Want to buy?
Whether you are looking to get onto the housing ladder or move up it, there are a number of home ownership options designed to make buying a home more affordable, including:
First Homes
If you’re a first-time buyer, you may be able buy a home for 30% to 50% less than its market value. This offer is called the First Homes scheme.
The property can be either a new home built by a developer, or a home you buy from someone else who originally bought it as part of the scheme.
You can look for new homes in the area that are advertised by developers as part of the First Homes scheme. The homes cannot cost more than £250,000 in Dartford, after the discount has been applied.
You can only sell the home to someone who is eligible to buy a First Home. You must give them the same percentage discount that you got, based on the home’s market value at the time of sale.
Click the First Homes link on this page to find out more.
Shared ownership
If outright purchase is not an option, this scheme offers an alternative to renting. You can buy an initial share in a new home that you can afford, helping you into home ownership in manageable stages.
The Housing Association or Registered Provider will offer initial shares usually between 10% - 75% of the full purchase price. You pay a subsidised rent on the remaining share that the Housing Association or Registered Provider still own. The combined monthly cost of mortgage and rent will normally be less than if you were purchasing the property outright.
In the future you can simply sell your share for its value at the time or alternatively you can purchase further shares in your home.
With most properties you are eventually able to own the property outright if you wish to, although there are some restrictions on rural schemes.
Visit the shared ownership link on this page to find out everything about this scheme.
Housing associations
Housing associations advertise shared ownership homes for sale:
- on their websites
- on their property developments
- through their ‘resale’ schemes
Priority for military personnel:
Only serving and some former military personnel will be given priority over other groups.
Already a tenant of a local authority?
If you are already a tenant of a local authority then you may be able to buy your own home under the Right to Buy. Check with your landlord for more information. If you are a tenant of Dartford Borough Council you can find out more information on the Right to Buy web page.