Help for first-time buyers on combined income of up to £140k

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 23, 2026

The UK government is raising the income eligibility limits for its renewed Help to Buy scheme to include households earning up to £110,000 outside London and £140,000 within the capital. This change will enable more middle-income first-time buyers to access equity loans, supporting the construction of new homes and the government’s target of delivering 1.5 million houses.

The UK government is set to revise the income eligibility limits for its revived Help to Buy scheme, aiming to assist more first-time homebuyers, particularly middle earners. Originally, the plan excluded households earning above £90,000 outside London and £110,000 within the capital from accessing the Your First Home initiative, which offers first-time buyers a 20 percent equity loan on new-build properties. The scheme requires a minimum deposit of just 2.5 percent and features an initial interest-free period on the loan.

However, concerns arose that the initial income caps would exclude a significant number of young couples and middle-income workers, such as teachers and nurses, whose median salaries of £51,048 and £44,053 respectively fall near or above these thresholds. In response, Chancellor John Healey reportedly raised the income limits to £110,000 for households outside London and £140,000 for those in the capital.

This adjustment is expected to broaden access, allowing tens of thousands more first-time buyers to benefit from the scheme. It is also intended to encourage property developers to progress with new housing projects, supporting the government’s broader target of delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliamentary term.

The scheme, announced by Andy Burnham last month, is modeled on the original Help to Buy program introduced by George Osborne in 2013, which ended in 2022. While similar in structure, the new version notably restricts eligibility based on income, unlike its predecessor that had fewer financial barriers. This distinction initially drew criticism for potentially excluding middle-income households striving to enter the housing market, a concern addressed by the recent income cap adjustments.

The revised Help to Buy plan is set to continue beyond its initial end date of December 18, indicating the government’s commitment to maintaining support for first-time buyers. Policymakers view the initiative as a key part of efforts to make homeownership more attainable while stimulating construction and economic activity within the housing sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.