Smaller deposits raise hopes for UK first-time homebuyers

Hamptons says re-emergence of higher loan-to-value mortgages combined with lower lending rates and cooling prices have boosted purchase prospects

Easier access to mortgages with a small deposit has offered some glimmers of hope for first-time buyers struggling to get on to Britain's housing ladder, according to a new report.

Research on the amount of time it takes to save for a down payment on a home suggests buyers have been helped by the greater availability of mortgage loans at higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.