Help to Buy Scheme Explained

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The Help to Buy scheme is a government-backed initiative designed to help people, particularly first-time buyers, get onto the property ladder. Whether you’re buying your first home or looking to move, understanding how this scheme works is essential for making the most of the benefits available to you.

What Our Clients Say About Us

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Based on 161 reviews
I had previously used Ascot to find a good mortgage deal and approached them to do so again in more complex circumstances. They took the challenge on and, having found an interested lender, worked hard to bring it to a successful completion, overcoming any external obstacles that arose. Thank you Natalia and Matt.
We’ve worked with Alison at Ascot Mortgages on multiple occasions, and every time she’s been incredible. Alison is so easy to work with—she’s professional, patient, and always makes sure we understand every step. She found us great rates and made what could be a stressful process feel smooth and manageable. We’re so grateful for her and the teams help and wouldn’t trust anyone else with our mortgage needs!
Explained every step clearly to me of buying my house. Explaining what and why solicitors and other companies involved are asking of me and why and always saying to contact them with any questions. Made me feel very supported and secure will definitely recommend and use again.
I can't say enough about the excellent care I received from my Ascot Mortgages, particularly Richard. From the start, his professionalism, friendliness, and genuine support were evident. Richard went above and beyond to explain everything in detail, making me feel totally informed and at ease throughout the process. His skill and attention to detail were obvious, but it was his personal touch and desire to go above and beyond that truly stood out. I felt totally cared for and supported. Highly recommend to anyone searching for excellent advice and service!
I have worked with Ascot Mortgages for over 5 years now. They’ve helped me secure over 10 mortgages in that time.Recently I’ve been working a lot with Natalia Barry and Matthew Bradburn, who have both been outstanding. Whenever I have a question, they always have the answer immediately or will find it very quickly.For anyone in search of a friendly, reliable service, Ascot Mortgages are definitely right for you.
An excellent company, so welcoming from the get go. Thanks to Jardelle for helping me secure my first mortgage, always kept me upto date. 100% recommended, they take that extra stress away form you. You'll definitely here from me again when it's time to remortgage 🙂
Ascot Mortgages were absolutely fantastic in helping me secure a buy to let mortgage. Natalia was amazing throughout the whole process and always made herself available for any issues that I had, along with Matthew.Couldn’t thank them both enough for securing my mortgage on what was such a complex case and will 100% be using them in the future.
Wow what a great company and peopledidn’t expect getting a mortgage and buying a house would be so easy, Tracey and Richard are extremely professionalmade the entire process so easyDeserve more than 5 stars !!!!!!! Alison should be proud 🙏🏼
Can't thank Phil Greenwood and the Ascot Mortgage team enough. Im a returning customer who has used them for many commercial mortgages and ive also worked with Phil on both commercial and personal Bridging Finance. Everything is explained and if we hit a hurdle Ascot are looking for other options or alternatives. 5 star service in every manner. Fee's are discussed and always competitive so Ive never had to look elsewhere. Will continue to used Ascot for every aspect of lending I need.
Alison has been looking after my mortgage requirements over many years and is approachable knowlegable and professional. She has found me the right mortgage every time and I have recommended her to my friends and they too have only good things to say about their experience of what can be a very stressful time.If you want a clear, down to earth and friendly service, you should give Alison and her team the chance to help you. You won't be dissapointed.
Natalia and Matt at Ascot Mortgages are fantastic. 10/10 customer service. Natalia couldn’t do more to help us and Matt was fantastic at making sure the process was running smoothly. I will definitely be using them again.
Did a remortgage application with Phil and Matthew, got the best service, very friendly and efficient, very supportive and kept myself update with progress with the application. Highly recommend
Ascots mortgages really helped with my first house purchase and getting on the ladder. I had a complicated case but my case manager Phil greenwood handled it really well, answering all my questions and there were many. 100% I would recommend
Another great mortgage sourced for me by Ascot Mortgages. Definitely my "go to" mortgage broker. Phil Greenwood is knowledgeable, positive, friendly and efficient.
We received a first class service from Ascot. Phil Greenwood assisted us with a commercial mortgage. It is rare to find anyone as efficient and communicative, especially during a stressful transaction. We would highly recommend.
I recently had to renew my mortgage. I contacted Phil Greenwood who I had used last time as he was really good in the past. He was brilliant again and I can't thank him enough. He was great at explaining everything to me so I understood what was going on at every step and also kept me informed and upto date. If you're looking for someone to help with your remortgage or a new mortgage who knows his stuff and can get you the best deal for you then I can highly recommend Phil Greenwood at Ascot Mortgages, he's brilliant at what he does and I will 100% be using him when my renewal is due.
Many thanks to Ascot Mortgages for arranging the best deal for the remortgage on our flat. They kept us updated and Alison and the team, as always came through with our deal to help us avoid paying extortionate costs on what would have been our new standard variable rate deal going forward.Highly recommended!!
Phil Greenwood was fantastic in assisting us in getting our BTL mortgage when several other mortgage brokers were not able to, given our particular circumstances and self employed status. From starting with an initial call right through to the finish, communication was excellent and we're absolutely thrilled. Thank you, Ascot Mortgages for such a professional service.
We had great experience with Natalia. She provided prompt and excellent service throughout our house purchase process.We highly recommend Natalia for mortgage advise
I worked with Richard (Protection Adviser) for a couple of days to sort out life and critical illness insurance. Absolutely brilliant, he found me and my husband the perfect policy. Very knowledgeable and easy to get on, he definetely makes things easy to understand. Thank you for the great service provided.
Cannot speak highly enough of Ascot Mortgages who have helped me on my journey over the last seven years. They have made the dream property possible twice. Thank you to Alison, Jardelle and all the team. I am very grateful.
Absolutely thrilled with the exceptional service provided by Ascot Mortgages Ltd and especially by Natalia Barry! Even though our home purchase hasn't been completed yet, we couldn't wait to share our positive experience. From the moment we reached out, their professionalism and expertise shone through, making the daunting process of securing a mortgage a breeze.Not only did Natalia navigate the intricacies of the mortgage market with finesse, but they went above and beyond by suggesting other high-quality services, including solicitors and insurance providers. This comprehensive approach is making the entire home-buying journey seamless and stress-free.Natalia took the time to understand our unique needs and financial situation, ensuring that the options presented were tailored perfectly.Communication is prompt and clear throughout, leaving us feeling informed and confident at every stage. Natalia had our best interests at heart, going the extra mile to secure a fantastic mortgage deal.We cannot recommend Ascot Mortgages and Natalia highly enough. If you're in need of mortgage assistance, look no further. With their expertise and dedication to client satisfaction, you're in the best hands possible. A huge thank you to Natalia for making our home-buying experience a dream come true!
Would 100% recommend. Myself and my partner are currently going through the mortgage process as first time buyers. Natalia Barry has dealt with our application from day one. She has always been on hand to help, informative throughout and reliable when we have had questions. She has given us several options and broken them down into simple terms to help us. Natalia has truly been exceptional who deserves every bit of credit. We certainly got lucky having her as our first mortgage consultant.
Alison and the Ascot Team are excellent. I have used them for 5 years now and they deliver the most competitive mortgage deals fast. Just what I need. Thank you!
We have dealt with Ascot Mortgages twice. Once for a mortgage about eleven years ago and recently for life insurance.In both cases we were treated with the utmost respect and professionalism.In the case of the life insurance application, we considered ourselves to be problem customers because of our age and numerous health issues.Richard Johnson, who managed this application couldn't have been more helpful.He worked in our best interest and was dedicated to providing an excellent service.We were kept up to date through all of the stages of the application and when our doctors were very slow in producing medical reports for the insurance company he persisted where others might have given up.The service we had from Richard was pleasant and professional throughout some difficult stages.My wife and I have no hesitation in recommending Ascot Mortgages.
Having dealt with Ascot Mortgages and Alison for many years now I can say that you wont find a more professional, knowledgeable and efficient company to help with your mortgage. Alison is patient and makes the whole process seem easy. She has the answer to any question you have and seems to genuinely care. I can not recommend enough. I am sure I will be using Ascot Mortgages for years to come.
It has been a fantastic experience to work with both Phil and Jardelle at Ascot Mortgages to secure a mortgage product for my first home. Phil made the mortgage process smooth and easy. They are professionals and know what they are doing. Very pleased with the service and communication. would highly recommend them.
I needed a buy to let re-mortgage. Ascot were efficient from start to finish. I can recommend them completely especially because they can search the whole spectrum of mortgage lenders and meet the clients needs. never waiting for staff to get back and always kept me in the loop.
It has been a brilliant experience to work with both Phil and Jardelle at Ascot Mortgages to secure a great mortgage product for our next home. Given how challenging the current market is, they have done a fantastic job to meet our needs with their expertise, professionalism and effectiveness. We would highly recommend their services to whom seeks help with their property purchase.
Fantastic service. Ellie and Jardelle were always quick to reply to any queries and very helpful throughout the process. Highly recommend!
Jason was brilliant to work with! Always on top of the transaction! Would highly recommend 👍
Although I've not bought anything yet, they (Jason in particular) have been super helpful in my search for the right mortgage deal, whilst also giving an honest opinion during these difficult times. Would highly recommend.
Fantastic from start to finish! Natalia and Jason found me the best rate for my remortgage and they were extremely efficient! Best service I’ve ever received from a brokerage company. Thanks so much.
Amazing service and great communication. Ellie Morgan had quickly completed all requests and over delivered all expectations.Highly recommended for those who want to get the stuff done without any delays!
I have used ascot for 3 renewals since they done helped me with my purchase which was complicated and will continue to use them going forward. Very fair prices and very helpful and knowledgeable even with just general information.
Natalia made life very easy for us when remortgaging. Third time using ascot always a breeze
Ascot Mortgages have been brilliant. Easy to work with and incredibly helpful. I am always happy to recommend them. Natalia and Jason have made the whole process much easier than I was expecting. Excellent service.
We've had a fantastic experience with Natalia Barry and Jason Jones at Ascot Mortgages for our property purchases and refinancing. Their expertise, coupled with genuine care and understanding of our needs, made the process smooth and stress-free.They were consistently communicative, keeping us informed at every step. Their assistance in consolidating our protection cover was invaluable, simplifying what could have been a complex process.What set them apart was their personal touch – always polite and ready to pick up the phone for a chat. This level of personal engagement is rare and much appreciated.In short, Natalia and Jason are not just skilled professionals but also truly dedicated to their clients. We highly recommend their services to anyone in need of mortgage advice.
I have used this firm for several years and they have always been super helpful and supportive, attentive and resolved issues in really useful ways. Shout out to Alison, Ellie and Jardelle (and the team!)
We worked with Ellie to secure our mortgage and protection, and she was a dream! Being a first time buyer, I was quite clueless about the process, and in a time where mortgage rates have been quite high, she worked right til the end to make sure we were getting our mortgage at the best possible rate and was always available to answer all questions I had. Can't recommend enough 🙂
As a first time buyer, trying to navigate through potential mortgages was a very daunting thought. Ascot Mortgages were recommended to me and I've been extremely happy with the service provided. They have guided me through every step and I finally have a mortgage. Very pleased and would recommend.
Having Phil as my mortgage advisor was great from the very start! He is down to earth and speaking to him was always a pleasure. The kindness, compassion and support I have been given all the way through what can be a stressful process was immeasurable. Phil and Jardelle worked as a solid team and was able to make me feel at ease all the way through buying my first home. The team were always available and the communication between everyone was always clear and I felt safe in the hands of the company as a whole. Thank you for helping me buy my first home!
I've dealt with Phil at Ascot Mortgages for a while now and Phil always comes back back to me with the right plan.Keep the good work up!
I would thoroughly recommend Phil Greenwood at Ascot Mortgages ltd to anyone looking to seek advice on purchasing a home.Phil was absolutely fantastic. He made the process very smooth and easy and was always there to answer any questions I had.
This company has been truly amazing in constantly giving me the support and help i need for my mortgage and for their continuous work ethic guiding customers like myself and educating them into making the best possible decisions. My special mention goes to Phil Greenwood who deserves every single credit for his brilliant work and communication skills. The more I got to work with Phil, the more he gained my respect as he is a hugely likeable man and possibly the best mortgage advisor yet. Even after I finished my time with Ascot Mortgages, I will never lose my trust in the company and I hope they exceed their business and gain even more success and popularity.Best wishes,Shahid Latif and family
Phil helped me renew my mortgage. He was great at keeping me updated with any rate changes and secured a lower rate than at the time my mortgage went through. Thank you Ascot for your support
Huge thanks to Richard Johnson for sorting out all of my insurance policies! I had accumulated a variety of life cover and various other policies over the years that all needed a good review and refresh. Richard was extremely patient and helped me to remove the duplication and choose the best cover to suit our current needs. I have used Ascot Mortgages for over 12 years and have met several members of the team, always finding the right help and support to work through what can be a complicated and stressful time. Thanks again, Richard!
Working with Richard at Ascot has been a great experience. He listened to us and was very professional throughout. This was our first experience with Richard but we've been using Ascot now for 6-7 years. Thank you all at Ascot
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Written by:

Alison Gibson

Ascot Mortgage Expert

Last Updated:

06.11.2024

Written by:

Alison Gibson

Ascot Mortgage Expert

Last Updated:

06.11.2024

What's in this Guide

In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the Help to Buy scheme, including how it works, how to pay back your equity loan, and what to consider if you’re looking to remortgage. We’ll also explore what happens when you sell your home and how changes in property values might affect you. If you’re unsure about any aspect of the Help to Buy mortgages, this guide is here to provide clarity and help you make informed decisions.

What is the Help to Buy Scheme?

The Help to Buy scheme is a government initiative aimed at helping people buy a home with a smaller deposit. Through the scheme, you can borrow up to 20% (40% in London) of the property’s value as an equity loan, which is interest-free for the first five years. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re struggling to save for a large deposit or if you’re a first-time buyer trying to enter the property market.

How Does the Help to Buy Scheme Work?

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the Help to Buy scheme works:

  1. Deposit: You need to provide a minimum deposit of 5% of the property’s purchase price.
  2. Equity Loan: The government lends you up to 20% of the property’s value (40% in London), which is interest-free for the first five years.
  3. Help to Buy Mortgage: You’ll take out a Help to Buy mortgage from a lender to cover the remaining 75% of the property’s value.

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Before you apply for a Help to Buy mortgage, it’s important to know how much you can afford to borrow. Using our mortgage affordability calculator can help you understand what your monthly payments might look like based on your income for all applicants.

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Use this calculator to determine how much you could potentially borrow for a mortgage, based on the typical salary multiples used by most UK lenders.

Input full salaries for all applicants
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Get expert advice immediately if...

If one or more of the above apply to you, it’s important to get expert advice before making an application. The right broker can help maximise your chances of approval based on your circumstance.

Paying Back Your Help to Buy Equity Loan

After the initial five-year interest-free period, you’ll start paying interest on your equity loan. The Help to Buy interest rates start at 1.75% of the loan’s value, increasing annually by the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 1%. It’s important to plan for these payments, as the cost can increase over time. You can also choose to repay the equity loan in full or in part at any time, known as Help to Buy redemption.

What Happens When I Sell My Home if I've Used Help to Buy?

If you sell your home and have used the Help to Buy scheme, you’ll need to repay the equity loan. The amount you repay is based on the market value of your home at the time of sale, not the original loan amount. For example, if you borrowed 20% of the property’s value and the value has increased, you’ll repay 20% of the current market value, which may be more than you initially borrowed.

What Happens if I Want to Remortgage?

Remortgaging with a Help to Buy mortgage can be a bit more complex than with a standard mortgage. If you want to switch to a new mortgage deal or lender, you’ll need to get approval from the Help to Buy agent and your current lender. It’s important to consider the implications, especially if you’re thinking about borrowing more money against your home.

What Happens if I Want to Remortgage and Borrow More Money?

If you’re looking to remortgage and borrow more money, perhaps for home improvements or to consolidate debts, you’ll need to ensure that the new mortgage meets the criteria set by the Help to Buy scheme. The amount you can borrow may be limited by the scheme’s rules, and your new lender will need to agree to the terms.

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What Happens if Property Values Fall?

If property values fall and you need to sell your home, the amount you repay on the equity loan will still be based on the percentage of the property’s value at the time of sale. This means that if your property’s value decreases, the amount you repay could be less than the original loan amount. 

Getting Help from a Mortgage Broker

Navigating the Help to Buy scheme can be complex, and getting the right advice is crucial. A mortgage broker Ascot Mortgages can guide you through the process, helping you find the best Help to Buy mortgages available and ensuring you fully understand the terms of the equity loan. We can also assist with remortgaging, making sure you’re well-informed at every step.

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FAQ

The Help to Buy scheme is a government initiative designed to help people buy a home with a smaller deposit by providing an equity loan of up to 20% of the property’s value.

The scheme allows you to buy a home with a minimum 5% deposit, an equity loan from the government, and a Help to Buy mortgage for the remaining amount.

A Help to Buy mortgage is the mortgage you take out to cover the portion of the property’s value not covered by your deposit or the government’s equity loan.

After 5 years, you start paying interest on the equity loan. You can choose to repay the loan in full, make partial payments, or continue paying the interest.

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