Civil Servant Mortgages

As of the third quarter of 2023, there are approximately 529,000 people working for the civil service in the UK. If you work for civil services, you may get the benefits of being classified as a low-risk borrower due to a higher perceived security over your income.

While there aren’t specific civil servant mortgages, you may secure better mortgage deals due to your stable income and occupation.  

However, unique circumstances, such as a bad credit rating or age limitation, can pose problems. In these situations, it’s best you opt for professional guidance and work with experienced mortgage advisors to get the best deal available to you.

This article will take you through everything you need to know about civil servant mortgages in the UK. 

Who Is Classed As A Civil Servant In The UK?

In the UK, a civil servant is a professional employed in any UK government department or agency.

Professionals such as administrative officers, economists, policy advisors, lawyers, diplomats, etc., are classified as civil servants and are eligible for civil servant mortgages.

Here, it’s important to note that those working with the NHS, local authorities, or police services are not classified as civil servants.

Following is a list of some specific jobs which are considered as civil service in the UK:

• Ministry of Defence
• Prime Minister’s Office staff
• Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Attorney General’s Office
• Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Cabinet Office
• Department for Transport (DFT)
• Department for International Development (DFID)
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)

Are Better Mortgage Deals Available for Civil Servants In The UK?

This is true in some cases. While there aren’t specific mortgage types exclusively for civil servants, their income can be prioritised when it comes to getting a mortgage.

This is primarily due to the fact that, as civil servants, they have better job security and a steady income source. This makes them reliable borrowers in the eyes of most lenders.

As a civil servant, you’ll may get some of the following benefits:

• Lower interest rates
• Longer term lengths
• Lower deposit requirements
• A greater amount for borrowing

To get the full advantage of these benefits, it’s best to work with an experienced mortgage advisor who can guide you.

Maximum Age To Get A Civil Servant Mortgage

Most lenders allow civil servants to take out mortgages for as long as they are employed, i.e., up to their retirement age. 

In case you need to mortgage past that, the lender will usually assess your income from pension and other external sources, such as rental income.

Maximum Amount That A Civil Servant Can Borrow In The UK

The maximum amount that a civil servant can borrow depends on the lender’s affordability criteria. Even if you’re a civil servant, you’d still need to pass the mortgage affordability requirements that lenders operate by.

A calculation that lenders often perform is to multiply your income by 4.5 (even up to 6 in some cases) to arrive at an approximate lending figure.

Of course factors such as individually case specific credit commitments & childcare costs will affect the maximum borrowing amount. Maximum affordability can vary from lender to lender. 

Deposit Amount for Civil Servant Mortgages

Most residential mortgages in the UK require a minimum deposit of 10% of the property value. However, civil servants should be able to secure deals with a lesser deposit amount if they meet the lenders criteria.

As a civil servant, you can get deposit rates as low as 5%. This is even more possible if you’re applying using a broker who understands the market and has lenders who have access to government schemes like the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme.

Can A Civil Servant Working Abroad Get A Mortgage In The UK?

As a civil servant, you might be working abroad, especially if you are in the diplomatic services. Civil servants working in other countries might face some unique hurdles while applying for a mortgage in the UK.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to secure one. There are lenders who specialise in mortgages for overseas borrowers with flexible rates and terms.

If you’re an overseas borrower looking to get a UK mortgage, make sure you work with mortgage brokers who have a good track record at placing you with lenders who are experienced in this aspect. 

Are There Any Special Mortgage Schemes that Can Help Civil Servants?

Yes, there are certain mortgage schemes offered by the government that can help civil servants. These schemes aren’t specific just to civil servants but may prove useful. Some of these are explained below:

1. First Homes Scheme

Under this scheme, purchasers can get application priority and may qualify for a sizable discount when getting a mortgage. 

This discount can be anywhere between 30% to 50% of the property’s market value. To qualify for this scheme, you need to be a first-time buyer and buy a new property, along with other requirements.

2. Shared Ownership 

This is not a scheme specific to civil servants, but they can certainly apply for it. It’s the best option if you think your circumstances don’t suit owning a property outright and want to share ownership by purchasing a proportion and paying rent on the remainder.

It’s essentially a middle ground between buying and renting, and you can pay monthly rentals to the local authority/housing associations for the portion that they own. 

What’s more, using a staircasing process, you can increase your property ownership to 100% over time.

How To Apply for A Civil Servant Mortgage In The UK

You’ll need to go through the initial process of selecting the right lender after an assessment of your individual circumstances. We highly recommend you use an experienced mortgage broker for this purpose. 

For the lender you decide to go with, you’ll need to undergo an ID and income verification. You might also need proof of assets and other properties you own, along with a current credit report. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Is being a civil servant beneficial for buy-to-let mortgages?

Usually, civil servant benefits are for owner-occupied residential mortgages as there is increased security over your income. Also, this can cross over when applying for a buy-to-let mortgage as strong personal income is a supporting factor to the subject property rental income 

2. How Do I port my civil servant mortgage in case I switch jobs within the public sector?

If you’re switching jobs within the public sector, then it may not affect your ability to port the mortgage, but this is subject to lender approval at the time you make the porting application. 

3. Are there penalties for prepayment of civil servant mortgages?

You might have to bear early repayment charges if you pay off your mortgage before the agreed-upon term which will be detailed in your mortgage offer document. Such charges can vary from lender to lender and also depending on the type of mortgage you’ve taken.

4. Is it possible to add your partner’s income to a civil service mortgage application?

Yes, you can add your partner’s income to strengthen your application. Lenders consider such joint applications as well. In this case, both your and your partner’s credit histories and income profiles will be assessed before the loan is granted.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

All content is written by qualified mortgage advisors to provide current, reliable and accurate mortgage information. The information on this website is not specific for each individual reader and therefore does not constitute financial advice.