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Newsletter issue - August 2015.
The new help-to-buy ISA, which is expected to be available from Autumn 2015, will enable first-time buyers to save up to £200 a month towards their first home. Investors will receive £50 from the government for every £200 saved, up to a maximum of £3,000. This means that the maximum that can be saved in a help-to-buy ISA is £12,000. The government bonus is added to this amount, so total savings towards the property purchase can be up to £15,000.
Accounts will be limited to one per person rather than one per home, which means that those buying together can both receive a government bonus. A couple will be entitled to hold an ISA each, meaning that a total of £24,000 could be built up across two accounts. With the addition of the government bonus, a total of £30,000 can be built up by a couple under the scheme.
An initial deposit of £1,000 may be made into the account, in addition to regular monthly savings limits. This initial deposit also qualifies for the 25% boost from the government.
The minimum bonus payable by the government will be £400 and the maximum £3,000 per person.
The bonus can be claimed once savings have reached the minimum amount of £1,600. Under the scheme it will take investors just over four and a half years to qualify for maximum bonus of £3,000, if desired.
Help-to-buy ISAs will be available to individuals aged 16 and over. The bonus will only be available to first-time buyers purchasing UK properties.
New accounts will be available for four years, but once opened, there will be no limit on how long an account can be held.
The bonus will be paid when the property is purchased. It will be available on home purchases of up to £450,000 in London and up to £250,000 outside London.
There are certain restrictions under the new scheme, including:
- help-to-buy ISAs cannot be used if the property is to be rented out;
- purchases of overseas property do not qualify under the scheme;
- only one help-to-buy ISA may be held by an individual; and
- investors cannot open a help-to-buy ISA and a normal cash ISA in the same tax year.
