First Homes | Linden Homes

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What is the First Homes scheme?

The First Homes scheme is a government initiative designed to provide local houses and apartments for first-time buyers, getting them on the property ladder by offering new builds with a discount of at least 30% compared to market prices.

This first-time buyer scheme discount will apply to the First Home forever. This means the same percentage discount, as applied to the original sale, will be passed on to the new buyer every time the property is sold, and the seller of the First Home will only receive the discounted amount, never the 100% market value.

First Homes: How it works

Deposit amount required: A minimum of 5% of the discounted purchase price. It is dependent on the property and mortgage eligibility from participating mortgage lenders.
Maximum price of the property: The maximum price of buying your first house or apartment, after the discount has been applied, will be £250,000 (£420,000 in London). Local authorities can set lower price caps.
Ownership: Your First Home belongs to you, so you'll have full ownership. You can decorate and update your First Home as you wish, in keeping with planning rules, any leasehold restrictions that apply, and the terms of your mortgage.
Requirements: You must be a first-time buyer earning less than £80,000 per year (£90,000 in London). A mortgage will need to cover at least 50% of the purchase price. Councils can apply additional criteria such as a local connection or being a key worker.

Am I eligible to buy a First Home?

All purchasers must be buying a house or apartment for the first time, even if more than one person is buying the home.
You will need to meet any local connection criteria, or key worker restrictions, set by the local authority.
Your household income must be no more than £80,000 in England, with the exception of London which is £90,000.
You will need at least a 5% deposit.
You will need to be able to obtain a mortgage for at least 50% of the home.

For further information on the scheme please download the First Homes Customer Guide.

Frequently asked questions about the First Homes scheme

If I’m buying with a partner, do they also have to be a first-time buyer?

Yes. If the First Home is being bought by more than one individual, all purchasers must be buying their first home, in keeping with the definition of a first-time buyer as set out in paragraph 6 of schedule 6ZA of the Finance Act 2003 for the purposes of Stamp Duty Relief.

Can one member of a couple buy the home on their own, and would this mean the other does not have to be a first-time buyer?

Couples who are married, in a civil partnership or living together should make a joint application to the government First Homes scheme. In rare circumstances, where the mortgage lender will only lend to one applicant (e.g. because one party has a poor credit history) the local authority may consider approving on an individual basis, but this is still subject to both parties meeting the first-time-buyer criteria. Both parties would therefore need to sign the new home first-time buyer declaration.

Is anyone exempt from having to meet the local connection criteria?

Yes. Members of the Armed Forces and recent veterans (who have left the Armed Forces within the past five years) are exempt from needing to meet any local connection or key worker restrictions set by local authorities.

These restrictions will also not apply to bereaved spouses and civil partners of servicepeople whose deaths have been wholly or partly caused by their service. In such cases, all other eligibility criteria, including first-time-buyer status and the household income caps, would still have to be met.

For more information about first-time mortgages, including details on the application process, please speak to our sales teams. If you're interested, you can find out more information about the First Homes scheme.

How do I sell the home bought with First Homes?

New houses or apartments bought with the Government's First Homes scheme must be sold to eligible first-time buyers at the same discount at which you purchased the home. If this was a 30% discount, then, this is also the amount by which you will have to discount your home compared to its open-market value at the time you are selling. This ensures the benefit you received when you bought the home gets passed on to the next generation.

A valuer accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) must be selected to assess the market value of your home. They will then apply the same discount that was available when you initially bought the home.

You will also need to ask the local authority for approval to sell the property and share the eligibility criteria that you had to meet when you purchased the home with the estate agent. The rest of the selling process is the same as any other home.

Further details can be found in the Customer Guide.

Can I redecorate my new build home?

After buying your first home with the government scheme, it's yours to decorate and update as you see fit. However, you will need to keep to any planning rules, leasehold restrictions and terms of your mortgage that may apply.

Can I rent out my home bought with the First Homes scheme?

Not typically. If you wish to rent out your new home as a first-time buyer, you will need to receive permission from the local authority and your mortgage lender. Lodgers are allowed but only if the home remains your sole residence.

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First Homes is available on our selected new build homes only, subject to contract and eligibility criteria. If you are purchasing through the First Homes scheme please note that you are required to meet the eligibility criteria under the scheme and to be issued with Authority to Proceed by the local authority. Please note that the Authority to Proceed is valid for three months from issue within which period exchange of contracts must have taken place. If Authority to Proceed has not been issued before reservation, then this reservation is subject to you meeting the eligibility criteria, a First Homes Application Form being submitted promptly to the local authority and an Authority to Proceed being provided. In the event that either (i) you do not provide the information required to submit the First Homes Application Form within twenty (20) Business Days of the reservation date, or (ii) the Authority to Proceed is not issued by the local authority within twenty (20) Business Days of receipt of the fully completed First Homes Application Form or (iii) the local authority confirms that an Authority to Proceed will not be issued or shall be withdrawn prior to exchange of contracts, then the reservation will be automatically be cancelled and the reservation fee shall be returned in full. To be eligible for First Homes you must meet the following criteria: 1: All purchasers must be a first-time buyer, even if more than one person is buying the new home from us. 2: You will need to meet any local connection criteria, or key worker restrictions set by the local authority. 3: Your household income must be no more than £80,000 in England, with the exception of London which is £90,000. 4: You will need at least a 5% deposit. 5: You will need to be able to obtain a mortgage for at least 50% of the new home to be purchased from us. We may also require evidence of your financial ability to proceed with the purchase of a new home from us. The maximum price of a new home covered by First Homes, after the discount has been applied, will be £250,000 (£420,000 in London). Local authorities can set lower price caps. The new home is sold at a discount of at least 30%. The discounts will apply to the new home forever, meaning that generations of new buyers and the local community will continue to benefit every time the property is subsequently sold. First Homes is only available on selected developments and selected plots. Please contact the sales consultants for further information regarding First Homes and the application process. First Homes is a government scheme and is subject to the government’s terms for the scheme. This offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount, promotion or scheme. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Subject to individual lender terms and conditions. Our usual reservation and sales terms and conditions also apply. Please speak to one of our sales consultants for more details.

More ways we can help you move

First Homes: The Scheme to help first-time buyers

What is the First Homes scheme?

First Homes: How it works

Am I eligible to buy a First Home?

Frequently asked questions about the First Homes scheme

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