The government's equity loan for first-time buyers of new homes in England: a deposit from 2.5%, and a 20% loan interest free for five years, on a home under its council's price cap. Pre-registration opens before the end of December 2026, applications are expected in February 2027, and the first homes can be bought from April 2027.
GOV.UK published a price cap for each of England's 296 councils on 3 November 2026. Homes under the cap are the new homes for sale on NewHomeSearch priced at or below it, counted on 12 November 2026; a shared ownership home has no price of its own and is not counted.
| Council | Price cap | Under the cap |
|---|---|---|
| County Durham | £220,000 | 125 |
| North Yorkshire | £290,000 | 118 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | £265,000 | 112 |
| North Northamptonshire | £325,000 | 112 |
| Charnwood | £325,000 | 96 |
| Rushcliffe | £355,000 | 90 |
| Central Bedfordshire | £440,000 | 83 |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | £315,000 | 83 |
| North West Leicestershire | £320,000 | 82 |
| Dorset | £355,000 | 68 |