Help-to-buy mortgage guarantee scheme to finish
October 4, 2016
The Government help-to-buy mortgage guarantee scheme which has helped more than 86,000 households so far will close at the end of this year according to the Chancellor Phillip Hammond.
The scheme was specifically designed to help first time buyers get that foothold on the property ladder, however in a letter to Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, Mr Hammond said the scheme had a “specific purpose that has now been successfully achieved”.
The Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme allowed buyers to borrow up to 95% of purchase price with a 5% deposit, the government guaranteed a portion of the repayments to encourage lenders.
You May Also Enjoy
Conservatories fall out of fashion
Conservatories fall out of fashion as fewer than one in 10 homes boast the former must-have feature The latest market analysis from eXp UK has revealed that conservatories appear to have fallen out of favour with England’s homeowners, with fewer than one in 10 properties currently listed for sale offering the once-popular home improvement.…
Read More 
95% of estate agents say homebuying reforms could speed up property transactions
The latest survey by GetAgent.co.uk has found overwhelming support from estate agents for the Government’s proposed homebuying reforms, with the vast majority believing the changes will create a faster, more stable and more efficient property market. The proposed reforms are designed to modernise the homebuying process by introducing greater upfront information, earlier legal certainty and measures…
Read More 
Private rent and house prices, UK: July 2026
1. Main points Average UK monthly private rent increased by 3.3%, to £1,388, in the 12 months to June 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate remained unchanged from the 12 months to May 2026. Average rents increased to £1,446 (3.4%) in England, £843 (4.9%) in Wales, and £1,012 (1.3%) in Scotland, in the 12 months…
Read More 
Tenant demand continues to strengthen in Q2
The latest research by The Letting Partnership has found that tenant demand across England continued to strengthen during the second quarter of 2026, with 29.7% of all rental listings already securing a tenant. Demand has increased by 2.3% over the quarter and now sits 0.3% higher than the same time last year, demonstrating the continued…
Read More 
Breaking Property News 22/7/26
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. More kite flying on capping rents creates new uncertainty for investors Official data undermines rent cap folly as Burnham yo-yoing creates damaging market uncertainty More kite flying on capping rents has created new uncertainty for investors at the worst possible time. Analysis of…
Read More 
Conveyancing keeps providing stability in uncertain market
New research from Lyons Bowe solicitors has found that conveyancing costs have remained remarkably steady as a proportion of house prices across the UK, providing essential reliability for homebuyers during another year of market and economic uncertainty. Lyons Bowe’s analysis found that the average cost of purchasing a freehold property increased from £1,383 in April 2025…
Read More