The Forces Help to Buy ‘FHTB’ Scheme
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives.
This commitment recognises the sacrifices made by service members and aims to support them in various aspects, including education, healthcare, and particularly housing.
The housing component of the covenant is crucial in helping military personnel and their families find and maintain suitable accommodation during and after their service.
Housing Support Under the Armed Forces Covenant
Housing is a critical component of the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising the unique needs and circumstances of military personnel and their families. The covenant outlines several measures to support the armed forces community in finding and maintaining suitable housing.
- Priority Housing: Many local authorities in the UK give armed forces personnel priority when allocating social housing. This priority is designed to help service members who often face challenges in securing stable accommodation due to the transient nature of military life.
- Help to Buy: Armed Forces Scheme: This scheme offers equity loans to service members to help them buy their first home or move to a new one. The loan is interest-free for the first five years and can cover up to 50% of the property’s value. This financial support can make homeownership more accessible and affordable for military personnel.
- Access to Affordable Housing: The covenant encourages housing associations and private landlords to recognise the specific needs of the armed forces community and offer suitable housing options. This can include discounted rental rates, flexible tenancy agreements, and support in finding housing.
- Support for Veterans: Veterans who have left the service can face particular challenges in securing housing. The covenant provides various forms of support, including priority access to social housing, assistance with deposits, and access to specialist housing for those with disabilities or mental health issues.
- Adapted Housing for Injured Personnel: For service members who have been injured in the line of duty, the covenant includes provisions for adapted housing to meet their specific needs. This can involve modifications to existing properties or access to purpose-built homes.
Are You Interested in Buying Your Own Home?
The Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) Scheme can assist you in getting onto the property ladder.
Through the FHTB Scheme, you can borrow up to 50% of your salary, up to a maximum of £25,000, interest-free, to help with the purchase of a property.
The FHTB could potentially accelerate your path to home ownership by providing you with a larger deposit, which may also give you access to better mortgage deals.
How to Access the Forces Help to Buy Scheme
The FHTB Scheme is available to Regular personnel who:
- Have completed the prerequisite length of service
- Are not reservists or members of the Military Provost Guard Service
- Have more than six months of service remaining at the time of application
- Meet the required medical categories
You can find more information about FHTB on the GOV.UK website.
How to Apply
You can apply for the FHTB Scheme on JPA through the self-service application.