Housing

Mortgage guarantee scheme –

The government will introduce a new mortgage guarantee scheme in April 2021. This scheme will provide a guarantee to lenders across the UK who offer mortgages to people with a deposit of just 5% on homes with a value of up to £600,000. Under the scheme all buyers will have the opportunity to fix their initial mortgage rate for at least five years should they wish to. The scheme, which will be available for new mortgages up to 31 December 2022, will increase the availability of mortgages on new or existing properties for those with small deposits.

Temporary Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) cut –

The government will extend the temporary increase in the residential SDLT Nil Rate Band to £500,000 in England and Northern Ireland until 30 June 2021. From 1 July 2021, the Nil Rate Band will reduce to £250,000 until 30 September 2021 before returning to £125,000 on 1 October 2021.

Change to Support for Mortgage Interest for claimants moving home –

The government will help Support for Mortgage Interest claimants in Great Britain to move home by allowing them to add the legal costs associated with transferring their claim to a new property to the value of their loan from 15 March 2021.