Deposit for a £600,000 House (2026): How Much You Really Need
The minimum deposit for a £600k house is £30,000 (5%) — but at this price point, that’s rarely the whole story. Crossing key deposit thresholds unlocks better rates, and you’ll need to budget £20,000 stamp duty on top. Here’s exactly what a £600,000 purchase takes in 2026.
Planning a £600k purchase? Get the deposit and mortgage right.
nextmove introduces you to FCA-regulated, whole-of-market brokers who structure higher-value mortgages well. We introduce; they advise. Free.
Get matched with a broker →★★★★★ Free · Independent · No obligation
Quick answer
The minimum deposit for a £600,000 house in 2026 is £30,000 — that’s 5%, leaving a £570,000 mortgage at 95% loan-to-value. However, at this price point most buyers put down more, because larger deposits unlock materially better interest rates. A 10% deposit is £60,000, 15% is £90,000, 20% is £120,000, and 25% is £150,000. The bigger practical consideration at £600,000 is that it’s a high-value purchase requiring substantial income and cash: to borrow £540,000 (a 10% deposit) you’d typically need household income of around £108,000–£120,000, depending on the lender’s income multiple. On top of the deposit, you must budget £20,000 in stamp duty (standard rates apply, and because the property is over £500,000 there’s no first-time buyer relief), plus legal and survey fees — so the total upfront cash at a 20% deposit is roughly £142,500. Monthly, a £540,000 mortgage over 25 years at around 4.5% costs about £3,000. The 5% minimum is real, but at £600,000 the deposit you can realistically raise, the income to support the loan, and the sizeable upfront costs all matter more than the headline minimum. This is general information, not advice. As of August 2026.
In this guide
Deposit tiers for a £600k house
Your deposit is a percentage of the £600,000 purchase price, and the amount left to borrow (and your loan-to-value) changes with it. Here’s how the tiers work:
| Deposit % | Deposit amount | Mortgage | Loan-to-value (LTV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | £30,000 | £570,000 | 95% |
| 10% | £60,000 | £540,000 | 90% |
| 15% | £90,000 | £510,000 | 85% |
| 20% | £120,000 | £480,000 | 80% |
| 25% | £150,000 | £450,000 | 75% |
The 5% minimum (£30,000) is genuinely available — 95% LTV mortgages exist for £600,000 purchases — but they’re less common at higher values, and not every lender offers 95% on a property this size. As you move down the table, each step reduces your loan-to-value, which is the single biggest driver of the interest rate you’ll be offered. At £600,000, the gap between a 5% and a 20% deposit isn’t just £90,000 of cash — it’s potentially a noticeably better rate across a large loan, which compounds into real money over the term.
Why bigger deposits unlock better rates
At £600k, LTV bands matter more than at lower prices
Lenders price mortgages in loan-to-value bands, with the best rates reserved for lower LTVs. The key thresholds are typically 90%, 85%, 80%, and 75% — and dropping into a lower band usually means a better rate. On a large £600,000 loan, that rate difference is amplified, because it applies to a much bigger balance than on a £250,000 purchase.
For example, moving from a 10% deposit (£60,000, 90% LTV) to a 15% deposit (£90,000, 85% LTV) can shift you into a cheaper rate band. Across a £510,000 mortgage, even a modest rate improvement can save a meaningful amount each month and many thousands over the term. This is why, at this price point, it’s often worth stretching the deposit to reach the next band down if you can — the return on that extra deposit, in rate terms, can be substantial.
The flip side: a 95% LTV mortgage on £600,000 (a £570,000 loan) will carry one of the higher rates available, as well as being offered by fewer lenders. So while 5% is possible, the economics often favour a larger deposit here more than they would on a cheaper home. A broker can show you exactly where the rate bands fall for your situation.
The income you’ll need
A £600,000 purchase requires substantial income, and this is often the real constraint rather than the deposit. Lenders typically lend around 4.5 times income, with some going to 5× or beyond for strong applicants. Here’s the rough household income needed at different deposits:
| Deposit | Mortgage | Income at 4.5× | Income at 5× |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% (£60,000) | £540,000 | ~£120,000 | ~£108,000 |
| 15% (£90,000) | £510,000 | ~£113,000 | ~£102,000 |
| 20% (£120,000) | £480,000 | ~£107,000 | ~£96,000 |
So even with a healthy deposit, you’re generally looking at a household income of around £96,000–£120,000 to buy at £600,000. For a couple, that might be roughly £48,000–£60,000 each. Higher-multiple lenders can help — some offer 5× or more to higher earners or certain professions (see, for instance, options for professionals like doctors), which reduces the income needed. But the fundamental point stands: at £600,000, you need both a substantial deposit and a substantial income, and the two work together. If your income doesn’t quite reach these levels, a larger deposit reduces the loan and therefore the income required.
Want to know if your income and deposit reach £600k?
A whole-of-market broker works out exactly what you can borrow and which lenders fit. Get matched, free.
Get matched with a broker →★★★★★ Free · Independent · No obligation
Stamp duty & total upfront cash
This is where a £600,000 purchase gets more expensive than many buyers expect, because the deposit is only part of the upfront cash. On a £600,000 home:
- Stamp duty (standard mover): £20,000. Calculated on the 2026 bands — 0% to £125,000, 2% to £250,000, and 5% on the portion from £250,001 to £600,000. See our guide to how stamp duty is calculated.
- No first-time buyer relief. Because the property costs more than £500,000, first-time buyers get no stamp duty relief at all — a first-time buyer pays the same £20,000 as a mover. This surprises many people buying their first home at this level.
- Additional-property surcharge: £50,000. If this is a second home or buy-to-let, the 5% surcharge adds £30,000, taking stamp duty to £50,000. See buy-to-let stamp duty.
- Legal, survey and other fees: typically £2,000–£3,000.
So the total upfront cash at a 20% deposit is roughly: £120,000 deposit + £20,000 stamp duty + ~£2,500 fees = about £142,500. Even at a 10% deposit, you’re looking at around £82,500 upfront. The stamp duty and fees are cash you need on top of the deposit — they can’t be added to the mortgage in the normal way — so budgeting for the full cost of buying is essential at this price point.
Monthly cost
The ongoing monthly mortgage payment depends on your deposit (and therefore loan size) and the rate. On a repayment basis over 25 years:
| Deposit | Mortgage | ~4.5% rate | ~5.0% rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% (£60,000) | £540,000 | ~£3,001/mo | ~£3,157/mo |
| 20% (£120,000) | £480,000 | ~£2,668/mo | ~£2,806/mo |
So you’re budgeting roughly £2,700–£3,200 a month depending on deposit and rate. A larger deposit doesn’t just lower the balance — by potentially accessing a better rate band, it can reduce the monthly cost by more than the loan reduction alone would suggest. Extending the term beyond 25 years (say to 30 or 35) would lower the monthly figure, though you’d pay more interest overall — our mortgage repayments guide shows how term and rate interact. These figures are illustrative; your actual rate depends on the deal, your profile and the LTV.
Raising a deposit at this level
Assembling £60,000–£150,000 is a significant undertaking, and buyers at this level typically draw on several sources:
- Existing equity. Most £600,000 buyers aren’t first-timers — they’re moving up, using the equity from selling their current home as the deposit. If you’re moving house, your existing equity plus savings is usually the core of the deposit.
- Savings and investments. Cash savings, stocks and shares ISAs, and other investments built up over time.
- A gifted deposit. Family gifts are common even at higher values — a gifted deposit from parents can bridge the gap, provided it’s a genuine gift with the right documentation.
- Lifetime ISA (for eligible buyers). Though capped in usefulness here — a Lifetime ISA can only be used for a home costing £450,000 or less, so it can’t be used to buy a £600,000 property. Worth knowing if you were counting on one.
The Lifetime ISA point is an important catch at this price: its £450,000 property cap means it’s not an option for a £600,000 purchase, so don’t factor it in. For most buyers at this level, the deposit comes from existing property equity and savings, sometimes topped up by family help.
The bottom line
The minimum deposit for a £600,000 house is £30,000 (5%), but at this price point a larger deposit usually makes strong financial sense — 10% is £60,000, 20% is £120,000 — because dropping into a lower LTV band meaningfully improves your rate across a large loan. Beyond the deposit, budget £20,000 stamp duty (with no first-time buyer relief above £500,000) plus fees, making the total upfront cash around £142,500 at a 20% deposit. You’ll also need substantial income — roughly £96,000–£120,000 household — to support the mortgage, and monthly payments run about £2,700–£3,200. At £600,000, the deposit, the income and the upfront costs all need to line up, which is where planning with a broker pays off.
Buying at £600k? Get matched with an FCA-regulated, whole-of-market broker who handles higher-value mortgages — free, no obligation.
Deposit for a £600k house: FAQs
How much deposit do I need for a £600,000 house?
The minimum deposit for a £600,000 house is £30,000, which is 5% of the purchase price, leaving a £570,000 mortgage at 95% loan-to-value. However, 95% mortgages are less common at this price level, and most buyers put down more to access better rates. A 10% deposit is £60,000, 15% is £90,000, 20% is £120,000, and 25% is £150,000. At £600,000, a larger deposit is often worthwhile because dropping into a lower loan-to-value band (90%, 85%, 80%, 75%) unlocks better interest rates, and that rate difference is amplified across such a large loan. Remember you’ll also need around £20,000 for stamp duty plus legal fees on top of the deposit, so budget for the full upfront cost.
What income do I need to buy a £600,000 house?
You’ll typically need a household income of around £96,000 to £120,000, depending on your deposit and the lender’s income multiple. At a 10% deposit (a £540,000 mortgage), you’d need roughly £120,000 at a standard 4.5 times income multiple, or about £108,000 at 5 times. With a 20% deposit (a £480,000 mortgage), that drops to around £107,000 at 4.5 times or £96,000 at 5 times. For a couple, that’s roughly £48,000 to £60,000 each. Higher-multiple lenders offering 5 times income or more can reduce the income needed, and certain professions may access enhanced multiples. A larger deposit reduces the loan and therefore the income required, so deposit and income work together at this price point.
How much is stamp duty on a £600,000 house?
Stamp duty on a £600,000 house for a standard home mover is £20,000 in 2026. This is calculated on the current bands: 0% on the first £125,000, 2% on the portion from £125,001 to £250,000 (£2,500), and 5% on the portion from £250,001 to £600,000 (£17,500), totalling £20,000. Importantly, first-time buyers get no stamp duty relief on a £600,000 property, because relief only applies to homes costing £500,000 or less — so a first-time buyer also pays £20,000. If the £600,000 property is a second home or buy-to-let, the 5% additional-property surcharge adds £30,000, taking the total to £50,000. Stamp duty is upfront cash needed on top of your deposit, due within 14 days of completion.
Can I buy a £600,000 house with a 5% deposit?
Potentially yes, but it’s harder than at lower price points. A 5% deposit on £600,000 is £30,000, leaving a £570,000 mortgage at 95% loan-to-value. While 95% mortgages do exist, fewer lenders offer them on higher-value properties, and the rates are among the highest available, which on a £570,000 loan means significantly higher monthly payments. You’d also need a substantial income to support borrowing £570,000 — roughly £114,000 to £127,000 at 4.5 to 5 times income. So while a 5% deposit is technically possible, at £600,000 the combination of limited lender choice, higher rates and the high income requirement means many buyers find a 10% or larger deposit both more achievable to get accepted and more economical over time.
What’s the total upfront cost of buying a £600,000 house?
Beyond the deposit, you need to budget for stamp duty and fees. At a 20% deposit, the total upfront cash is roughly £142,500: £120,000 deposit, plus £20,000 stamp duty, plus around £2,500 in legal and survey fees. At a 10% deposit, it’s about £82,500 (£60,000 deposit, £20,000 stamp duty, £2,500 fees). The key point is that stamp duty and fees are cash you need on top of the deposit — they generally can’t be added to your mortgage — so they must come from your own funds at completion. This catches some buyers out, who budget only for the deposit and forget the £20,000-plus in additional upfront costs. Always plan for the full cost of buying, not just the deposit.
Can I use a Lifetime ISA to buy a £600,000 house?
No. A Lifetime ISA can only be used to buy a first home costing £450,000 or less, so it cannot be used towards a £600,000 property. If you have money in a Lifetime ISA and buy a home above £450,000, you can still withdraw the funds, but you’ll pay the 25% government withdrawal penalty, which removes the bonus and takes a portion of your own savings too. This £450,000 cap is an important catch for buyers at higher price points, so don’t count a Lifetime ISA towards a £600,000 deposit. For a purchase at this level, the deposit typically comes from existing property equity (if you’re moving up the ladder), savings and investments, and sometimes a gifted deposit from family.
- GOV.UK — Stamp Duty Land Tax
- MoneyHelper — free, government-backed money guidance
Important information
nextmove is an introducer, not a lender or mortgage adviser. This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Deposit requirements, income multiples, interest rates, loan-to-value bands and stamp duty all vary between lenders and change over time; the figures here are illustrative examples based on 2026 rates and bands (England and Northern Ireland), not quotes, and your actual borrowing, rate and costs depend on your circumstances, deposit, credit profile and lender criteria. We introduce you to FCA-regulated, whole-of-market mortgage brokers who can assess your situation and advise, and we may receive a fee or commission for doing so.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Deposit
Get matched with a broker
Buying at £600k? Get matched with a whole-of-market broker who handles higher-value mortgages. We introduce, they advise. Free.
Get matched with a broker → Independent · No obligation