How much help to buy loan can I get?
Emma Martinez
Published Apr 17, 2026
You can borrow a minimum of 5% and up to a maximum of 20% (40% in London) of the full purchase price of a new-build home. You must buy your home from a homebuilder registered for Help to Buy: Equity Loan.
Beside this, how much can I borrow with help to buy?
Help to Buy: Equity loans
You need at least 5% of the sale price of your new-build flat or house as a deposit. The government lends you up to 20%, or 40% if you live in London, of the sale price. You borrow the rest (up to 75%, or 55% if you live in London) from a mortgage lender, on a repayment basis.
Likewise, can you do help to buy twice? Can you use the Help to Buy equity loan scheme twice? Yes, as long as your previous Help to Buy equity loan has been settled, you are permitted to apply to use the scheme again to fund a subsequent purchase.
Similarly, you may ask, can you borrow less than 20 on help to buy?
A minimum deposit of 5% is required
You'll need to have at least a 5% deposit to be eligible for an equity loan. An equity loan worth up to 20% of the property's value can then be taken out.
Can you transfer your help to buy loan?
Yes, but you need permission to change your mortgage provider. Get in touch with the Help to Buy: Equity Loan administrator (opens in a new window) to let them know your plans.
Related Question Answers
What happens after 5 years help to buy?
After five years is up, borrowers must pay a fee of 1.75 per cent of the value of their loan, increasing each year by RPI plus 1 per cent, unless they can pay the loan off, usually by remortgaging.Can I get a mortgage 5 times my salary?
Mortgage lenders have had an absolute limit set by set by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on the number of mortgages they're allowed to issue at more than 4.5 times an individual's income. (Or 4.5 times the joint income on a combined application.)Should I pay off help to buy early?
Help to Buy loans are interest-free for the first five years. It's therefore wise to pay off the Help to Buy loan within the interest-free period to avoid these higher rates. Bear in mind that what you must pay back is a percentage of the property's current value, not what you paid for it.Can you pay off help to buy loan early?
Since the Help to Buy loan is interest-free for the first five years, it's advisable to repay as much as you can before this period ends. You can make part repayments, known as “staircasing”, to reduce your ongoing costs when the interest-free period ends, and to start paying off the equity you've borrowed.How much do you pay back on help to buy?
The maximum tax refund is now 10% of the value of the property or €30,000 - whichever is LOWER. The rebate is only available on properties valued at €500,000 or less. This means that if you purchase a property for €300,000, you can claim the maximum rebate of €30,000.Can I put more than 5 deposit with help to buy?
Can I put more than a 5% deposit down? Yes, but you should discuss this with both the HomeBuy Agent and your Financial Adviser to understand all of your available options so that you can decide which mortgage is best for you.What price house can I afford on 40k?
3. The 36% Rule| Gross Income | 28% of Monthly Gross Income | 36% of Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $933 | $1,200 |
| $50,000 | $1,167 | $1,500 |
| $60,000 | $1,400 | $1,800 |
| $80,000 | $1,867 | $2,400 |
Can I get a mortgage on low income?
Most people believe that if they have a low income, they're not eligible for a home loan. If you're unemployed, receiving a pension or government benefits, or have a bad credit rating you could still get a home loan. It's harder to get a loan with a lower income but it's not impossible.What are the negatives of help to buy?
Con: Your loan will become more and more expensiveYou'll benefit from five years interest-free, but after that, the rate of interest applied to your loan increases each year. You'll only pay 1.75% in your sixth year, but then your Help to Buy fees will increase by 1% –plus any RPI increase – each year.
Can you be refused help to buy?
If you don't have the minimum 5% mortgage deposit you may be declined for a help to buy equity loan. If the purpose of using the help to buy equity loan is to rent out the house or as a replacement for a buy to let mortgage then it could be declined.Why would help to buy be declined?
If you are declined by the help to buy mortgage lender:This could be because you have adverse credit such as county court judgement, a bankruptcy order, a default or an involuntary agreement. You should seek independent advice from a help to buy mortgage lender.
What's the catch with help to buy?
Help to Buy – equity loanThe catch is the Government lends you up to 20% of the property price and after five years you'll have to start paying interest on the loan.
