Buyer support routes
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
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. Tenant purchase schemes help eligible tenants buy their rented home.
Use the status labels to distinguish current purchase routes from archived guidance. Eligibility and available homes vary by programme and location. Before applying, compare the deposit, ongoing payments, charges and resale conditions in the relevant guide; a smaller initial purchase share does not remove the other costs of ownership.
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.
Closed / repayment only
Historic information for existing borrowers or scheme participants, not new applications.
The separate 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme supports low-deposit mortgages through participating lenders across the UK. It is distinct from the closed Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee scheme. Lender and product eligibility checks still apply; the guarantee protects the lender and does not guarantee mortgage approval.
Read the official 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme guidanceEngland schemes
English routes include tenant purchase schemes, Shared Ownership and First Homes. Your First Home has been announced but applications are not open. Help to Buy England is retained only for repayment and historic guidance.
A planned 20% equity loan for eligible first-time buyers of new-build homes in England, with a minimum 2.5% deposit. Not open for applications yet.
Read scheme guide OpenFor eligible council tenants who may be able to buy their rented home with a discount.
Open guide OpenFor eligible housing association tenants considering buying their current home with a discount.
Open guide OpenA part-buy, part-rent route for eligible buyers purchasing a share of a home in England.
Open guide OpenFor eligible first-time buyers purchasing a discounted First Homes property in England.
Open guide Repayment onlyHistoric Help to Buy Equity Loan information for existing participants and repayment questions, not new applications.
Read archived guideScotland schemes
Scotland has separate shared equity routes. Availability can change with funding rounds, participating projects and official reopening dates.
An overview of Scotland-specific LIFT shared equity support and the checks to make before applying.
Open guide OpenThe 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 onlyClosed Scottish Help to Buy guidance retained for existing owners, repayment and historic context.
Read guide OpenA LIFT route for buying on the open market. Applications reopened on 13 August 2026, subject to eligibility and available funding.
Check current guide Project-ledShared equity for eligible new-build purchases through participating councils and housing associations.
Open guideWales schemes
Welsh home buying schemes have their own eligibility, property and provider rules and should be checked separately from English schemes.
A part-buy, part-rent route in Wales, subject to participating landlords, available homes and current criteria.
Open guide Apply by 31 March 2027A 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 availabilityA locally administered shared equity route where availability and eligibility can depend on the local authority.
Open guideNorthern Ireland schemes
Northern Ireland has its own low-cost home ownership and tenant purchase routes, with provider-specific and tenant-specific rules.
A shared ownership route where eligible buyers purchase a share and rent the remaining share from Co-Ownership.
Open guide LimitedA limited shared ownership route tied to participating providers, properties and current lender arrangements.
Check guide Tenant-onlyA limited part-buy route within the House Sales Scheme for eligible tenants, not an open-market scheme.
Open guide Closed to new loansArchived information for existing borrowers. The government guarantee protected the lender; borrowers remain responsible for their mortgage repayments.
Read archived guide Tenant-only / Check current rulesA purchase route for eligible tenants. Consultation on proposed changes closed on 17 July 2026; check current NIHE rules before applying.
Check guideFAQ
Depending on the scheme, budget for your deposit, legal and valuation fees, rent on an unowned share, service charges and maintenance. Check which costs apply to the specific property and whether they can change; a smaller initial share does not necessarily mean lower total monthly costs.
Check the scheme agreement before buying because resale conditions differ. First Homes in England normally retain the original percentage discount on resale. If the council permits an open-market sale, the corresponding percentage of the sale price must be repaid to the council. Scotland’s First Homes Fund normally requires repayment based on the government’s percentage stake in the property’s value. Ask your solicitor to explain the conditions.
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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