Help to Buy ISA

Key points

The Chancellor announced the creation of a new Help to Buy ISA in the 2015 budget. They became available to savers from 1st December 2015. The first bonuses under the scheme could be withdrawn as early as February 2016, although most savers will want to save for longer to build up a larger pot and benefit from a larger bonus. Read the Treasury’s announcement of the scheme.

Conveyancers must apply for the ISA bonus on behalf of the home buyer through an online portal. You will also need to secure self-declarations of scheme eligibility from the buyer.

The scheme places a cap of £50 plus VAT on the fee that can be charged for this work.

Guidance for Conveyancers

Download the Treasury’s Guidance for Conveyancers.

Register on the Help to Buy ISA portal

Scheme Rules

The Treasury has issued scheme rules, read them here.

Webinar

On Monday 19 November  2018 we ran a webinar with Andrew Kayley from HMRC which provided advice for conveyancers dealing with Help to Buy or Lifetime ISAs. Watch it again here.