-free for the life of the loan. During the first five years its value is frozen. After that, the amount you repay rises or falls with your property’s value.
Yes, you can typically make full or partial repayments of the boost at any time. But it’s worth checking the specific terms associated with your chosen scheme. There may, for example, be rules around minimum amounts that can be repaid.
Generally, no. New Build Boost is usually used instead of a ‘developer deposit contribution,’ as both are ‘affordability support schemes’ – and may not be combined on the same purchase.
New Build Boost is currently available across England and Wales on all plots at all Persimmon Homes and Charles Church developments and on selected Lovell Homes developments.
However, note that this could change, so be sure to check carefully.
There is no definitive answer to which is ‘better.’ The Gen H new-build mortgage 5% deposit can reduce upfront costs, but does involve an equity loan. By contrast, a 95% mortgage means higher borrowing – but no shared equity. The right choice for you will depend on things such as affordability and your long-term plans.
If your home falls in value after five years, the amount you’ll repay on the equity loan will also fall.
Yes, you can usually sell your property before repaying the equity loan. Just note it will need to be repaid from the sale proceeds when you complete.
Yes. You will need a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal work, including drawing up contracts and carrying out property checks.
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