Archive Website of the UK government

What HomeBuy agents do

HomeBuy agents are housing associations that have been authorised to run schemes for people who have difficulty buying a home.

They run ‘HomeBuy’ schemes like:

• ‘equity loans’ - you get a loan towards the home’s purchase price that has no fees for five years
• ‘shared ownership’ - you buy a share of the home and pay rent on the remaining share

Your local HomeBuy agent will:

• keep information about HomeBuy schemes on its website
• have information about all the properties in the area that you can buy through each HomeBuy scheme
• decide if you qualify for a scheme and handle your application
• pass on your application to other housing associations that may have properties for sale

You can use the links below to find out how the HomeBuy schemes work and if you qualify for them.

• Affordable home ownership schemes for newly built homes

• Equity loans - how they work

• Shared ownership - how it works

Find your local HomeBuy agent

If you'd like to buy a home through a HomeBuy scheme, you need to contact the HomeBuy agent in the area where you want to live. Each HomeBuy agent has an application form for each scheme, which you will need to complete.

East of England HomeBuy agents

Moat Housing Group is the HomeBuy agent for Essex. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 359 6161.

Lea Valley Homes is the HomeBuy agent for Hertfordshire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0158 286 9440.

Orbit is the HomeBuy agent for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0345 850 2050.

• Moat Housing Group Opens new window

• Lea Valley Homes Opens new window

• Orbit HomeBuy Agents Opens new window

East Midlands HomeBuy agent

East Midlands Housing is the HomeBuy agent for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0844 892 0112.

• East Midlands Housing (EM HomeBuy) Opens new window

London HomeBuy agents

Metropolitan Home Ownership is the HomeBuy agent for east, west and north London. L&Q Group is the HomeBuy agent for south east and south west London.

For more information, go to the First Steps website or phone 0845 230 8099.

• First Steps Opens new window

North East HomeBuy agents

Isos Group is the HomeBuy agent for Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0191 292 2749.

Time2Buy is the HomeBuy agent for County Durham and Tees Valley. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 604 2942.

• Isos Group Opens new window

• Time2Buy Opens new window

North West HomeBuy agents

HomesHub is the HomeBuy agent for Cheshire and Merseyside. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 603 4559.

Plumlife is the HomeBuy agent for Greater Manchester and Lancashire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0161 447 5050.

Riverside Home Ownership is the HomeBuy agent for Cumbria. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 155 9029 or 0345 155 9029.

• Homeshub Opens new window

• Plumlife Opens new window

• Riverside Home Ownership Opens new window

South East HomeBuy agents

Catalyst Housing Group is the HomeBuy agent for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Milton Keynes and Surrey. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 601 7729.

Moat Housing Group is the HomeBuy agent for Kent and Sussex. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0845 359 6161.

HomesinHants is the HomeBuy agent for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0238 062 8004.

• Catalyst Housing Group Opens new window

• Moat Housing Group Opens new window

• Homesinhants Opens new window

South West HomeBuy agent

South West Homes is the HomeBuy agent for Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0300 100 0021.

• South West Homes Opens new window

West Midlands HomeBuy agent

Orbit is the HomeBuy agent for Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Hereford, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcester. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0345 850 2050.

• Orbit HomeBuy Agents Opens new window

Yorkshire and Humberside HomeBuy agents

My4walls is the HomeBuy agent for Humberside, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0113 243 6893.

Plumlife is the HomeBuy agent for South Yorkshire. For more information, follow the link below or phone 0161 447 5050.

• My4Walls Opens new window

• Plumlife Opens new window

National HomeBuy agent

Once you have bought your home through the HomeBuy scheme, you will deal with the National HomeBuy agent. The National HomeBuy agent is responsible for:

• collecting fees on your loan
  
• agreeing costs if you want to pay back the loan early
  
• approving the sale price of your home when you come to sell it
  
• collecting payment of the loan when you sell your home

Metropolitan Home Ownership is the National HomeBuy agent.

Once you have bought your home through shared ownership, you will deal with the housing association that owns the other share of your home. This may not be the HomeBuy agent you applied to for the scheme.

• National HomeBuy agent Opens new window

More useful links

• Help finding and choosing a solicitor

• Planning for buying a home (money, tax and benefits section)

• Find a Citizens Advice Bureau or get online advice Opens new window

Useful contacts

• Home and community contacts