Aldermore’s research shows that family help is part of the picture for some first-time buyers, but far from all.

Around one in five prospective first-time buyers (20%) said they expect help from family when buying their first home, with an average expected contribution of £18,600.

Parents are the most common source of support, but more than one in 10 buyers expecting help say it will come from grandparents.

However, Aldermore’s data also shows that the majority of first-time buyers (eight in 10) do not expect any family help at all. Even among those who do, support is more often partial, usually supplementing savings rather than replacing them.

That picture is broadly consistent with wider market evidence. Official data from the English Housing Survey shows that nearly a third of first-time buyers in England report receiving some form of financial help from family or friends.

While The Bank of Mum and Dad is important for a significant minority, it’s not the defining route onto the ladder for most first-time buyers.

One of the most interesting findings in the Aldermore research is how closely family contributions mirror the additional saving pressure buyers are now under.

Almost two-thirds of prospective first-time buyers (64%) say they are now trying to save a larger deposit than originally planned due to higher costs, and the average extra amount needed is £18,700.

This is almost identical to the typical family contribution of £18,600.

It suggests that family help is often being used to bridge a widening deposit gap, rather than replacing the need for long-term saving. In many cases, it’s the difference between waiting longer and buying sooner, or between stretching affordability and staying within realistic limits.

For brokers, this distinction is important. Family support may improve loan-to-value (LTV), reduce monthly repayments or unlock a wider choice of lenders, but it doesn’t remove affordability challenges.

The Aldermore research also highlights a growing tension around family help.

More than half of prospective first-time buyers (53%) say the cost-of-living crisis has reduced their family’s ability to help as much as expected. Rising household costs, refinancing pressures and later-life financial considerations all play a role.

This is echoed in broader research. Savills notes that while the Bank of Mum and Dad remains significant, the total value of support has softened in 2024, reflecting the financial strain on the “donor generation”. It estimates that gifts and loans from family totalled £9.6bn in 2024, with an average contribution of £55,572, down slightly from 2023, as family finances were squeezed.

As a result, most buyers are relying on their own savings and the mortgage, even if family support is available.

Of course, that’s not to say it doesn’t make a big difference. UK Finance analysis shows that assisted buyers purchase higher-value homes than those without family support, driven by larger deposits not stronger affordability.

In fact, assisted first-time buyers have a lower average household income (around £56,000) than those without family help (around £65,000).

They earn less but can buy higher-value homes.

That’s why it’s important to recognise and help the majority of prospective first-time buyers who don’t expect family support at all. These buyers could feel discouraged if they think homeownership is only for those with backing.

The Aldermore research consistently shows that brokers are highly valued once engaged, as we discussed in First-time buyer knowledge gaps – and where brokers can help. But timing matters and family help often enters the conversation early, sometimes before a buyer has spoken to a broker at all.

You can still add value, at any stage, by:

• Helping buyers and families understand how far a family contribution will go, and what it will and won’t change
• Explaining the basics: implications of gifts vs. loans, how contribution size affects LTV and product choice
• Managing expectations early, before an offer is made, to reduce the risk of disappointment or delay later on
• Supporting buyers without family help by focusing on what’s in their control, from deposit saving strategies to affordable homeownership schemes.

As affordability remains stretched, family support is likely to remain a feature of first-time buying.

It’s not a silver bullet. For many, it sits alongside personal savings and careful budgeting. And for many more, the Bank of Mum and Dad isn’t an option.

Brokers can give all prospective first-time buyers much-needed clarity, helping them navigate their first step onto the property ladder with confidence.

Research conducted, on behalf of Aldermore bank, by Opinium between 10 October and 3 November 2025, among 2,000 prospective first-time buyers and 500 recent first-time buyers from the last two years.