Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is bringing back its popular free drop-in event for first-time buyers, offering a chance to quiz mortgage experts, solicitors and housing associations under one roof. The session takes place on Thursday 25 June at the Civic Offices in London Road, running from 3pm to 7pm with no need to book in advance.
Attendees can explore the full menu of low-cost routes into home ownership, including shared ownership, the First Homes scheme offering properties discounted by at least 30% below market value, and the council’s own Own Home Loan. Launched in January 2020, the loan scheme provides interest-free borrowing for the first five years — up to £30,000 or 20% of a property’s value, whichever is lower. Applicants must be first-time buyers with a local connection to the borough, a household income under £80,000, and a minimum 5% deposit. A pot of £580,000, drawn from unspent affordable housing contributions, means up to 20 households can tap into the scheme.
Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing Cllr Laura James said the event was designed to help those who feel home ownership is out of reach. “We know that buying a home can feel out of reach or difficult to even begin thinking about for so many first-time buyers. There are lots of options available and this event is a really good place for anyone looking to buy their first home to start finding out more,” she added.
Delivery of the Own Home Loan scheme is handled in partnership with Parity Trust, a registered charity that carries out independent financial assessments. Unlike the former government Help to Buy equity loan, the council’s version can be used on existing homes as well as new builds. After the initial five-year interest-free period, a rate of 1.75% applies, rising annually with the retail price index. Housing associations will also be on hand at the Civic Offices to share details of available properties across the borough.
Residents who sign up to the council’s low cost home ownership register ahead of the event — or at any time — can do so at basingstoke.HomeConnections.org.uk.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
