Last Help to Buy applicants secure home in Lincolnshire

A YOUNG couple from Market Rasen have become amongst the last people in the UK to secure the home of their dreams using the now ended, government Help to Buy scheme.

According to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, since its launch in 2013 the Help to Buy equity loan scheme has helped more than 361,075 homebuyers get a foot on the housing ladder, but the popular initiative came to an end this year on 31 October.

Hospitality worker, Mollie Leadbeater, and fencer, Matthew Philpott, took advantage of the government scheme to purchase a new build home on our Chantrey Park development in Market Rasen, following two years of saving.

Mollie said: “We’re lucky we were able to use the Help to Buy scheme to give us some financial leeway so we could afford a good first home and be able to fund it comfortably. Without it, we would have been saving for much longer. We’ve been really happy with the process so far and we’ve even convinced our friends to buy a home on the development as well.

“We’ve lived in Market Rasen all our lives and had our heart set on a home at Chantrey Park. It’s always scary committing to buy a house, but Chestnut Homes supported us throughout and made the process really easy.”

The Chantrey Park development comprises 300 two, three, four and five-bedroom homes. Prices start from £181,965 with homes available to move into before Christmas. Although the Help to Buy scheme has come to an end, house hunters looking to buy at Chantrey Park can now make use of the newly launched government First Homes scheme.

The new scheme allows buyers to own 100% of their home but pay 30% less than its market value, with the government supplementing the rest. The discounts will apply to the homes forever, meaning that generations of first-time buyers and the local community will continue to benefit every time the property is sold.

Chestnut Homes is one of the first housebuilders in Lincolnshire to offer the initiative which has already successfully helped over 30 eligible Lincolnshire first-time buyers onto the property ladder.

Helene Key, sales manager at Chestnut Homes, said: “There is such high demand for modern and affordable homes in Lincolnshire for first-time buyers, growing families and those wanting to downsize. Market Rasen is a desirable place to live because it has the countryside feel but with great local amenities and connections to the city.

“It’s great to see Mollie and Matthew buying in their local area and we’re proud to offer schemes like Help to Buy and now the First Homes scheme to support people’s dreams of owning a home.”