Spring has sprung: the Spring Statement and first time buyers

by | Mar 14, 2018 | Blog Posts

The Chancellor announced his Spring Statement on Tuesday 13 March 2018. In it, he emphasised building more new homes, improved transport and reducing debt. But what does this mean for you? Does it provide a real benefit to first time buyers and those struggling to buy a property?
The Government has consistently referred to the ‘housing crisis’ in the UK and has, for a number of years, committed to additional spending to enable first time buyers in particular to get onto the property ladder. Many criticise the Government for not doing enough. There are fears of a generational gap where millennials are unable to afford to buy a property or have the earning potential of their parents. Many changes were announced in the main autumn budget. The Chancellor was keen to point out that matters were moving on:

  • The Government is working with 44 areas on their bids into the £4.1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to help build the homes that the country needs
  • The Housing Growth Partnership, which provides financial support for small housebuilders, will be increased to £220 million
  • London will receive £1.67 billion to start building a further 27,000 affordable homes by the end of 2021-22

Although an ambitious plan, there are no signs of the Government stopping spending for house building at any time soon. This may seem great news, but for many individuals the lack of housing is not the problem; the real problem is the affordability of those houses particularly for those wanting to get onto the property ladder. What real incentives is the Government offering?

Stamp duty assistance

Stamp duty for first time buyers was abolished within the Budget in autumn 2017 for buyers of homes under £300,000. There is a reduction of stamp duty for properties worth up to £500,000. According to the Chancellor, around 60,000 first time buyers have benefited so far from this scheme.
This certainly can assist with those extra ‘hidden’ costs when purchasing a home. However, stamp duty for first time buyers outside of London is often low or under the threshold altogether therefore not providing a real benefit for some people.

Help to buy assistance

The Government supports various ‘help to buy’ schemes. There are no plans to withdraw the schemes. Therefore, these could continue to provide a positive solution for first time buyers wanting to get onto the property ladder.
Help to Buy schemes are only available on new build properties and offer a loan towards the purchase of your property. This means that you can purchase a property with just: a 5% deposit; a 75% mortgage (meaning less borrowing from a bank); and a 20% loan from the Government. The loan is interest free for 5 years and repaid on selling the property or earlier. There are terms and conditions and not all house builders offer this scheme however it is widely available. In London, a larger Government loan of up to 40% is offered.
Further, a number of lenders offer a mortgage of up to 95% meaning a only a 5% deposit is payable. This would assist individuals struggling to afford the deposit but who are not intending to purchase a brand new home. However, you must take into consideration the interest rates of a 95% mortgage compared to a smaller mortgage.

Help to Buy ISA

As an incentive to save for a deposit, Help to Buy ISAs are available with all major banks and building societies. You can save up to £200 per month in the ISA and the Government will top up your deposit by 25% of your savings (up to £12,000). This means that you could gain up to £3000 with no repayment necessary. The condition is that the money is used towards the purchase of your property. This is available for each individual.

Shared Ownership schemes

In addition to the schemes above, many housing associations offer a shared ownership scheme. This means that you can purchase a share in certain types of properties and this is owned with the housing association. You pay a rent on the remaining share you do not own and you can purchase more of the shares in the property over the course of your ownership. This can assist people who may struggle to get a full mortgage on a property.
The Spring Statement highlights that property ownership, availability and support is far from perfect, but the Government is aware and is working on improvements. The Help to Buy schemes have been running successfully for numerous years, and there do not appear to be plans for stopping. If you would like to benefit from one of these schemes, contact with our specialist property team today. Call us on 0800 988 7756.

Recently Added

Medical Negligence team’s settlement success

Medical Negligence team’s settlement success

Our medical negligence team, led by Debra Woolfson, has recently had some great successes in settling claims for clients* who have suffered because their treatment was not to the standard that it should have been. While we have recovered financial compensation for the...

Do I need to update my Will?

Do I need to update my Will?

Have you made a will? Recent research shows that only half of UK adults over 30 have a will in place. Indeed, many of those who do have a will may need to update it. 4 to 10 March 2024 is Update Your Will Week, so let’s look at why this is important. | Do You Have A...

What our clients say