Housing Act 1985

446 Forms of assistance and qualifying conditions.

(1) Assistance under section 445 (assistence for first-time buyers) may be given in the following ways—

(a) the secured loan may be financed by the Secretary of State to the exent of £600 (that amount being normally additional to that which the institution would otherwise have lent, but not so that the total loan exceeds the loan value of the property);

(b) £600 of the total loan may be made free of interest, and of any obligation to repay principal, for up to five years from the date of purchase; and

(c) the institution may provide the purchaser with a bonus on his savings (which bonus shall be tax-exempt) up to a maximum of £110, payable towards the purchase or expenses arising in connection with it.

(2) The purchaser qualifies for assistance under subsection (1)(a) and (b) (interest-free loan) by satisfying the following conditions with respect to his own savings—

(a) that he has been saving with a recognised savings institution for at least two years preceding the date of his application for assistance,

(b) that throughout the twelve months preceding that date he had at least £300 of such savings, and

(c) that by that date he has accumulated at least £600 of such savings;

and he qualifies for assistance under subsection (1)(c) (bonus on savings) by satisfying the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) above.

(3) The Secretary of State may allow for the conditions to be relaxed or modified in particular classes of case.

(4) No assistance shall be given in any case unless the amount of the secured loan is at least £1,600 and amounts to not less than 25 per cent. of the purchase price of the property.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order made with the consent of the Treasury—

(a) alter any of the money sums specified in this section;

(b) substitute a longer or shorter period for either or both of the periods mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and (b) (conditions as to savings);

(c) alter the condition in subsection (2)(c) so as to enable the purchaser to satisfy it with lesser amounts of savings and to enable assistance to be given in such a case according to reduced scales specified in the order;

(d) alter the percentage mentioned in subsection (4) (minimum secured loan).

(6) An order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.