Help to buy Scheme extended by one month!

Homes England, the government agency responsible for the provision of funding under the Help to Buy Scheme has announced that the deadline for existing Help to Buy Equity Loan schemes will be extended from 28^th February 2021 to the 31^st March, giving housebuilders an extra month to reach build completion on their equity loan transactions.

Last July, with build programmes significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the first longstop date for the Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2013-2021) scheme was extended from the end of December 2020 to 28^th February 2021. All Help to Buy eligible homes were required to have reached practical completion before this date.

Emails are now being sent out by Homes England, stating that the first longstop date of 28^th February 2021 will not be enforced if the home has reached practical completion on or before 31^st March 2021. The homebuyer must also legally complete the purchase of the home by this date.

Buyers are no longer able to enrol in the scheme as the closing date for new applications was 15^th December 2020. However, buyers who are already enrolled in the scheme, but who were concerned that delays caused by the third lockdown would have caused them to miss the 31^st March deadline will be pleased to hear about the extension.

There is an exception to this extension. Any homes that were reserved before June 30^th 2020, and where Homes England had previously agreed to a further extension, the legal and practical completion deadline remains 31^st May 2021. is only available to homes delayed by the first national lockdown on construction.

At the end of March, a new Help to Buy scheme is due to be implemented. The eligibility criteria for both buyer and property is set out in detail in the Help to Buy: Equity Loan (2021-2023) documentation.  Developers who are looking to continue to sell property under the Help to Buy Scheme beyond the 31^st March 2021 deadline should be entering into new funding agreements with Homes England to utilise the Help to Buy Equity Loan (2021 -2023).

If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained within this article or you would like help with any other legal issue, please contact Fraser Dawbarns at any of our five offices or by email.

Find out More about Daniel Ball

Find out more about our Commercial Property Services

Find out more about our Planning and Development Services

This article aims to supply general information, but it is not intended to constitute advice. Every effort is made to ensure that the law referred to is correct at the date of publication and to avoid any statement which may mislead. However, no duty of care is assumed to any person and no liability is accepted for any omission or inaccuracy. Always seek advice specific to your own circumstances.  Fraser Dawbarns LLP are always happy to provide such advice.