Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement on 22 November, with a host of announcements on personal taxation and measures for business. Housing was largely absent from the key fiscal event, but there are a couple of points to be aware of. 

Mortgage guarantee scheme extended 

This scheme, introduced in March 2021 with the aim of helping more buyers get on the property ladder, was due to end in December this year, but it will be extended by 18 months, until the end of June 2025. 

The scheme aims to help borrowers with smaller deposits to take out a mortgage with a 5% deposit on a home worth up to £600,000. The government gives a partial guarantee to the mortgage lender of up to 15% if the borrower defaults on their repayments, giving lenders the confidence to offer higher loan-to-value mortgages. 

The scheme is available to those buying a home they plan to live in using a repayment mortgage. It does not apply to buy-to-let investments, or to those purchasing a second home or holiday home. Only loans set at a maximum of 4.5 times income qualify for the scheme.  

New permitted development rights 

The Chancellor announced plans to scrap planning permission for property owners wanting to convert one house into two flats. It will only be allowed in cases where the appearance of the home on the outside does not change. This could be good news for property investors and helping to meet ongoing demand for rental accommodation. 

Housing and planning investment  

During the Statement, an additional £32m was pledged to unlock development of thousands of homes across the country, including funding to tackle planning backlogs in Local Planning Authorities (LPA). 

As a mortgage is secured against your home or property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up mortgage repayments