Published 2026-07-10 · Visa Mortgage Guide
New Build Boost for visa holders: buy a new build with 5% down and an 80% mortgage
Quick answer: Gen H's New Build Boost lets you buy a new-build home with a 5% deposit and an 80% mortgage — the missing 15% is a builder-backed, interest-free equity loan from Gen H. There's no scheme paperwork on your side, and it's proving especially popular with visa holders: Gen H reported in September 2025 that 43% of applicants were foreign nationals and 31% healthcare workers.
How the three pieces fit (verified on Gen H's own pages)
- You bring at least 5% of the purchase price.
- Gen H lends 80% as a standard repayment mortgage.
- Gen H provides a 15% "boost" to close the gap — an equity loan that is frozen for five years and interest-free indefinitely, supported by the participating builder.
Because the mortgage itself is only 80% LTV, you're priced like a big-deposit borrower while putting down 5% — that's the scheme's quiet advantage over a straight 95% mortgage, where the rate premium bites. The trade-off is the equity loan: repaying the boost later (or on sale) tracks your property's value in the usual shared-equity way, so understand the repayment terms before committing.
Where it works
The scheme covers all Persimmon Homes and Charles Church developments in England and Wales, plus a wide selection of Lovell Homes developments (Lovell joined in February 2026). If you're buying from another builder, the scheme doesn't apply — compare the other low-deposit new-build routes.
Why it suits visa holders specifically
Gen H's published broker criteria are among the most visa-friendly in the market — reported at up to 90% LTV for foreign nationals generally, with minimum income around £18,000 sole / £20,000 joint and no minimum time remaining on the visa (worth confirming directly, as Gen H's criteria pages resist automated verification). Combine that posture with New Build Boost's 80% mortgage and the usual foreign-national LTV caps simply never come into play — which is exactly why Gen H's own applicant mix skews so heavily international.
New Build Boost vs the Perenna zero-deposit route
Both target the same buyer — a visa holder with a small deposit eyeing a new build — but differently:
| | New Build Boost | Perenna + builder gift | |---|---|---| | Your cash in | 5% | Potentially £0 (builder's 5% gift) | | Mortgage | 80%, standard pricing | 95%, long-term fixed rate | | Extra piece | 15% interest-free equity loan | None — but higher-rate mortgage | | Builders | Persimmon, Charles Church, Lovell | Any offering a 5% deposit contribution | | Income floor | ~£18–20k (reported) | £50k main applicant |
Broadly: New Build Boost suits moderate incomes at participating developments; the Perenna route suits higher earners who want to keep their savings entirely. Run both through the affordability check and compare total monthly costs, not just deposits.
Before you reserve
The usual new-build cautions apply — down-valuations, exchange deadlines, and incentive disclosure — all covered on our sister site, New Build Mortgage Guide. And check the eligibility checker first: if mainstream 90–95% lenders would take you anyway, compare their terms against the scheme rather than assuming the scheme wins.
Scheme mechanics and participating builders verified on Gen H's own pages, 10 July 2026; applicant statistics are Gen H's self-reported figures (September 2025); Gen H's detailed FN criteria are as published in broker sources — confirm directly before applying. Information, not advice.