Government extend Help to Buy

The government has extended the practical completion deadline for the current Help to Buy equity loan scheme by two months in recognition of the disruption Covid-19 has caused the housebuilding industry.

The deadline will now move from the end of December to February 28 2021.

For home buyers who reserved a home under Help to Buy before June 30 2020 the legal completion deadline can potentially be extended from March 31 to May 31 2021 if they “are experiencing severe delays due to Covid-19", according to the housing ministry.

For those who have reserved since July 1, the deadline remains the end of March.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said Homes England would assess the situation of those who had reserved before June 30 “and look to provide an extension where necessary”.