Buyer support routes
Government home buying schemes by UK country
Choose where you are buying: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Compare shared ownership, shared equity, tenant purchase schemes and historic Help to Buy routes.
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Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority · No. 792412
Regional scheme finder
Choose the right country first
Start with the country where you are buying. Shared ownership means buying a share and paying rent on the rest; shared equity means funding in exchange for a stake in the property’s value. Compare the routes below, then check the guide and provider criteria.
Availability and eligibility can vary by lender, provider, development or local authority. Check current criteria before applying.
Status overview reviewed 19 September 2026
Open
A current route, still subject to eligibility and availability.
Limited or local
Availability depends on a provider, project, tenancy or local criteria.
Limited or time-sensitive
Check availability and any application deadline before proceeding.
Repayment only
Historic information for existing participants, not new applications.
England schemes
England
English routes include tenant purchase schemes, Shared Ownership and First Homes. Help to Buy England is retained only for repayment and historic guidance.
Right to Buy
For eligible council tenants who may be able to buy their rented home with a discount.
Open guide OpenRight to Acquire
For eligible housing association tenants considering buying their current home with a discount.
Open guide OpenShared Ownership England
A part-buy, part-rent route for eligible buyers purchasing a share of a home in England.
Open guide OpenFirst Homes Scheme
For eligible first-time buyers purchasing a discounted First Homes property in England.
Open guide Repayment onlyHelp to Buy England
Historic Help to Buy Equity Loan information for existing participants and repayment questions, not new applications.
Read archived guideScotland schemes
Scotland
Scotland has separate shared equity routes. Availability can change with funding rounds, participating projects and official reopening dates.
LIFT Scotland
An overview of Scotland-specific LIFT shared equity support and the checks to make before applying.
Open guide OpenScottish First Homes Fund
The new 2026 First Homes Fund offers shared equity support for eligible first-time buyers in Scotland. It is distinct from the former First Home Fund.
Open guide Repayment onlyHelp to Buy Scotland
Closed Scottish Help to Buy guidance retained for existing owners, repayment and historic context.
Read guide OpenOpen Market Shared Equity
A LIFT route for buying on the open market. Applications reopened on 13 August 2026, subject to eligibility and available funding.
Check current guide Project-ledNew Supply Shared Equity
Shared equity for eligible new-build purchases through participating councils and housing associations.
Open guideWales schemes
Wales
Welsh home buying schemes have their own eligibility, property and provider rules and should be checked separately from English schemes.
Shared Ownership Wales
A part-buy, part-rent route in Wales, subject to participating landlords, available homes and current criteria.
Open guide Apply by 31 March 2027Help to Buy Wales
A Welsh shared equity loan for eligible new-build purchases. Applications must be submitted by 31 March 2027, subject to scheme and property criteria.
Open guide Local availabilityHomebuy Wales
A locally administered shared equity route where availability and eligibility can depend on the local authority.
Open guideNorthern Ireland schemes
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has its own low-cost home ownership and tenant purchase routes, with provider-specific and tenant-specific rules.
Co-Ownership Northern Ireland
A shared ownership route where eligible buyers purchase a share and rent the remaining share from Co-Ownership.
Open guide LimitedFairShare Northern Ireland
A limited shared ownership route tied to participating providers, properties and current lender arrangements.
Check guide Tenant-onlyEquity Sharing Northern Ireland
A limited part-buy route within the House Sales Scheme for eligible tenants, not an open-market scheme.
Open guide Repayment onlyHelp to Buy Mortgage Guarantee
Historic mortgage guarantee information for existing arrangements; the old scheme is closed to new loans.
Read guide Tenant-only / Check current rulesHouse Sales Scheme Northern Ireland
A purchase route for eligible tenants. Consultation on proposed changes closed on 17 July 2026; check current NIHE rules before applying.
Check guideNot sure which scheme applies to you?
Tell us where you are buying and what type of property you are considering. Extend Finance can help with affordability, lender choice, documents and the mortgage application. Scheme eligibility and property allocation remain with the official provider or local authority.
Your Home (or property) may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debts secured on it.
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