Key Worker Mortgages

Who can benefit

If you are a 'key worker' in one of the groups listed below you could get help to buy your first home or to move into a family home. Opportunities are also available to rent homes at affordable prices.

This help is available in London, the South East and the East of England where the high cost of housing is affecting employers' ability to recruit and keep staff.

Key workers who may currently get help are:

• Clinical NHS staff (with the exception of doctors and dentists);
• Teachers and nursery nurses in schools and further education/sixth form colleges;
• Police officers, Community Support Officers and some civilian staff;
• Prison Service staff in certain prisons;
• Probation Service staff;
• Social workers, nursery nurses, educational psychologists, and therapists (e.g. occupational therapists) employed by local authorities, CAFCASS or the NHS;
• Local Authority Planners;
• Firefighters and other uniformed staff below principal level in Fire and Rescue Services;
• Connexions Personal Advisors employed by a local authority or a Connexions Partnership;
• MoD (certain personnel) qualify for new build products (New Build HomeBuy and Intermediate Rent).

Eligibility criteria can vary across regions depending on local recruitment and retention priorities.

What is available

The following help is available:

1. Open Market HomeBuy - 'Equity loans' to help key workers buy a home on the open market. Key workers are typically expected to raise a mortgage of around 75% of the property's value. 

2. Higher-value equity loans of up to £100,000 for a small group of school teachers with the potential to become leaders of London's education system in the future.

3. New Build HomeBuy - shared-ownership of newly built properties. You buy at least 25% of the home and pay a reduced rent on the remaining share.

4. 'Intermediate renting' where the rent is set at a level between that charged by social and private landlords and the accommodation is provided by a registered social landlord.

5. The NHS also provides some short term intermediate rented accommodation for all key workers. This is managed through the NHS accommodation website. You can search for this accommodation at: www.nhs.uk/accommodation .

Changes to Open Market HomeBuy from October 2006:

6. From October 2006, following a major agreement on the private financing of equity loans, lenders will provide a 'top-up' equity loan alongside the loan being provided by the Government.  This will stretch Government funding, enabling more people to be helped.  The new offer has been agreed with HBOS, Nationwide Building Society and Yorkshire Building Society. You will be able to choose the best offer for you. There may be a small charge associated with the private lender's loan.

Who do I contact

To find out if you can get help and how to apply for it simply contact The Mortgage Warehouse on 0800 801079 in the first instance. We will then be able to advise you on the next steps and eligibility for a keyworker scheme.

 

 

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