I was delighted to see that Accord Mortgages have entered the 95% mortgage arena, but fairly gobsmacked to find that the products don't form part of the Government’s Help to Buy scheme or require any family guarantee.
Accord Mortgages are part of Yorkshire Building Society and traditionally lend to applicants with an “excellent credit history.” As a result of their cautious lending, Accord boasts an excellent mortgage book, with few accounts in arrears. This has now enabled them to offer mortgages in what is considered the risky end of the market.
The Government effectively “underwrite” the loans on The Help to Buy Scheme, but Accord has decided to take on the risk themselves, without relying on Government support.
The rates are almost too good to be true! The 2 year fixed rates start at 4.69% with a £845 product fee and the 5 years start at 5.09%. There are other variations on the theme with £500 cash back and free valuations
Accord’s criteria and credit score requirements are strict, don’t even think about applying unless you have a stable residential history (consistently on electoral roll and have been at current address for some time), Consistent employment history and no adverse credit whatsoever!
I think it is right that criteria should be tight; a return to reckless high percentage lending is no help to anyone.
Anyway, well done Accord, let’s hope that where they lead, others will follow!
Recent posts
Homebuying reform to cut homebuying times by around four weeks, and save first-time buyers around £650, says the government.
Buying your first home is a huge milestone, but it can also be a complex process. There are several factors a first-time buyer should consider before making an offer on a property, including understanding the difference between leasehold and freehold and checking council tax bands.
We’ve detailed some questions you can ask your estate agent to help you make an informed decision.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
4 days ago
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Signs it's time to remortgage
6 days ago
Remortgaging means switching to a new mortgage deal. This will either be with your current lender or a new one.
Getting advice and moving to a new deal when the time is right can mean lower monthly mortgage payments, better interest rates, or releasing equity from your property.
Here are some signs it may be time to remortgage.
According to Nationwide Building Society’s latest House Price Index, house prices dropped 0.6% month on month in May – the first monthly decline this year.
Most Affordable UK Spots for First-Time Buyers
19 May 2026
Research from Lloyds identifies the most affordable areas in the UK for first-time buyers to be able to get onto the property ladder.
On Wednesday, 13th May, King Charles delivered his speech at the House of Lords, outlining the government’s plans for the upcoming year.
Here is a summary of the housing and energy/environment points.
From 18th May 2026, Halifax (part of Lloyds Banking Group) is launching a ‘£5k Deposit mortgage’ to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder sooner.
More information
Trusted by
