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How to buy a home: preparing to buy, deciding on a home, making offers, conveyancing, paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and making complaints.

• Overview

  Buying a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer…

• Preparing to buy

  When you decide you want to buy a home, you may need to get a mortgage to…

• Deciding on a home

  There are different ways to own a property. Leasehold and freehold…

• Making an offer

  Before you make an offer, check: what the property is worth the number of…

• Transferring ownership (conveyancing)

  Once the offer is accepted, the seller is responsible for drawing up a…

• Tax

  You may need to pay: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when you buy a home in…

• Making a complaint

  You can make a complaint to a company involved in the sale if you’re…

A guide to buying a home in England and Wales.

• Updated: 6 September 2019

How the First Homes scheme works, who is eligible, how to apply and the rules for managing a First Homes property after you buy one.

• Overview

  If you’re a first-time buyer, you may be able to buy a home for 30% to 50%…

• How the scheme works

  You can look for new homes in your area that are advertised by developers…

• How to apply

  Contact the developer or estate agent (if you’re buying from a previous…

• If your application is approved

  The council will issue a certificate that shows you can be a First Homes…

• Owning the property

  Once you’ve bought the home, you no longer have to meet First Homes…

• Letting the property

  You can usually let your entire property for no more than 2 years in total…

• Selling the property

  You can usually only sell the property to someone who is eligible to buy a…

Find out about buying a home through shared ownership. Read about who can apply, costs, paying rent, buying more shares and repairing and selling your home.

Includes buying and selling your home, home ownership schemes, mortgages and compensation

• Updated: 27 March 2024

Help to Buy and affordable home ownership schemes to help first-time buyers and home movers - equity loan, ISA, shared ownership

How to sell a home: Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), using estate agents, finding a legal professional, getting offers, transferring ownership and making complaints.

Buy your housing association home - including how to apply, who is eligible, discounts available and where to get help and advice.

Your right to buy your council home - including how to apply, who is eligible, discounts available and where to get help and advice.

• Updated: 6 September 2019

Advice for British people buying property in Bulgaria, including information on legal advice, fraud, residence requirements and more.

• Updated: 9 January 2019

Buy your rented home through the Right to Shared Ownership scheme: who can apply, how to apply, costs, paying rent, buying more shares, repairing and selling your home.

Practical advice to consider when purchasing a property or timeshare overseas.

• Updated: 8 January 2014

You can no longer apply for a Help to Buy: Equity Loan - find out about interest rates and how to manage your Help to Buy: Equity Loan.

Advice for British people buying property in Turkey, including information on legal advice, fraud, residence requirements and more.

• Updated: 15 February 2024

Rent a property at a discount to help with the cost of saving for a deposit to buy a home. Information on who is eligible and how to apply.

• Updated: 6 April 2024

How to take part in research to help improve buying and selling.

• Updated: 6 July 2023

Supporting the Armed Forces onto the home ownership ladder.

• Updated: 19 December 2022

You can no longer open a Help to Buy ISA. Find out how it works if you already have one, including how much the government will top up your savings by.