Homeowners

Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT)

Cost of living crisis: find out what help is available

Since 2007, our Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) shared equity schemes have helped over 12,000 people to buy a home.

There are two LIFT schemes:

  • the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme helps people buy a home – within certain price thresholds – for sale on the open market
  • the New Supply Shared Equity scheme (NSSE), which helps people buy a new-build home from a council or housing association. Although buyers will own the property outright, our interests will be covered by a standard security on their property
Warning

As of 19 July 2024 the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme is paused for new applications

More information for first-time buyers is available on the mygov.scot website:

Guidance for registered social landlords, councils and property professionals:

Monitoring information

We collect information to monitor the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme.  Data collected from sales log forms is used to summarise the characteristics of households purchasing homes through the scheme.  These data are not Official Statistics or National Statistics and they have been collated by Scottish Government as management information for the purposes of policy monitoring only.

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