Housing & Renting

Help for first-time buyers: Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership, First Homes, Stamp Duty relief and the planned First Time Buyer ISA

Published: Last checked: October 20265 min read

Short answer

First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty up to £300,000. The Lifetime ISA adds a 25% bonus on up to £4,000 a year (for homes up to £450,000); the government plans to replace it with a First Time Buyer ISA. Shared Ownership and First Homes lower the deposit or price.

In short

  • This post is general information, not legal, financial or tax advice. It is based on GOV.UK and other official pages as they were on 18 October 2026 and applies to England; Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules and taxes.
  • The main supports for first-time buyers: Stamp Duty relief, the Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership and First Homes. The Help to Buy ISA can no longer be opened; Right to Buy and Rent to Buy also exist.
  • The government plans to replace the Lifetime ISA with a new "First Time Buyer ISA"; the product is not live yet.

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Official sources

This answer is based on the pages below. Check the source yourself before you decide.

  • GOV.UK: Affordable home ownership schemes
  • GOV.UK: Lifetime ISA
  • GOV.UK: Withdrawing money from your Lifetime ISA
  • GOV.UK: First Time Buyer ISA consultation
  • GOV.UK: Shared ownership, who can apply
  • GOV.UK: First Homes scheme

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