Housing

Buying, selling, owning a home

This section provides the policy background, guidance and analysis and evaluation for:

It also includes information about policy measures - Mortgage Rescue Scheme and Homeowners Mortgage Support - announced by the Government to support homeowners facing financial difficulties and protect against repossessions.

If you are a homeowner and are worried about repossession or keeping up with your mortgage repayments you should first read the help and advice available from the Directgov - keeping your home  (external link) website.

Latest news and releases

22 April 2009 - Mortgage Rescue Scheme

The 2009 Budget package announced that the scheme was being expanded to help people in Negative Equity (where the total of their secured loans exceed the value of their property) from 1 May 2009.

Households that have debts that are up to 20 per cent greater than the value of their home are now able to apply for the scheme (provided all other eligibility criteria are met).

Further information

21 April 2009 - Homeowners Mortgage Support begins

The Prime Minister announced that Homeowners Mortgage Support is now available to help homeowners who suffer a temporary income shock. It means that eligible homeowners will be able to make smaller mortgage repayments for up to two years, without the risk of losing their homes.  

Further information

6 April 2009 - Home Information Packs

Changes introduced, both to the content of Home Information Packs and making them available at the first point a property is marketed.

Further information for property professionals

2 September 2008 - £1 billion housing package

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears announced a major cross–government package of new measures to meet challenges in the housing market.  The £1 billion housing package will help first time buyers struggling to get onto the housing ladder, support vulnerable homeowners at risk of repossession, and support the house-building industry.

Further information

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Lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods

Find out more about the national strategy for housing in an ageing society.

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