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What is a Help to Buy ISA and can I still use one?
For people who already have a Help to Buy ISA and want to use it to buy a first home.
Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026
A Help to Buy ISA is a savings account for a first home where the government adds 25% to your savings, up to £3,000. It is closed to new savers.
- If you already have one, you can pay in up to £200 a month.
- You can keep paying in until November 2029.
- You must claim the bonus by November 2030.
- The home must cost £250,000 or less, or £450,000 or less in London.
- Your solicitor or conveyancer claims the bonus for you.
- If you have not got one, you can open a Lifetime ISA instead.
Key facts
- Closed to new savers
- 25% bonus, up to £3,000
- Pay in until November 2029
- Claim bonus by November 2030
What a Help to Buy ISA is
A Help to Buy ISA (individual savings account) is a savings account for buying your first home. When you buy, the government tops up your savings by 25%, up to £3,000. You do not have to pay the bonus back.
You can no longer open a Help to Buy ISA. This guide is for people who already have one.
Key dates and limits
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Monthly pay-in limit | Up to £200 |
| Government bonus | 25% of savings, up to £3,000 |
| Smallest bonus | £400 (on £1,600 saved) |
| Last month to pay in | November 2029 |
| Last month to claim the bonus | November 2030 |
| Home price (outside London) | Up to £250,000 |
| Home price (London) | Up to £450,000 |
How much bonus you get
The bonus is a quarter (25%) of what you have saved.
| You have saved | Bonus | Total for your home |
|---|---|---|
| £1,600 | £400 | £2,000 |
| £6,000 | £1,500 | £7,500 |
| £12,000 | £3,000 (the maximum) | £15,000 |
Saving more than £12,000 does not get you a bigger bonus, because £3,000 is the cap.
Example for a couple: you and your partner each have a Help to Buy ISA with £12,000 saved. You both get the 25% bonus, so you get £3,000 each. That is £6,000 in bonus, and £30,000 in total towards your home.
What the home must be
The home must:
- cost up to £250,000, or up to £450,000 in London
- be the only home you own
- be where you plan to live
How to claim the bonus
- Keep saving into your account (you can pay in until November 2029).
- When you buy, tell your solicitor or conveyancer that you have a Help to Buy ISA.
- Your solicitor or conveyancer applies for the 25% bonus for you.
- Make sure this happens by November 2030. That is the last month to claim.
If you do not have one
You can open a Lifetime ISA instead to save for a first home. You can put in up to £4,000 each year until you are 50, and the government adds a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 a year. You must make your first payment before you are 40.
Related guides
- How does a Lifetime ISA work?
- How much can I put in an ISA?
- What is the First Homes scheme?
- What is shared ownership and how does it work?
- How much Stamp Duty will I pay?
Where this comes from
Get it done
This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.
Read about Help to Buy ISACommon questions
Can I still open a Help to Buy ISA?
What is the most bonus I can get?
Official sources
- 1.Help to Buy ISAwww.gov.uk/help-to-buy-isa
- 2.Affordable home ownership schemeswww.gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes
- 3.Lifetime ISAwww.gov.uk/lifetime-isa
Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026
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