For just over a decade, the Government has operated ‘Help to Buy’ schemes in England. The first of these, ‘NewBuy’, which ran from 2012 to 2015, enabled people to buy new-build homes with just a 5% deposit, with the mortgage guaranteed by the Government. However, the property had to be built by a homebuilder participating in the scheme, and only specific lenders provided the 95% mortgage. This scheme was open to everyone, not just first-time buyers.
Then in 2013, ‘Help to Buy: Equity Loan’ was introduced as an alternative way to help people with insufficient deposit funds to get an affordable mortgage. Under this scheme, as long as applicants could raise a 5% deposit and secure a repayment mortgage for at least 75% of the price of a new-build home (60% in London), the Government loaned them the difference - between 5% and 20% (40% in London) of the purchase price.
The loan is interest-free for the first five years, and the Government retains an equity share in the property until the loan is repaid. However, that means the value of the Government’s share – and therefore the amount that has to be repaid - increases as the property price rises.
The latest version of the scheme, which was only available to first-time buyers and introduced regional price caps, was launched on 1st April 2021 and closed to new applications on 31st October 2022.
More details, links and other FAQs can be accessed via the Government website.
What help is there for first-time buyers now that Help to Buy is ending?
The scheme has undoubtedly been very successful in helping first-time buyers get on the property ladder. Between 1st April 2013 and 30th September 2022, 375,654 homes were bought using the Equity Loan scheme –an average of nearly 40,000 a year - with just over 84% (316,805) of those purchased by first-time buyers.
So, with Help to Buy ending after a decade, what kind of help is still available for those struggling to raise a sufficient deposit to afford their first home?
First Homes Scheme
If you’re a first-time buyer in England, you may be able to buy a home for 30% to 50% less than its market value under the Government’s First Homes scheme. The new-build homes that fall under this scheme will always remain within it, so when you sell the property – which must be to someone who is also eligible for the scheme – you have to sell to them at the same percentage discount (off the current value) that you received when you bought it.
Deposit Unlock
Another new scheme - which is available to anyone, not just first-time buyers – is Deposit Unlock. This is essentially the same as the Government’s original NewBuy scheme. If you can raise a 5% deposit, you can access preferential 95% LTV mortgage rates from specific lenders that can be used to buy new-build homes from house builders that have signed up to the scheme.
Shared Ownership
Then there’s also the option of buying via Shared Ownership. These schemes are offered and managed by housing associations or local councils. This is where you buy a share of a property – between 10% and 75% - and pay rent on the remaining portion to the landlord, with the option to increase your share over time.
Lifetime ISA
If you’re aged between 18 and 39, you can also open a Lifetime ISA to either put towards buying your first home or for retirement. You can deposit up to £4,000 a year, and the Government will add a 25% bonus each year, up to a maximum of £5,000.
Additional sources:
https://www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/scheme/help-to-buy-2021-2023/how-does-it-work/
https://www.yopa.co.uk/homeowners-hub/is-help-to-buy-available-for-everyone-not-just-first-time-buyers/
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-data-to-30-june-2022/help-to-buy-equity-loan-scheme-data-to-30-june-2022
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/help-to-buy-equity-loan-and-newbuy-statistics
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