Shared ownership and Help to Buy – how the schemes are changing

Shared ownership and Help to Buy – how the schemes are changing

With changes to both Help to Buy and Shared Ownership due to come into force at the beginning of April 2021, it’s vital that you remain fully up to speed on how you may be affected by these impending changes.

The latest figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government outlined that a total of 291,903 properties were bought between 1 April 2013 and 30 September 2020 using the Help to Buy equity scheme. The data also showed that 82% of all completions were by first-time buyers. The total value of the equity loans was £17.4bn and the value of the properties sold under the scheme equated to £79.2bn. In addition, between 1 July and 30 September 2020, 13,211 properties were bought with an equity loan.

So, how does the new scheme differ from the old one?

The new Help to Buy scheme, running until 2023, will be restricted to first-time buyers and will operate with regional price caps in place. Meanwhile, the new Shared Ownership scheme will allow buyers to purchase a minimum share of 10% compared to 25% previously, and will permit staircasing in instalments of 1%, rather than 5% or 10% currently.

In addition, a new 10-year period will be introduced for maintenance and repairs, whereby the landlord or housing association will be required to cover costs rather than homeowners.

Help to Buy is not an all in-compassing solution but it can prove to be a viable option for a variety of first-time buyers, even for those who may have had a credit blip in the past. Although, due to its complexity, it is vital to seek good, impartial, professional advice before entering into this scheme. So, if you would like to speak to an adviser about your Help to Buy options or how we can help you achieve your homeownership aspirations then contact us today.