How Does Help to Buy Repayment Work?
If you bought your home with a Help to Buy equity loan, the government owns a percentage share of your property's value — not a fixed amount of money. That's the part most people don't realise until they come to repay.
If you bought your home with a Help to Buy equity loan, the government (via Homes England) owns a percentage share of your property’s value— not a fixed amount of money. That’s the reason the amount you owe can go up or down depending on how your property’s value has changed since you bought it.
Repaying isn’t compulsory at any particular point, but interest starts being charged from year six, and most homeowners look to repay when they sell, remortgage, or simply want to own their home outright.
What determines how much you repay?
You don’t repay a fixed sum. You repay the same percentage share of your home’s current market value that you originally borrowed. If you took a 20% equity loan and your home has increased in value, 20% of the new value will usually be more than 20% of what you originally borrowed — and vice versa if the value has fallen.
This is why a RICS valuation is central to the whole process.
Read our full guide to the Help to Buy valuation process →
The three ways to repay your Help to Buy loan
There’s no single “right” way to repay — which option applies to you depends on your circumstances and what you’re already planning to do with your property.
Repay Using Your Own Money
Repaying all or part of your equity loan from savings, an inheritance, a gift or another lump sum.
How it worksRepay When Remortgaging
Repaying all or part of your equity loan at the same time as you remortgage your home.
How it worksRepay When Selling
Repaying your equity loan when you sell your home — including the conveyancing for the sale itself.
How it worksPart repayments must be at least 10% of the loan. A full repayment when remortgaging doesn’t require Homes England’s permission; a partial repayment does. If you’re selling, your equity loan is repaid as part of the sale — based on whichever is higher: the market value or the agreed sale price.
What does it cost?
Alongside the loan repayment itself, you’ll need to budget for:
- a RICS valuation report (paid to your chosen surveyor)
- a £200 administration fee to Homes England
- legal/conveyancing fees — Threemo’s fixed-fee services start from £699
There’s nothing to pay Threemo upfront, and no fee at all if your case doesn’t complete. See our full pricing →
How long does it take?
Timelines vary by route, but as a general guide: a RICS valuation is valid for 3 months, so most repayments (using your own funds or remortgaging) complete within that window. Selling-linked repayments follow your property sale timeline.
Official Help to Buy guidance
Here’s a short video from www.gov.uk to explain the process:
Alternatively, here’s a guide to repaying your Help to Buy equity loan:
Visit the official Help to Buy site on GOV.UK→Ready to start?
Threemo is the conveyancing team behind Repay My Help to Buy, with a five-star Trustpilot rating and nearly 3,000 combined reviews. We handle the legal side of your repayment from start to finish.
Ready to Repay