Help To Buy Calculator
Use this Help to Buy calculator to estimate the deposit, equity loan and mortgage amount for a purchase, plus an estimate of the equity loan charges from year 6 onwards. This is for guidance only and may not reflect every scheme rule.
This calculator estimates:
- Purchase breakdown: deposit, equity loan, and mortgage amount (plus an estimated monthly mortgage payment).
- Year 6 onwards: an estimate of the monthly interest and fees you might pay on the equity loan after the first 5 years.
This is a simplified model based on published scheme terms and the assumptions you enter.
Help to Buy has changed over time and may not be available for new purchases. This tool is for estimates and education, not advice.
Equity loan charges from year 6 onwards are estimated using your inflation assumption. Your actual costs can differ.
This calculator models Help to Buy: Equity Loan scenarios in two modes:
- Purchase view: deposit + equity loan + mortgage add up to the purchase price.
- Fees view: projects the equity loan’s monthly interest and £1/month fee from scheme year 6 onward (based on the assumptions you enter).
This is a scenario tool. It does not predict house price growth or interest-rate moves, and the scheme is closed to new applications (see GOV.UK in the Trust panel).
Last verified: 05/03/2026. Primary sources: GOV.UK Help to Buy: Equity Loan, GOV.UK paying interest guidance.
- Equity loan % caps: the scheme had different caps for London vs non-London (use the exact % from your documents if you’re modelling an existing loan).
- Interest charges: in the 2021–2023 scheme, interest is not charged in the first 5 years; it starts in year 6 and increases annually using a published uplift mechanism.
- Fee: a £1/month management fee is included in the fees schedule.
Worked examples using the calculator’s built-in logic (rounded):
Example 1 — Outside London, £300,000 purchase (5% deposit, 20% equity loan)
- Deposit: £15,000
- Equity loan: £60,000
- Mortgage amount: £225,000
- Mortgage payment at 4.5% over 25y: £1,251/month
- Estimated year‑6 monthly equity loan charge (interest + £1 fee): £89/month
Example 2 — London, £500,000 purchase (5% deposit, 40% equity loan)
- Deposit: £25,000
- Equity loan: £200,000
- Mortgage amount: £275,000
- Mortgage payment at 4.5% over 25y: £1,529/month
- Estimated year‑6 monthly equity loan charge: £293/month
Example 3 — Fees schedule on a £60,000 equity loan (inflation 2.6%)
- Year 6: 1.75% → about £89/month (interest + fee)
- Year 7: 1.831% → about £93/month
- Year 8: 1.915% → about £97/month
- Scheme versions differ: older Help to Buy equity loan terms can differ from 2021–2023.
- Valuations affect repayment: repayment is typically linked to market value at the time of repayment, not the original loan amount.
- Remortgaging/admin steps: admin processes and fees can apply; confirm via GOV.UK and your provider.
- Inflation assumption: fees projection uses your inflation input; it is not a forecast.
- Mortgage rate changes: the mortgage payment line is based on the rate you enter.
- This calculator uses a simplified model of the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme (2021–2023 terms).
- It does not check eligibility or regional property price caps.
- Equity loan charges are estimated using your inflation assumption and a simple year 6+ escalation model.
- Mortgage payments are estimates and depend on your lender and product.
Purchase breakdown: deposit and equity loan are percentages of the property price; mortgage amount is the remainder.
Year 6 onwards: the equity loan is modelled as interest-free for 5 years, then interest starts in year 6 and increases each year by (inflation + 2)%.
A £1/month management fee is included in the year 6+ projection.
- Compare remortgage options if you’re thinking about switching deals while you have an equity loan.
- Check repayments for the mortgage portion on its own.
- Re-check deposit/loan maths if you’re planning a move.
- Read: First-time buyer costs checklist.
- Glossary: LTV, arrangement fee.