Extension to Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme

More than 2,000 households will be able to buy a new build home as the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme is extended by a year to March 2022.

Supported by £55 million of funding for 2021/22, the extension will also help house-builders to ensure their economic recovery over the years ahead.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said:

“A strong and growing house-building industry is vital to Scotland's future economic prosperity – and particularly as we plan our strategic economic recovery from COVID-19. This extension will provide us with the opportunity to reassess future priorities for the market, taking account of economic conditions following the pandemic, as well as providing a helping hand to those seeking to buy their own home.

“Since 2013, the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme has supported people with the purchase of over 17,000 new build homes and in particular supported young people aged 35 and under. Extending this scheme will help more people to buy a new-build property, particularly those who have suffered lower levels of income and have used up savings due to the impact of COVID-19 in recent months.”

Background

The Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme focuses on more affordable housing with a maximum purchase price of £200,000 and with £15 million ring-fenced support for the purchase of homes sold by smaller developers, from a total budget of £55 million. It bridges the gap between lower loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages now obtainable for new builds and the smaller deposits many households now have available to buy a new home.

Over the next two years the funding commitment for Help to Buy (Scotland) is:

• 2020-21 £50 million
• 2021-22 £55 million

79% of those supported by the scheme in 2018/19 were young people aged 35 and under.

An independent evaluation of the Scottish Government shared equity schemes, including Help to Buy has been published. This work was undertaken prior to the COVID-19 crisis.