Help to Buy

Helping first time buyers purchase a brand new home with just 5% deposit

What is Help to Buy?

Help to Buy allows first time buyers the opportunity to purchase a property for just 5% deposit, with an additional Government-backed loan of up to 20%, interest free for five years*.

The Help to Buy scheme differs depending on where you live – there are regional price caps in England and variations of the scheme for London, Scotland and Wales.

We’re here to guide you through the process of using Help to Buy, and with great incentives available across our developments, now is the time to reserve.

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How does it work?

With a Help to Buy equity loan, first time buyers can purchase a newly-built home with just a 5% deposit.

As part of the scheme, the Government lends you up to 20% of the cost of your home, meaning that you’ll only need a 75% mortgage to make up the rest.

For the first five years, the Government’s share of the loan is completely interest-free. You must repay the Help to Buy loan after 25 years, or earlier if you sell your home, repaying the same percentage of the proceeds of the sale of your home (i.e. if you received 20% on purchase, then you must pay 20% of the proceeds of the future sale).

The new Help to Buy scheme is available to first-time buyers only, subject to eligibility, and is restricted by regional price caps.

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You own 100%
of your home

Find and reserve your Ashberry home

Apply for your mortgage with Help to Buy

Receive your mortgage offer

Move into your brand new Ashberry home

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What are the regional price caps?

The scheme is available on new build homes with the following regional price caps in England:

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You own 100%
of your home

Help to Buy price caps by region

North East

£186,000

North West

£224,400

Yorkshire and the Humber

£228,100

East Midlands

£261,900

West Midlands

£255,600

East of England

£407,400

London

£600,000

South East

£437,600

South West

£349,000

Who is eligible?

Help to Buy is available to first time buyers looking to buy a new-build home as their only residence.

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Top FAQs about
Help to Buy

Are there any restrictions under the scheme?

The property you purchase using Help to Buy must be your only home and you must live in it.

You must be a first time buyer and fit the eligibility criteria in order to quality for Help to Buy.

You cannot use Help to Buy in conjunction with part exchange or on an existing home. Any mortgage used in conjunction with Help to Buy must be a repayment mortgage (not an interest-only mortgage).

You must seek permission to extend, or alter the property purchased using Help to Buy.

Your new home must be valued within the regional price cap for your area.

Can I buy any property using Help to Buy?

The scheme is only available to new build homes, and regional price caps do apply. See the diagram above, or call one of our sales advisors for more information on how the Help to Buy scheme may differ in your area.

How much deposit do I need?

You need a 5% deposit.

How much can I borrow using Help to Buy?

The amount you can borrow varies by country and area. In England and Wales you can borrow up to 20% of the cost of the property, though in London this figure is up to 40%. In Scotland you can borrow up to 15% of the purchase price of a new-build home. Maximum property prices under the scheme also vary by region in England.

Is the equity loan interest-free?

Help to Buy is interest-free for the first five years, however, there is a management fee of £1 per month until the loan is repaid. After five years interest will apply – currently 1.75% in year six, then 1.75% and any increase in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) plus 1% each subsequent year.

When do I have to repay the loan?

You must repay the equity loan after 25 years, or if earlier, when you sell your home. There is no set deadline in Scotland.

Can I repay the loan early?

You can pay back all, or part, of the loan at any time, with a minimum of 10% of the prevailing market value of your home (5% in Scotland).

Help to Buy helps you buy a bigger house to start with and you don’t have to move so often – each move costs money. Ben and Emily, Royal Retreat, South Midlands division

Find a development near me

The Help to Buy scheme works slightly differently depending on your location.
Make sure to get the right information.

Help to Buy London

Help to Buy Scotland

Help to Buy Wales

*YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. Help to Buy is subject to the Homes and Communities Agency’s (HCA) terms and conditions and is available on new build homes on selected Ashberry Homes developments where the property represents your only residence. Help to Buy is available to first-time eligible buyers only and is subject to maximum regional price caps. HomeBuy agent eligibility checks are required. The equity loan is interest free for the first five years. If you are an eligible first-time buyer, the Government will lend you a minimum of 5% and up to 20% (or up to 40% in London) of the market value of your new build home. You start to pay interest from year six, on the fifth anniversary of your equity loan and this is calculated at a rate of 1.75% of the equity loan amount. The interest rate will rise each year thereafter in April by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), plus 2%. The interest you pay during the life of the equity loan does not reduce the amount you owe. The amount of interest you pay will reduce if you make part repayments. Interest will be worked out on the amount of equity loan left to pay. You may be charged interest on overdue money and pay administration fees to make changes to your equity loan. When your equity loan starts you must pay a £1 monthly management fee, this is paid for the life of your equity loan. When you take out your equity loan, you agree to repay it in full, plus interest and management fees. You must repay your equity loan in full: at the end of the equity loan term (normally 25 years), when you pay off your repayment mortgage, when you sell your home and if you do not comply with the terms set out in the equity loan contract and you are asked to repay the loan in full. Help to Buy operates under terms and conditions imposed by the HCA and may be subject to change. Please visit www.helptobuy.gov.uk for further information. Help to Buy cannot be used in conjunction with other schemes. Information correct at time of broadcast. Please see www.helptobuy.gov.uk/equity-loan/eligibility/ for further information. †Terms and conditions apply.