How Can I Get A Military Mortgage? | 2025 Guide

Finding a mortgage as a military worker that is tailored to your unique circumstances can be challenging. With lots of mortgage options with varying criterias, it’s no surprise that here at Boon Brokers we often hear “What is the best mortgage for someone in the military?”

In short, the unique nature of working in the military can make the application and criteria for standard mortgage loans quite difficult. Fortunately, there are solutions to make sure you get the mortgage fit for you. These can include military help to buy programs and specialised loans that can help overcome the challenges associated with military life, such as postings at short notice and frequent relocations.

Before we jump in to the ultimate military guide to help you navigate the land of mortgages, watch our guide below:

Typically, while non-military individuals usually have a stable address and consistent bills in their name to help build credit score, military personnel don’t generally have this advantage. As such, military personnel often don’t meet the ordinary lending criteria of most standard high street mortgage providers. In addition, the potential for a property to remain unoccupied for extended periods of time is also seen as a risk by many lenders, further making it harder for those in the armed forces to secure traditional financing.

The good news – there are many military mortgages that are available through specialist lenders and lenders in general are becoming more open and accommodating to servicemen and women who work in the armed forces. These lenders can help military personnel buy homes while they are serving, offering options such as:

• British army mortgages
• Navy and army mortgages
• Air force mortgages
• Marine corps mortgages
• Mortgages for ex-military personnel
• Mortgages for armed forces personnel stationed abroad
• Mortgages for civilian support staff

What is a Military Mortgage?

First and foremost, there is no specific mortgage or product called a ‘military mortgage’. Rather, many mortgage lenders are increasingly aware and welcoming of the military lifestyle and circumstances. As such, an increasing number of mortgage lenders are becoming more and more accommodating to applications from those serving in the armed forces when assessing their criteria and scores.

Because of this, there are a number of specialist lenders and government schemes designed to help military personnel secure a home loan more easily. Both government programs and specialist lenders are providing more opportunities with financial support and leniency in mortgage application criteria to those specifically in the military public sector, whether actively serving or transitioning to non-military life.

Taking this into account, a military mortgage has become a colloquial term used to simplify and encapsulate the context and background of those who are, or have been, serving in the military.

What Support Do Members of the Military Get With Mortgages?

When looking into the benefits provided to support those in the military secure a mortgage, there are two key schemes/types:

1. Lender Flexibility
2. Specialist Lenders

Let’s dive into exactly what and how these can help:

Increased Lender Flexibility

Generally speaking, mortgage lenders will often have a plethora of requirements that do not always happily align with the realities of living a military life. Faced with frequent relocations, overseas deployments and likely an out of the ordinary financial history because of it. All of which can make it more difficult for anyone serving in the armed forces or veteran to meet the standard lending criteria.

To address this, there are specialist mortgage lenders, specific for armed forces personnel, that can offer a greater flexibility in how applications are assessed. Essentially, the criteria is amended to more accurately represent the realities of working in the armed forces, and these lenders take military allowances, overseas postings, and the unique nature of military employment all into account – making it much easier to secure home loans.

How Do Specialist Lenders Help?

Understanding military life is the key to how specialist lenders can help. As we’ve touched upon, military life and working in the armed forces can often have negative effects on traditional mortgage applications. Fortunately, specialist military-friendly lenders will understand the unique circumstances of service members and will offer a different – more flexible – lending criteria.

Some of the best mortgage lenders for military applicants take factors like military allowances into consideration, and even applicants with a bad credit history can find support. In addition to flexible lending criteria, military-specific mortgages lenders can also offer extra benefits, including:

Allowing the Property to Remain Unoccupied for Long Periods

When a property is going to remain unoccupied for extended periods of time, most mortgage lenders will see this as a high-risk case/potential, due to increased likelihood of unforeseen issues such as vandalism, weather damage, or undetected maintenance problems. In fact, ordinarily, many mortgage lenders may have strict criteria that impose restrictions or requirements for additional insurance if a property is likely to be left empty for long periods of time.

However, specialist military lenders understand the working lifestyle of the armed forces and that service members may be deployed unavoidably for extended periods. As such, these military-friendly mortgage lenders will often allow for periods of inoccupancy within the mortgage terms.

Consent to Let

In addition to allowing the property to be unoccupied for extended periods of time, some specialist military-friendly mortgage lenders may also allow military homeowners to rent out their property while stationed elsewhere.

Typically, standard mortgage lenders would require additional consent to let approvals that would include additional fees or a buy-to-let mortgage setup. However, some special military mortgages can offer more flexibility in this regard, so that should a service member be deployed elsewhere for any extended period of time – there is an option that would enable them to generate additional rental income that can help cover both mortgage and property payments.

Living Abroad

Another key advantage of using a specialist military mortgage lender is the ability to buy and own a property in the UK while living abroad. Generally speaking, if military personnel were to apply for a standard mortgage to purchase property in the UK whilst abroad, their circumstances would typically lead to a mortgage lender viewing their application as high-risk. By using a specialist military mortgage lender, service members can be reassured that the realities of their occupation are taken into account with a flexibility that helps service members avoid potential rejection that could impact their credit score.

Rather than facing potential rejections, we always advise service members to benefit from working with a broker – like Boon Brokers – who are trusted and can connect with the best military-friendly mortgage lenders for military applicants.

Helping Armed Forces Get on the Property Ladder

Securing a mortgage can sometimes be challenging for those in the military. Simply, the complexities of the work, such as frequent relocations and unoccupied housing, can lead to a complex financial history in the eyes of some mortgage lenders.

However, one of the key government schemes that all military members should be aware of when it comes to securing your mortgage is the Forces Help to Buy scheme.

Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme

This government-backed scheme is designed specifically for military workers, with the initiative allowing eligible service members to borrow up to £25,000 interest-free – a very impressive helping hand when considering deposits and other home-buying costs!

The Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme provides an easier route into homeownership and aims to align any military personnel with the same mortgage opportunities as everyone else when stepping onto the property ladder.

Who is Eligible for the Scheme?

Anyone service member who has completed the required length of service and has more than 6 months left to serve at the time. The criteria is listed below:

• Have completed the prerequisite length of service
• Are not a reservist or a member of the Military Provost Guard Service
• Have more than six months left to serve at the time they apply
• Meet the right medical categories

However, there can be expectations depending on special medical and personal circumstances, so we advise that you always check with your mortgage lender or ask your broker.

Forces Help to Buy Scheme FAQs

The Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme is a government initiative designed to support military personnel in purchasing a home. Whether you are a service member in the Army, Navy, or RAF, this scheme provides an interest-free loan to help cover deposits and other home-buying costs.

Here at Boon Brokers, we want to put you in the driving seat for all your mortgage needs, that why we have answered all the most common questions asked about the Forces Help to Buy scheme below:

How Much Can Armed Forces Personnel Borrow With the Help to Buy Scheme?

The scheme allows armed forces personnel to borrow up to 50% of their annual income, with a maximum limit of £25,000.

Who Can Apply for Forces Help to Buy?

Personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, and RAF can apply for the Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme. Simply, to be eligible, all applicants must meet the criteria set out above and have completed the required length of service with at least six months remaining on their current term – you can find more guidance on the eligibility here.

What Can the Forces Help to Buy Loan Be Used for?

The Forces Help to Buy loan can be used towards a property deposit, helping military personnel take their first step onto the property ladder. Additionally, as a key loan for the military, the finances can be used to cover other home-buying costs, such as estate agent fees, solicitor’s fees, and survey expenses – making affording a home a viable option for those in the military.

Is the Forces Help to Buy Scheme Interest-Free?

Yes. The Forces Help to Buy Scheme is an interest-free loan that is designed to help support those in the military and armed forces into securing their first property and climbing onto the property ladder.

What Type of Properties Can Be Bought Using the Forces Help to Buy Scheme?

The scheme is purposed for buying a first-time home and is designed to help alleviate some of the pressures of buying a house while serving in the military.

How Does the Forces Help to Buy Process Work?

The Forces Help to Buy process is straightforward and can be easily completed online through the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system. It may be beneficial for applicants to speak with their Chain of Command for additional advice on the application process and proceedings.

The application process is straightforward and should only take around 20 minutes to complete all of the required information. Thankfully, you will usually receive a response in just a few hours after submitting an application. Once you have had approval of the loan, you can start the mortgage application process.

When Do I Start Paying Back the Forces Help to Buy Loan?

There are a few options available as to when and how you start paying back the money. The Forces Help to Buy loan repayment extends to:

• Straight away once you take the loan out.
• Six months after you have received the loan.
• In the final 10 years of service (for people in their early years of service).

What Happens if I Leave the Forces After Taking Out the Forces Help to Buy loan?

The loan will stay in place even if you leave the forces. That being said, if you receive a resettlement grant upon leaving the forces, a portion of this may be used to repay the loan. In some cases, repayments can also be deducted from your final month’s salary.

Can Ex-Military Purchase a Home Through the Forces Help to Buy Scheme?

No, the Forces Help to Buy scheme is strictly only available to currently serving personnel due to the eligibility criteria of having at least six months of service remaining. With that being said, there are alternative options for ex-military personnel who are looking to buy a home.

Some military-friendly mortgage lenders can offer loans for ex-military, for those with a complex financial history or bad credit. If you need help getting a mortgage with bad credit or are interested in finding the best mortgage for your circumstances, we recommend talking to your broker and exploring your options.

What Can Affect the Forces Help to Buy Mortgage Rates?

The Forces Help to Buy mortgage rates are directly affected by the same ‘usual suspects’ as any other type of mortgage. Let’s take a look at the main factors that will affect your mortgage rates:

Deposit Amount

Just as it is with traditional mortgage rates, the size of your deposit plays a significant role in determining the interest rate you should be able to get – simply, the bigger that deposit you have, the better the interest rates are likely to be.

Lenders will always assess the Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio when offering mortgage deals. For example: a 20% deposit (80% LTV) on a property will typically secure a lower interest rate than a 10% deposit (90% LTV) because a larger deposit represents less risk to the lender.

With this in mind, should you use £25,000 from the Forces Help to Buy scheme as a deposit, it would be a 10% deposit on a £250,000 property (90% LTV) or a 20% deposit on a £125,000 property (80% LTV).

The rule of thumb – if you want to get the lowest interest rate possible, the deposit needs to be a larger percentage of the property value.

Income and Outgoings

The amount a lender is willing to lend will largely depend on your income and outgoings. In general, lenders will typically offer loans of around 4 to 4.5 times an individual’s salary. Historically, lenders would primarily base their assessment on salary and credit rating alone. However, since the mortgage regulations were tightened in 2014, there is now a strict emphasis on reviewing an applicant’s outgoings.

Lenders will now assess almost every type of spending, from bills, loans, and repayments to food shopping, subscriptions, and even money spent on social activities. This careful review by lenders is to ensure that the loan is affordable based on your overall financial standing.

Credit Rating

An applicant’s credit rating will also be an important factor in a lender’s decision of whether to approve a mortgage. People with poor credit ratings will often struggle to get a mortgage approved, or they may have to take out a mortgage with a significantly higher interest rate, as other lenders are not prepared to take on the risk.

People who have missed payments on bills or loan repayments will generally have a poor credit rating. The more missed payments there are and the more recent that they occurred, the bigger the impact on the credit rating. Anyone with a CCJ or bankruptcy on their credit file will generally struggle to get a standard mortgage approved and will need to use a specialist poor credit lender.

For military personnel with poor credit, specialist military mortgage lenders will provide greater flexibility around poor credit if it is due to their job. However, in some cases poor credit, CCJs and bankruptcy could still affect the ability to get a mortgage approved.

Age

All Mortgage lenders have age limits for applicants. In the UK, the minimum age to apply for a mortgage is 18, while the maximum age can vary by lender.

Most lenders will want to ensure that the mortgage loan will be fully paid off before the time that the borrower reaches retirement age, and so typically, most lenders will assess whether the applicant’s income will be sufficient to meet monthly payments.

However, older applicants may still be eligible for a mortgage, but lenders often require the loan to be a shorter term loan – a method of ensuring the loan is still repaid before retirement. For example, a 55-year-old applicant could still be approved for a 14-year mortgage term.

Additionally, some lenders may also charge a higher interest rate for older applicants, to reflect their assumed increased risk that is associated with a shorter repayment term.

Property Type

The type of property you’re purchasing can directly influence the lenders that are available to the applicant. This follows that the type of property purchased will also affect the interest rates available to you. For example, unusual or non-standard properties are generally considered higher risk for lenders and certain other property types can present unique challenges for mortgage approval. Examples include:

• Ex-local authority housing
• Properties built with concrete
• High-rise flats
• Studio flats
• Eco-homes

Properties that fit the criteria of having difficult or unusual constructions might be harder to sell and lenders may be hesitant to offer mortgages because of it. To mitigate this risk, lenders may apply a higher interest rate for any non-standard properties.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Military Mortgage?

The documents required for a military mortgage will be similar to applying for any other mortgage. You will need to provide a form of ID, proof of address, proof of income, bank statements and any other documents that the lender requests. Most lenders will require at least 3 months’ of payslips to evidence income and 3-6 months of bank statements to review outgoings.

What Should I Do Before Applying for a Mortgage?

Nobody wants to make an offer on a house only to find out that the mortgage loan you would require is out of reach. That’s why, before applying for a mortgage, it’s always a good idea to find out exactly how much you’re likely to be able to borrow. Knowing this figure will help focus your search to areas and properties that are in your price range.

Some estate agents may ask for a Mortgage in Principle (MIP), which is a written confirmation from a lender about how much – in principle – that they are willing to lend you. While an MIP will provide you with a rough estimation of your borrowing amount, it is important to note that the final agreed upon amount may differ once the lender conducts their comprehensive checks. It’s also worth noting that lenders may offer you less, or in some cases, more, depending on your circumstances.

Seeking advice from a specialist by speaking to a broker can help you understand the amount you’re likely to be approved for – including specialist military mortgage lenders – and will guide you through the process of getting a mortgage loan.

How Long Does it Take for the Mortgage Application?

The mortgage application process can take anywhere between 2 weeks to several months, depending on a number of factors.

The first step is typically to speak with a mortgage adviser who will help you complete the application submission. Boon Brokers’ mortgage advice team can help you quickly find the best mortgage lender – including specialist military mortgage lenders – tailored to your financial situation.

Using a broker can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run, as they often have access to the lowest interest rates available. When looking at the bigger picture, even a small difference in interest rates can have a significant impact on the total repayment over a 25-year mortgage term.

After your application has been submitted, the lender will complete an initial review. If everything looks good, they will arrange for a property valuation. This is so that the lender can ensure that the property value matches the price that you are offering to pay for the property.

If you find that you have put an offer in for a property and the valuation comes back lower than expected, there may be negative equity. This means that if you defaulted on the mortgage and the lender repossessed the property and sold it, there is a risk that they might not get all of their money back. Because of this, the valuation is always a crucial part of the mortgage process. Any discrepancies between the valuation and the house price could result in the lender not being prepared to offer a mortgage.

Should the valuation check out, the lender will pass the application to their underwriters, who will complete further checks, including a review of your credit file. If there are any discrepancies or concerns, this could delay the process.

Once the underwriters have performed all their checks and are satisfied, they will then deliver a mortgage offer. The final step is to work with solicitors to complete the property purchase and arrange the transfer of funds.

How Boon Brokers Can Help You Find Your Military Mortgage

Military personnel often face challenges when applying for a mortgage due to the unique circumstances of life in service. While many lenders may not offer flexibility around lending criteria for the armed forces, some specialist lenders do. These lenders understand the financial situations and living arrangements of service members and tailor their mortgages accordingly.

The government’s Forces Help to Buy scheme has been designed to make it easier for military personnel to get a mortgage. Whether you’re looking for a military mortgage to purchase your first property or move to a new home, Boon Brokers can help you find the right mortgage to meet your needs.

Boon Brokers are here to help you get onto the property ladder – Contact Our Mortgage Team Today – for fee-free, whole-of-market mortgage advice and arrangement service.