Affordable Home ownership schemes

Help to Buy: Equity loan

You can get an equity loan towards the cost of buying a new-build home as a first-time buyer. Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website

Shared Ownership

When you buy a home through a shared ownership scheme you buy a share of the property and pay rent on the rest.

The share you can buy is usually between 25% and 75%. You can buy a 10% share on some homes.

Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website

First Homes

First Homes is a new scheme designed to help local first-time buyers and key workers onto the property ladder, by offering homes at a discount of at least 30% compared to the market price.

Applicants must be earning less than £80,000 per year (£90,000 in London). Mortgage to cover at least 50% of purchase price. Councils can apply additional criteria such as local connection or key worker.

Deposit required is a minimum of 5% of the discounted purchase price. Dependent on the property and on mortgage eligibility from participating mortgage lenders.

Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website

Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD)

HOLD is a specially tailored option to assist people with long-term disabilities to purchase a share in a property. It is offered by a small number of housing associations, with limited availability.

Older People’s Shared Ownership (OPSO)

If you're aged 55 or over, the OPSO scheme could help you own up to 75% of any home that’s for sale on a shared ownership basis (part-rent/part-buy).

Help to Buy ISA

You can no longer open a Help to Buy ISA. You can still open a Lifetime ISA to save for a first home.

Contact the Help to Buy Agent for this region for further information on all available Help to Buy schemes 

Government schemes

There are a range of government schemes available to make buying a home more affordable including the ones listed above. Visit the Government schemes website for further information.