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Help to buy solicitors

Would you like to step onto the property ladder, but your finances are limited? Whether you are a first-time buyer or you have bought a home before, there are schemes available to help you. Our experienced Help to Buy solicitors can guide you through the conveyancing process and ensure your move is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

How does help to buy work?

‘Help to Buy’ is an umbrella term for a range of different government-backed schemes to help people own their own homes:

95% mortgage scheme

This scheme is open to all homebuyers. It enables you to purchase a property worth up to £600,000 with just a 5% mortgage deposit.

Currently Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest, Santander and Virgin Money have signed up to the scheme.

Equity Loan

The government lends you up to 20% (40% in London) of the cost of a new-build property up to the value of £600,000. Interest is not charged on the loan for the first five years. A 5% cash deposit is required.

The loan is paid back when the property is sold or after 25 years ownership.

First Homes

With this scheme first-time buyers are offered a discount of at least 30% on a new-build property.

Help to Buy ISA

The Help to Buy ISA scheme is now closed to new applicants.

However, if you already have a Help to Buy ISA you can continue to pay into it until November 2029, and you can claim your 25% bonus until November 2030.

Right to buy

If you live in a council property Right to Buy gives you the opportunity to buy your house at a discount.

Shared Ownership

Shared Ownership is a part-rent, part-buy scheme. This scheme is only available on leasehold properties which are mostly flats.

Have a question or need some help?


Do you need a Help to Buy solicitor?

Help to Buy conveyancing involves an additional set of processes, especially if you are part-renting and part-buying, so it is important to engage a conveyancer with experience of Help to Buy.

Our solicitors at Davisons can advise you about the pros and cons of Help to Buy schemes so you can make the best choices, whether you are a first-time buyer or you have bought a property before.


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    Across the West Midlands. Helping over 15,000 people move last year.

Help to Buy FAQs

Can you use Help to Buy twice?

It depends upon the scheme. Some schemes are for first-time buyers only, but others are not.

For example, you may use Shared Ownership again if you bought shares in a property but you had to sell those shares because you could no longer afford to keep them.

If you meet the criteria for Shared Ownership, then there is no reason not to reapply.

How long does it take for solicitor to claim a Help to Buy ISA bonus?

You need a solicitor to be able to claim your Help to Buy ISA bonus, you cannot make a claim yourself. The bonus can be claimed when savings have reached at least £1,600.

Your solicitor is required to enter details into the Help to Buy portal confirming you are eligible for the bonus. They will need an ISA closing letter from the Help to Buy ISA provider before they can enter your request into the system. The letter will confirm your closing balance.

Once your solicitor has entered your details into the portal funds should reach their account within 3 weeks.

Can an ISA bonus be used to cover solicitor’s fees?

An ISA bonus is included within the funds on completion of a property purchase. It can only be used towards the purchase price of a property and not to meet any other costs, including solicitor’s fees.

When do Help to Buy schemes end?

Applications for 95% mortgages are open until December 2022.

Both the New Homes and Equity Loan schemes will run until the end of March 2023.

The Shared Ownership Scheme will also continue into 2023 and after that date it will change to a new model which will run into 2026.

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