House builder Persimmon offers a number of schemes to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder.

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The Bank of Mum and Dad scheme rewards parents and family members with a £2,000 cash gift if they put 5% or more towards the buyer’s deposit.

The offer, which launched last year, is available to first-time buyers purchasing a Persimmon home at any of its new developments and buying with family help.

On average Persimmon homes cost £256,445, meaning first-time buyers’ parents need to put down £12,822 for a 5% deposit.

With the £2,000 cashback, paid after the home purchase completes, that means committing just over £10,000.

Parents, grandparents or other family member giving the money must provide a “gift letter” stating that the money is not repayable and no interest is being charged.

To apply, speak to the sales team at your chosen development to find out if you’re eligible.

If you decide to go ahead, Persimmon will put you in touch with one of their recommended independent mortgage advisers.

After completion, Persimmon will transfer £2,000 to your family member to say thank you for their help.

Bank of Mum and Dad

First-time buyers are increasingly having to rely on the Bank of Mum and Dad as house prices have risen faster than wages.

With mortgage rates now over 6%, hopeful homeowners are in even more need of financial support from family.

According to a study out this week, money from parents and other family members will help almost 320,000 buyers secure their new home this year – a record high.

The Legal & General and the Centre for Economics and Business Research report also suggested that the average deposit gifted to family members to fund their house purchase is now £25,600.

The report’s writers said parents and other family members would fund just over £8billion spent on buying homes across the UK this year.

And they warned family contributions are set to climb to £10billion in less than two years.

Other first-time buyer schemes

After the government-backed Help to Buy scheme closed earlier this year, several other options have taken its place.

The government’s First Homes scheme could help first-time buyers secure a home for between 30% and 50% less than its market value.

The property must be a new-build or be owned by someone who has previously used the scheme and is selling up.

It’s only available in England.

Shared ownership is another option if you can’t afford to buy on your own.

The scheme lets you buy a share of the property and pay rent to a landlord on the rest.

England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have slightly different rules, so check carefully.

Another government scheme, the mortgage guarantee scheme, is slated for closure at the end of the year.

But if you hurry, you can apply to buy a property up to £600,000 with a 5% deposit – and it’s open to first-time buyers as well as those who have owned before.

Newcastle Building Society, Nationwide and Accord Mortgages offer a private scheme called Deposit Unlock.

You can buy a new-build home from a registered developer with a 5% deposit. You’ll have to go through a mortgage broker to access it.

There are several other places to find help if you’re a first-time buyer and some lenders offer their own.

Each offer works differently and some are available only in some parts of the country.

You can find the full list and details of all the first-time buyer help in our guide.