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| Homes 'too expensive' for Help to Buy Isa scheme | Homes 'too expensive' for Help to Buy Isa scheme |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Would-be-homeowners in large parts of England are being priced out of a government scheme to help first-time buyers, a BBC investigation has found. | Would-be-homeowners in large parts of England are being priced out of a government scheme to help first-time buyers, a BBC investigation has found. |
| The Help to Buy Individual Savings Account (HTB Isa) was introduced last year to help people save for a home. | The Help to Buy Individual Savings Account (HTB Isa) was introduced last year to help people save for a home. |
| In many areas, the average price of a starter home exceeds the maximum purchase cap of £250,000, or £450,000 in London. | In many areas, the average price of a starter home exceeds the maximum purchase cap of £250,000, or £450,000 in London. |
| The government said the cap allowed them to focus on first-time buyers. | The government said the cap allowed them to focus on first-time buyers. |
| The HTB Isa was introduced in December to allow first time buyers to put their deposit into a tax-free savings account and get a 25% bonus, up to a maximum of £3,000, when they buy their home. | The HTB Isa was introduced in December to allow first time buyers to put their deposit into a tax-free savings account and get a 25% bonus, up to a maximum of £3,000, when they buy their home. |
| However, the bonus is only available if the purchase price does not exceed the cap. Housing charity Shelter said it only helped "the lucky few" and the government should focus on building more homes. | However, the bonus is only available if the purchase price does not exceed the cap. Housing charity Shelter said it only helped "the lucky few" and the government should focus on building more homes. |
| The English Regions data unit analysed the average asking price of properties in almost 1,000 local areas on the property website Zoopla. | The English Regions data unit analysed the average asking price of properties in almost 1,000 local areas on the property website Zoopla. |
| Explore the data here | Explore the data here |
| Do I need to buy a house? | Do I need to buy a house? |
| How does a Help to Buy Isa work? | How does a Help to Buy Isa work? |
| Our analysis of two-bedroom starter homes found: | Our analysis of two-bedroom starter homes found: |
| For other types of property, our analysis found: | For other types of property, our analysis found: |
| Personal finance commentator Martin Lewis, of MoneySavingExpert.com, said savers should not be put off opening a HTB Isa. | Personal finance commentator Martin Lewis, of MoneySavingExpert.com, said savers should not be put off opening a HTB Isa. |
| He said: "It is a cash giveaway from the taxpayer. | He said: "It is a cash giveaway from the taxpayer. |
| "Even if you don't end up using it to buy a house, you still have savings with a very favourable rate of interest." | "Even if you don't end up using it to buy a house, you still have savings with a very favourable rate of interest." |
| He added that from next year the government was launching its Lifetime Isa, with a limit on house purchases of up to £450,000 and that people could transfer in their savings from an HTB Isa. | He added that from next year the government was launching its Lifetime Isa, with a limit on house purchases of up to £450,000 and that people could transfer in their savings from an HTB Isa. |
| First-time buyer help: What happens elsewhere? | |
| Campbell Robb, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: "Soaring housing costs have left millions of people stuck in a rent trap and struggling to save anything towards a home of their own. | Campbell Robb, chief executive of housing charity Shelter, said: "Soaring housing costs have left millions of people stuck in a rent trap and struggling to save anything towards a home of their own. |
| "The Help to Buy ISA only helps the lucky few who are better off, or able to live with their parents while they save for a deposit. For the vast majority of renters who want to move forward in life and put down roots, this scheme brings them no closer to that dream. | "The Help to Buy ISA only helps the lucky few who are better off, or able to live with their parents while they save for a deposit. For the vast majority of renters who want to move forward in life and put down roots, this scheme brings them no closer to that dream. |
| "If the government genuinely wants to help the nation's renters get a foot on the housing ladder, it needs to look beyond quick-fix schemes, and invest in homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford." | "If the government genuinely wants to help the nation's renters get a foot on the housing ladder, it needs to look beyond quick-fix schemes, and invest in homes that people on ordinary incomes can actually afford." |
| A Treasury spokesman said: "The Help to Buy Isa scheme was introduced to support those that are struggling to save enough to get onto the housing ladder. The property price cap allows the government to target support at those who are saving to buy their first home." | A Treasury spokesman said: "The Help to Buy Isa scheme was introduced to support those that are struggling to save enough to get onto the housing ladder. The property price cap allows the government to target support at those who are saving to buy their first home." |
| He added that by March 2016 more than 150,000 people had used the government's other Help to Buy equity loan and mortgage guarantee schemes. | He added that by March 2016 more than 150,000 people had used the government's other Help to Buy equity loan and mortgage guarantee schemes. |
| Analysis, Richard Donnell, Hometrack | Analysis, Richard Donnell, Hometrack |
| The cap on purchase prices for a Help to Buy Isa should encourage house builders to develop smaller homes, a property expert says. | The cap on purchase prices for a Help to Buy Isa should encourage house builders to develop smaller homes, a property expert says. |
| Richard Donnell, research and insight director from Hometrack, said: "In order to appeal to a wider group of buyers, builders need to start building smaller houses to offer at the lower price point to help first time buyers get on the housing ladder. | Richard Donnell, research and insight director from Hometrack, said: "In order to appeal to a wider group of buyers, builders need to start building smaller houses to offer at the lower price point to help first time buyers get on the housing ladder. |
| "There is a lack of supply of two-bedroom homes and this keeps the price gap narrow and relatively close to three-bedroom home prices." | "There is a lack of supply of two-bedroom homes and this keeps the price gap narrow and relatively close to three-bedroom home prices." |
| Hometrack figures, based on prices paid for homes between June 2015 and January 2016, show how prices for two-bedroom homes at the higher end of the range cost as much as or more than the lowest-priced three-bedroom properties in the same area. | Hometrack figures, based on prices paid for homes between June 2015 and January 2016, show how prices for two-bedroom homes at the higher end of the range cost as much as or more than the lowest-priced three-bedroom properties in the same area. |
| In Elmbridge in Surrey, an average two-bedroom home in the upper price range went for an average of £459,963, while a lower range three-bedroom home sold on average for £430,000. | In Elmbridge in Surrey, an average two-bedroom home in the upper price range went for an average of £459,963, while a lower range three-bedroom home sold on average for £430,000. |
| Reporting team: Daniel Wainwright, Paul Bradshaw, Pete Sherlock | Reporting team: Daniel Wainwright, Paul Bradshaw, Pete Sherlock |
| Are you an aspiring first time buyer and has the help to buy ISA been of use to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you an aspiring first time buyer and has the help to buy ISA been of use to you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |