UK first-time buyer schemes: First Homes, Lifetime ISA and more

Which first-time buyer schemes are available?

There is no single UK-wide first-time buyer scheme. The help available depends on where you live, whether you are buying a new-build home, your household income, the property price and whether you can afford a standard mortgage. The main routes to check are First Homes, a Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership and local affordable-home-ownership programmes.

Rules and availability can change, so use the official links at the end of this guide before you apply or make an offer. This is general information, not financial or legal advice.

First Homes scheme

First Homes helps eligible buyers purchase selected new-build properties in England at a discount of at least 30% from the market price. In some cases, the discount can be higher. The discount stays with the property when it is sold, which helps keep it affordable for the next eligible buyer.

You normally need to be a first-time buyer, although serving members of the armed forces, recent veterans and certain bereaved spouses or civil partners can receive priority. The household income cap is generally £80,000 outside London and £90,000 in London. You must also be able to obtain a mortgage for at least half of the discounted purchase price. Councils and developers may apply additional local eligibility rules, including a local connection or key-worker priority period.

First Homes are not available on every development. Ask the developer or the local council whether a plot is part of the scheme, what the qualifying price is and which documents they need.

Lifetime ISA (LISA)

A Lifetime ISA can help you save a deposit. You can open one between the ages of 18 and 39 and pay in up to £4,000 each tax year. The government adds a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 a year.

You can use the account towards your first home if the property costs £450,000 or less, you are buying with a mortgage and the account has been open for at least 12 months. The purchase must normally be your first home and the property must be in the UK. Your conveyancer requests the withdrawal through the LISA provider.

Withdrawals for other reasons usually carry a 25% charge, so do not move money into a LISA shortly before you need it without checking the timing and rules. A LISA can be used alongside other support, but confirm the interaction with your provider and mortgage adviser.

Shared Ownership

With Shared Ownership, you buy a share of a property—usually between 10% and 75%—and pay rent on the remaining share to a housing association or other provider. You also usually pay service charges and other running costs. The smaller initial share can reduce the deposit and mortgage needed, but compare the total monthly cost rather than looking only at the mortgage payment.

Eligibility varies by provider. You may qualify if your household income is £80,000 or less (£90,000 or less in London), you are a first-time buyer or have a qualifying housing need, and you cannot afford the full deposit and mortgage for a suitable home. You can usually buy a larger share later, known as staircasing, subject to the lease and provider rules.

Before applying, ask for the key information document, check the lease length, service charge history, rent review formula, resale restrictions and any costs for staircasing or selling.

What happened to Help to Buy?

The Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme in England closed to new applications and completed on 31 March 2023. It is not available for a new purchase now, despite many older articles still describing it as current.

The Help to Buy ISA also closed to new accounts in November 2019. If you already have one, you may still be able to claim its bonus under the existing rules, subject to the deadline and eligibility conditions. New savers should compare a Lifetime ISA instead, particularly if the £450,000 property-price limit works for them.

Help to Buy arrangements in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own histories and closing dates. Do not assume that a scheme named “Help to Buy” in an old result is still open in your nation.

Schemes and support across the UK

• **England:** Check First Homes, Shared Ownership and local council affordable home ownership programmes.
• **Scotland:** Check the current Scottish Government home ownership support and any open shared-equity or local schemes. Eligibility and availability can change between programmes.
• **Wales:** Check the Welsh Government’s current home ownership and shared-equity support rather than relying on old Help to Buy articles.
• **Northern Ireland:** Check Co-Ownership, which can help eligible buyers purchase a share of a home, and confirm the current property-price and income rules.

How to apply: a sensible order

1. Work out your deposit, income, debts and realistic monthly payment. Include service charges, rent on an unsold share, insurance, council tax and repairs where relevant. 2. Check your credit file and get an Agreement or Mortgage in Principle from a lender or whole-of-market adviser. An MIP is not a guaranteed mortgage offer. 3. Check the official scheme rules and the provider’s property criteria. Ask whether the home is eligible before paying a reservation fee. 4. Prepare proof of identity, income, savings, address history and any evidence of a local connection or priority status. 5. Compare the full cost of each route: deposit, mortgage, rent, service charge, ground rent, valuation, legal fees, reservation fees and future resale rules. 6. Use an independent conveyancer and ask them to confirm the scheme’s legal documents before exchange. Do not exchange contracts until your mortgage and scheme approvals are in place.

Official checks and useful sources

• First Homes: https://www.gov.uk/first-homes-scheme
• Government guidance on schemes for first-time buyers: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/homes/buying-a-home/government-schemes-for-first-time-home-buyers-and-existing-homeowners
• Lifetime ISA rules: https://www.gov.uk/lifetime-isa
• Shared Ownership: https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme
• Northern Ireland Co-Ownership: https://co-ownership.org

Last reviewed: August 2026. Always confirm the current rules with the relevant government department, council, housing provider or regulated mortgage adviser before relying on a scheme.