Your First Home scheme

What is the Your First Home scheme?

Struggling to get on the ladder? The Government's new Your First Home scheme, first announced on 26 September 2026, could be the answer for first-time buyers in England.

While full details are expected at the Autumn Budget on 28th October, the scheme will help more people take that all-important first step onto the property ladder with just 2.5% deposit, in return for a 20% government-backed equity loan to buy a new-build home. You’ll get a mortgage for the rest.

We’ll keep you posted as soon as we know more on the scheme, as details could change before it’s officially launched. In the meantime, why not start exploring new Ashberry homes near you?

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How will the scheme work?

Based on the initial announcement, here’s what we know about Your First Home scheme so far:

For first-time home buyers.

For first-time home buyers.
Just a 2.5% minimum deposit required.
Offers a 20% government-backed equity loan towards the purchase price.
New-build homes only from participating housebuilders, meaning existing properties won't qualify.
Available in England only, with separate schemes operating elsewhere in the UK.
Additional eligibility criteria still to be confirmed, which may include property price caps and income checks.

What it means

Put simply, buyers would contribute a 2.5% deposit, the Government would provide a 20% equity loan, and a participating lender would provide a mortgage for the remaining 77.5%. The figures below are for illustration purposes only.

For example, on a £300,000 new-build home, that could mean:

£7,500 deposit
£60,000 government equity loan
£232,500 mortgage

Ready to make that all-important first move?

For many first-time buyers, saving a mortgage deposit while still paying bills, rent, and everyday costs of living can feel impossible.

That's where the Your First Home scheme could make a real difference.

By reducing the deposit needed upfront and lowering the size of the mortgage required, the scheme could help some buyers to own a home sooner than they expected.

Time to make the move?
Many renters are already paying monthly amounts comparable to mortgage repayments, and this stands in the way of saving enough for a house deposit..

A scheme requiring just a 2.5% first-time buyer deposit could help change that, with potential benefits including:

Getting onto the property ladder sooner.
Access to a brand-new energy-efficient Ashberry home.
The opportunity to plant your own roots in a new-build neighbourhood.

FAQs

How will the Your First Home scheme work?

Full details are still to come, but the Your First Home scheme will give first-time buyers in England the opportunity to buy a new-build home with a minimum 2.5% deposit, topped up with a government-backed 20% equity loan.

You’ll need to choose a home with a participating housebuilder and apply for a standard mortgage for the remaining amount of the property purchase price.

How much deposit will I need for the Your First Home scheme?

You’ll put down a minimum of 2.5% deposit for the Your First Home scheme, and the government will offer you a 20% equity loan to boost your deposit. You’ll then need a mortgage for 77.5% of the property purchase price from a participating lender, as you would if you were buying a home without using the scheme.

Who is eligible for the Your First Home scheme?

The Government’s Your First Home scheme will be open to first-time buyers in England, who want to purchase a new-build home from a participating housebuilder.

Full details, including eligibility criteria are still to be announced in the Autumn Budget, but there will be a household income cap and local property price caps. We’ll update this page as soon as we know more.

What type of home can I buy with the Your First Home scheme?

The Your First Home scheme will be exclusively for buying a new-build home in England from a participating housebuilder.

When full details are confirmed, we can tell you more about which new Ashberry homes will be available to buy with this exciting new scheme.

When will I be able to use the Your First Home scheme?

We don’t yet know when the Your First Home scheme will be open for applications, but we’re expecting that further details, including implementation timelines, will be announced by the Chancellor at the Autumn Budget on 28th October.

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