TL;DR
Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee NI - status
The old Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is closed to new loans. nidirect states it closed on 31 December 2016.
This page should not look like an active service page. It is useful for legacy borrower context and for explaining current alternatives such as lender-led high-LTV products and active Northern Ireland schemes.
Extend Finance can help with the mortgage side: affordability, lender choice, documents and understanding how the scheme affects the application. We do not decide scheme eligibility, allocate properties or approve the scheme application.
Status: closed to new loans
The old Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme closed to new loans on 31 December 2016. It must not be promoted as an active Northern Ireland service.
Old scheme status
The old Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme helped some buyers obtain high loan-to-value mortgages, but the government guarantee protected the lender rather than removing the borrower repayment responsibility.
nidirect confirms the old scheme closed to new loans on 31 December 2016. Any page about it should answer this near the top because availability is the main user intent.
Existing borrowers
If you already have a mortgage that used the old scheme, your obligations are mortgage obligations with the lender. The guarantee does not pay your mortgage if you fall behind.
If you need to remortgage, move home or review affordability, the lender will assess you under current criteria and current products.
Current alternatives
GOV.UK published a separate permanent 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. It is UK-wide and lender-led, and it should not be confused with the closed 2016 Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee page.
Northern Ireland buyers may also compare Co-Ownership, FairShare, standard low-deposit mortgages and improving affordability before applying.
How this differs from active NI schemes
- Co-Ownership: NI-wide shared ownership for eligible buyers, usually 50% to 90% buyer share, with a current property cap of £215,000.
- FairShare: shared ownership for approved new-build properties through participating housing associations, with rent on the unsold share.
- Equity Sharing: tenant-only part-buy route within the House Sales Scheme, not an open-market buyer scheme.
- House Sales Scheme: for eligible Housing Executive or qualifying tenants buying all or part of their social home.
- Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee: the old NI-linked page is closed to new loans and is now relevant mainly for existing borrowers.
How a mortgage adviser can help
Extend Finance can help with the mortgage side: affordability, lender choice, documents and understanding how the scheme affects the application. We do not decide scheme eligibility, allocate properties or approve the scheme application.
An adviser can compare current high-LTV lenders, check whether the 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme or a standard mortgage may fit, and compare active NI alternatives. We cannot reopen or approve the old closed scheme.
Check current alternatives
The old scheme is closed, but you may still have current mortgage options. Extend Finance can review lender criteria, affordability and active Northern Ireland alternatives.
Official sources
Check official sources: nidirect Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, GOV.UK 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme and 2025 scheme rules.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee still open in Northern Ireland?
The old Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is not open to new loans. nidirect states it closed to new loans on 31 December 2016.
Can I apply to the old scheme now?
No. The old scheme is repayment-only or historical for new applicants. Current buyers need to compare current lender products and active schemes.
Did the guarantee protect the borrower?
No. nidirect explains that borrowers remain responsible for mortgage payments. The guarantee protected the lender.
Is the 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme the same thing?
No. GOV.UK describes the 2025 Mortgage Guarantee Scheme as a separate UK-wide permanent scheme. It should not be mixed with the old closed Help to Buy page.
What are alternatives for Northern Ireland buyers?
Co-Ownership, FairShare, standard first-time buyer mortgages and lender-led high-LTV mortgages may be relevant depending on affordability, property type and lender criteria.
Can Extend Finance submit a government guarantee application?
No. Extend Finance can help compare mortgage options and prepare a lender application, but we do not approve or submit government guarantee eligibility.