Great news for serving military personnel in the United Kingdom - from January 2023, the Forces Help to Buy scheme has been made permanent!
This means you could have a helping hand buying a new home in Yorkshire with an interest-free loan of up to £25,000.
What is Forces Help to Buy?
The Forces Help to Buy Scheme is designed for first-time buyers or those needing to move to another property, either because they are assigned elsewhere or as a result of certain extenuating family or medical circumstances. The scheme enables service personnel to borrow up to 50% of their salary, up to a maximum of £25,000 interest free towards the purchase of a property.
Who can use it?
All regular personnel who:
- have completed the pre-requisite length of service
- are not a reservist or a member of the Military Provost Guard Service
- have more than six months left to serve at the time they apply
- meet the right medical categories
However, there may be exceptions to these criteria, especially where there are special medical and personal circumstances.
How much can I borrow?
This scheme allows service personnel to borrow up to 50% of their annual salary, to a maximum of £25,000. This can be used towards a deposit and other costs such as solicitor’s and estate agent’s fees.
Is there a price cap?
No! Unlike the regular Help to Buy scheme, there are no price caps per area and you are free to purchase anywhere in the United Kingdom.
How can I get started?
You can apply for the scheme online through the Joint Personnel Administration system and can seek guidance on your application through your chain of command and personnel agency.
Is there anything else I need to know?
The loan will be recovered from your pay over 10 years or less, and you will be required to repay the loan before you can leave the service.
What other help is there for military personnel?
While the Forces Help to Buy scheme is only available to serving military personnel, Erris Homes has teamed up with Uniform Properties to offer a free dedicated ‘one to one’ service to serving and ex-service personnel when purchasing a new build home with us!
Uniform Properties use forces friendly solicitors and independent financial advisors who have knowledge and experience of the Forces Help to Buy scheme. Learn more.
To find out more about this scheme, please contact one of our sales advisors who will be happy to talk you through the process and offer information on various schemes to help you get on the property ladder.