How much deposit do I need for a £400K house?

You need £20,000 (5%) minimum deposit, though £40,000-£60,000 (10-15%) is typical. £80,000 (20%) gets the best rates.

What salary do I need for a £400K house?

With a 10% deposit (£360K mortgage), you typically need £80,000-£90,000 income at standard 4-4.5x lending multiples.

How Much Deposit for a £400,000 House UK (2026 Guide)

For the full first-time buyer roadmap and affordability framework, see the UK First-Time Buyers hub.

For a £400,000 house, you’ll need a minimum deposit of £20,000 (5%), though £40,000-£80,000 (10-20%) is strongly recommended at this price point.

Deposit Options for £400K House

Deposit %	Amount	Mortgage	Best Rate Tier
5%	£20,000	£380,000	Higher rates (~5.5%)
10%	£40,000	£360,000	Good rates (~4.5%)
15%	£60,000	£340,000	Better rates (~4.2%)
20%	£80,000	£320,000	Best rates (~4.0%)

Monthly Payments by Deposit Size

Deposit	Mortgage	Monthly Payment (25yr)	Rate
5% (£20K)	£380,000	£2,339	5.5%
10% (£40K)	£360,000	£2,004	4.5%
15% (£60K)	£340,000	£1,840	4.2%
20% (£80K)	£320,000	£1,690	4.0%

A 20% deposit saves £649/month compared to 5%.

Total Upfront Costs

Cost	5% Deposit	10% Deposit	20% Deposit
Deposit	£20,000	£40,000	£80,000
Stamp duty (FTB)	£5,000	£5,000	£5,000
Stamp duty (mover)	£10,000	£10,000	£10,000
Solicitor	£2,000	£2,000	£2,000
Survey	£700	£700	£700
Arrangement fee	£999	£999	£999
FTB Total	£28,699	£48,699	£88,699

Income Required

Deposit %	Mortgage	Income Needed (4.5x)
5%	£380,000	£84,444
10%	£360,000	£80,000
15%	£340,000	£75,556
20%	£320,000	£71,111

Joint Buyer Options

Deposit	Mortgage	Single Income (4.5x)	Joint Option
10%	£360,000	£80,000	£45K + £35K
15%	£340,000	£75,556	£42K + £33K
20%	£320,000	£71,111	£40K + £31K

Saving for Your Deposit

Monthly Savings	Time to £40K	Time to £80K
£800	4.2 years	8.3 years
£1,000	3.3 years	6.7 years
£1,500	2.2 years	4.4 years
£2,000	1.7 years	3.3 years

Affordability Reality Check

On £85,000 salary (£4,545/month take-home):

Expense	5% Deposit	10% Deposit	20% Deposit
Mortgage	£2,339 (51%)	£2,004 (44%)	£1,690 (37%)
Other housing	£400 (9%)	£400 (9%)	£400 (9%)
Housing %	60%	53%	46%

At this price point, aim for at least 10% deposit for manageable payments.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy