Frequently asked questions

When you buy a freehold property, you own the building as well as the land it sits on. If you buy a leasehold property, you are renting the land, and will likely, but not always, have to pay ground rent and maintenance fees to uphold this land. You still own the property in its entirety, unless you have bought a property through shared ownership.

Depending on the developer, and the stage of building the property, will depend on what your property comes with. When buying off-plan, you will be able to put your own touches on the property, such as kitchen colours and flooring. Some homes will come without flooring or garden landscaping, and some will be ready to move into straight away. Make sure you are in contact with the developer at every stage so you know what to expect.

Buying off-plan means purchasing your new home before the developer has finished building it. You can even buy a property before the construction has started, allowing you to add personal touches to the property. Click here to learn more.

A mortgage is a loan agreement between an approved lender (bank, building society) and a person wanting to purchase a property. The lender will provide the funds to purchase your home at interest in exchange for title of the debtor of the property – which will become void when the debt is fully repaid. A mortgage usually runs for 25 years – however, some can be longer and some can be shorter depending on your needs.

Find out more about mortgages here.

Staircasing lets shared ownership homeowners increase their equity. Typically in 10% increments, by buying additional shares at current value. This reduces rent and can lead to 100% ownership of your home. Learn more about Staircasing here.

Also known as “part buy, part rent,” shared ownership allows the purchaser to buy a percentage of a new build property, usually between 25%-75%. You then get a mortgage on your own share, and pay rent on the remaining percentage. Over time, you can “staircase” by buying more shares in the property, until you own it in its entirety. Learn more about Shared Ownership here.

Part exchange is the process in which the developer from whom you are buying a property will buy your current home from you. This will make the buying and selling process easier for you as it will mean you are not in a chain. Terms and conditions apply to this scheme that are tailored to each developer.

Managing household bills is vital for financial stability. Stay on top of expenses like council tax, insurance, utilities, broadband, mobile, and TV licence. Track spending, reassess regularly, and budget smartly. Click here for more helpful tips to manage your household bills.

A financial health check is a report of your financial status and steps you can take to improve your finances. Many banks and building societies offer this service for free, but they are often tailored to promote their financial products. You can also use the interactive online tool from the Money Advice Service.

A credit report is a record of a borrower’s responsible repayment of debts. Your report will be shown as a number, which is why it is often referred to as a credit score. There are many things that can affect your credit score, so it’s important to understand what these are and how to improve yours if it’s not high enough. Read more here

If you buy a property over a specific price, you will need to pay tax. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) applies in England and Northern Ireland, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) applies in Scotland and Land Transaction Tax (LTT) applies in Wales.

The rates for each tax vary by country, and by price bracket. First time buyers in England and Northern Ireland will pay less or no tax if the property price is less than £425,000. In Scotland this is £175,000.

Calculate stamp duty here.

Calculator updated 01st April 2025

There are no extra costs when buying a new build home when compared to buying a second hand property. Costs likely to include solicitors fees, survey costs and potentially stamp duty (not applicable to first time buyers up to a property value of £425,000 in England. In Scotland this is £175,000.)

Depending on whether your property is freehold or leasehold depends on whether you will pay an annual service charge or ground rent, and leasehold properties will also incur additional solicitors fees. Conversely, with the variety of special offers available on many new build properties, you are likely to save money too.

Firstly, you need to know how much money you have available for a deposit. Then, work out your household income and multiply by 4.5. Add these numbers together and you will have your estimated budget for a new home.

Alternatively, you can use our easy new home budget calculator to estimate your budget.

The minimum deposit that lenders will usually accept is 5% value of the property, but most will prefer at least 10%. To gain additional benefits on your mortgage, such as lower monthly payments, increase your deposit amount. Are you a first time buyer? Learn how to boost your deposit here.

Improving your credit score takes time and smart habits. Start by checking your credit report for errors, paying all bills on time, keeping credit utilisation low, maintaining older accounts, registering on the electoral roll, limiting new credit applicati... continue reading.

OPSO is a shared-ownership scheme in England for buyers aged 55 +, allowing purchase of up to 75 % of a home’s value. Once that threshold is reached, no rent is payable on the remaining share. Eligibility mirrors standard shared ownership, with age and financial stability during retirement as key criteria. Explore more.

Council Tax is a mandatory annual charge determined by your property’s size, value, location, and occupancy (bands A to H). It funds local services from waste collection to policing. It applies to adults over 18 who own or rent. Discounts and increases apply in certain circumstances. Learn about where your money goes.