There are various schemes in order to assist First time buyers who are trying to get on the housing ladder.
Guarantor mortgages
Some lenders have schemes whereby the parents or another family member can assist first time buyers by having their income taken into account when calculating mortgage borrowing limits.
Shared Ownership
Some lenders offer mortgages for people buying a share of a property. This is typically in conjunction with a housing association and rent is normally paid for their share.