Requirements for Help to Buy in the United Kingdom in 2026

The Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme in England closed to new applications on 31 March 2023 and is no longer available. In 2026, Help to Buy is most relevant to people who already hold a Help to Buy: ISA — a government-backed savings account that was open to new applicants until 30 November 2019. If you have one, you can still claim a government bonus of 25% (up to £3,000) when purchasing your first home, as long as your conveyancer submits the claim by 1 December 2030.

This guide explains the requirements and steps for existing Help to Buy: ISA holders to claim their government bonus in 2026. It also provides a brief overview of the government-backed first-time buyer schemes currently available in England, for those who do not already have a Help to Buy: ISA.

What Help to Buy is and what it’s for

The Help to Buy: ISA was a tax-free savings account designed to help first-time buyers build a deposit. The government adds a 25% bonus to your savings when you use the funds to purchase your first home — for every £200 you save, the government adds £50. The minimum bonus is £400 (requiring at least £1,600 saved) and the maximum is £3,000 (requiring £12,000 saved).

The scheme is administered by Homes England on behalf of the government. The ISA itself is held with a participating bank or building society. The government bonus is not paid to you directly — it is claimed by your conveyancer (solicitor or licensed conveyancer) at the point of completion and applied to reduce the amount you owe on the purchase.

The Help to Buy: ISA applies to first-time buyers who:

Opened a Help to Buy: ISA before 30 November 2019
Are buying a home as their only or main residence
Are purchasing a property valued at no more than £250,000 (or £450,000 in London)
Have not previously owned a home in the UK or abroad

Note: the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme — which provided a government loan of up to 20% (or 40% in London) towards a new-build purchase — is closed. It accepted no new applications after 31 March 2023. Existing equity loan holders should contact Homes England to manage their outstanding loan.

Documents required

Your conveyancer submits the bonus claim on your behalf, but you need to provide them with the following:

Help to Buy: ISA closing statement — issued by your bank or building society when you formally close the account in preparation for the property purchase; this confirms your final savings balance
Proof of identity — a valid UK passport (issued by HM Passport Office) or a valid DVLA-issued UK photocard driving licence
Proof of address — a utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill dated within the last 3 months, showing your current address
Mortgage offer letter from your lender, confirming the property address and agreed purchase price
Confirmation that your conveyancer is registered with the Help to Buy: ISA scheme to submit bonus claims on behalf of clients
Property details or memorandum of sale confirming the purchase price does not exceed £250,000 outside London or £450,000 in London
A signed first-time buyer declaration — your conveyancer prepares this as part of the completion paperwork

None of these documents require an apostille or certified translation if they are UK-issued originals. Your conveyancer will retain originals or take certified copies in line with their professional obligations.

Steps to complete the procedure

The bonus claim is managed online by your conveyancer via the Help to Buy: ISA portal, operated by Homes England. No in-person visit or appointment is required from you as the buyer.

Request a closing statement from your bank or building society. Tell your bank you wish to close the Help to Buy: ISA in preparation for a property purchase. They will issue a closing statement confirming your final balance. Keep this document safe — your conveyancer needs it to submit the claim.
Instruct a conveyancer registered with the scheme. Before signing any contract, confirm that your solicitor or licensed conveyancer is registered to claim Help to Buy: ISA bonuses. Most high-street conveyancers are registered, but always verify. You can search for regulated solicitors via the Law Society solicitor search or find a licensed conveyancer via the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
Provide your conveyancer with your closing statement and supporting documents. Hand over the closing statement and any additional documents they request (see the documents required section above).
Your conveyancer submits the claim via the Help to Buy: ISA portal. Homes England administers the portal. Your conveyancer submits the claim when you are approaching completion. This step is handled entirely online by your conveyancer — you do not need to take any action at this stage.
Homes England approves the bonus and pays it into the client account. The bonus is held in your conveyancer’s client account. Approval typically takes a few working days.
Completion. On completion day, the bonus is applied alongside your savings and mortgage funds. The bonus is not available at exchange of contracts and cannot be used for the exchange deposit — plan your exchange deposit from separate savings.

Estimated time for bonus approval: a few working days once your conveyancer submits the claim. Overall conveyancing timescales vary but are typically 8–12 weeks from offer acceptance to completion.

Fees and timelines

There is no fee to claim the Help to Buy: ISA government bonus
Maximum bonus: £3,000, on savings of £12,000
Minimum bonus: £400, on savings of £1,600
Bonus deadline: 1 December 2030 — your conveyancer must submit the claim before this date; after this date the bonus is permanently forfeited regardless of your savings balance
The bonus is a grant — it does not need to be repaid
Property price cap: £250,000 outside London; £450,000 in London
Bonus approval time: typically a few working days after your conveyancer submits the claim via the Homes England portal
The bonus is paid as a one-off at completion; there is no annual allowance or renewal

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Trying to use the bonus as an exchange deposit — the Help to Buy: ISA bonus is released only at completion, not at exchange of contracts. If you rely on the bonus to fund the exchange deposit, you will face a shortfall. Budget for the exchange deposit entirely from your own savings or other means, and treat the bonus as a completion-only contribution.
Instructing a conveyancer who is not registered with the scheme — if your conveyancer is not registered with the Help to Buy: ISA portal, they cannot submit your claim and you will lose the bonus for that purchase. Always confirm registration before signing your instruction letter.
Purchasing a property above the price cap — if the agreed purchase price exceeds £250,000 outside London (or £450,000 in London), you are not eligible for the bonus. There are no exceptions to the price cap. Confirm the price before committing to a purchase.
Missing the 1 December 2030 deadline — this is a hard cutoff with no extensions. If your purchase is likely to complete in late 2029 or 2030, start the conveyancing process early and make sure your conveyancer submits the bonus claim with time to spare before the deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still open a Help to Buy: ISA in 2026?

No. The scheme closed to new applicants on 30 November 2019. If you do not already have an account, you cannot open one. The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is currently available for first-time buyers and offers a 25% government bonus of up to £1,000 per year on savings used to buy a first home worth up to £450,000.

Can I use both a Help to Buy: ISA and a Lifetime ISA to buy the same property?

You can hold both accounts, but you can only use the government bonus from one of them towards a single property purchase. You must choose which bonus to apply at completion. Your conveyancer can advise which gives you the larger benefit based on your savings balance.

What happens if my property purchase falls through after I have closed my ISA?

Contact your bank or building society as soon as possible. In some cases it may be possible to reopen the account, but this is not guaranteed and depends on the provider. Act promptly — delays can result in losing access to the account entirely.

Are there other government-backed schemes for first-time buyers in England in 2026?

Yes. The main current options in England are:

Shared Ownership — purchase between 10% and 75% of a home and pay subsidised rent on the remainder, with the option to increase your share over time (known as staircasing)
First Homes — eligible first-time buyers, including key workers and local residents prioritised by local authorities, can buy a new-build at a minimum 30% discount off market value
Mortgage Guarantee Scheme — enables eligible buyers to purchase with a 5% deposit, with the government guaranteeing part of the mortgage for participating lenders

Full details are available on GOV.UK first-time buyer schemes.

I still have a Help to Buy: Equity Loan — what do I need to do?

The equity loan scheme is closed to new applicants, but Homes England continues to administer existing loans. Your loan is interest-free for the first five years; from year six, an annual interest charge applies. To manage or repay your equity loan, contact the Help to Buy agent appointed by Homes England — full details and contact information are available on GOV.UK.

What to do next

The most important document is your Help to Buy: ISA closing statement from your bank or building society, and the first concrete step is to instruct a conveyancer who is registered with the Help to Buy: ISA scheme. Confirm their registration before signing anything, check the property price is within the cap (£250,000 outside London, £450,000 in London), and remember that the government bonus cannot be used at exchange — budget your exchange deposit from separate funds.

Requirements, property price caps and deadlines can change. Always verify the most up-to-date information directly with GOV.UK Help to Buy: ISA or your bank or building society before proceeding. For questions about existing equity loans, contact Homes England via the GOV.UK portal.

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