Help to Buy repayment & interest calculator
While the Help to Buy scheme in England officially closed to new applicants in 2023 (and Help to Buy Wales has been extended to March 2027), thousands of homeowners are now looking to repay their equity loans. This is especially critical for those approaching the end of their five-year interest-free period.
Use our free interactive calculator and guides below to estimate your upcoming monthly interest payments and discover the most cost-effective way to clear your government debt.
How your Help to Buy interest rate is calculated
For the first five years of owning your property, your Help to Buy equity loan is completely interest-free. However, starting from year six, Homes England will begin charging you a monthly interest fee based on the original amount you borrowed.
This fee increases every April in line with inflation. The exact calculation depends on when you took out your equity loan:
- Loans taken out between 2013 and 2021: Interest starts at 1.75% in year six. From year seven onwards, it increases annually by the Retail Price Index (RPI) + 1%.
- Loans taken out between 2021 and 2023: Interest starts at 1.75% in year six. From year seven onwards, it increases annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 2%.
Expert Tip: Interest payments do not reduce your debt
It is vital to understand that the monthly interest fee you pay to Homes England only covers the management of the loan. It does not chip away at the actual equity you owe. To reduce the debt itself, you must make a lump sum repayment (staircasing).
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Help to Buy interest repayment calculator
To help you budget for year six and beyond, our Help to Buy interest repayment calculator estimates your upcoming monthly fees. Simply enter your original equity loan percentage, your property's current market value, and how many years you have owned the home.
Help to Buy Repayments Calculator
Help to Buy mortgage repayment calculator
Your Help to Buy mortgage payments differ from the Help to Buy equity loan repayments. You can use our calculator above to estimate the interest repayments, but we also have a mortgage payments calculator available. You might wish to remortgage to consolidate into one monthly payment.
Has your 5-year interest-free period ended?
If you have crossed the five-year threshold, your monthly outgoings will automatically increase. For a comprehensive breakdown of exactly how these fees compound over time—and why it is financially beneficial to clear the loan early—read our complete guide to Help to Buy repayment after 5 years.
How to repay your Help to Buy loan
You can choose to pay off a chunk of your loan (partial staircasing) or repay it in full at any time. You can fund this via personal savings, by remortgaging, or by selling the property.
Click any of these links above and get to read the step-by-step guide for each process.
Your first step: The Help to Buy RICS valuation
Whether you are remortgaging, selling, or using savings, you cannot repay any of your equity loan without first obtaining a RICS valuation. Because your repayment is based on your home's current market value rather than the original purchase price, Homes England legally requires an independent RICS surveyor to confirm what the property is worth today.
Our nationwide panel of RICS surveyors provides fixed-fee, Homes England-compliant valuation reports. We can also provide the specialist conveyancing solicitors required to officially remove the government charge from your title deeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Andrew Boast FMAAT is a qualified accountant, conveyancing specialist and author with over 25 years of experience in the UK property sector. Since beginning his career in 2000 within established SRA and CLC-regulated conveyancing solicitor firms, Andrew has overseen the legal journeys of more than 75,000 clients.
He is the self-published author of the first-time buyer guide: How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone, and a frequent contributor to mainstream UK media on legislative updates, property law, first-time buyer guides, conveyancing best practices, and stamp duty changes. Andrew specialises in resolving complex title issues, property conflict disputes, and property tax options, streamlining the enquiry process to reduce transaction times and maintaining a client-friendly focus.
Amanda Ambler is a highly accomplished conveyancing specialist with over 15 years of dedicated experience across residential property law, legal compliance, and practice management. Having held senior roles, including Head of Legal Practice and Head of Conveyancing at established UK law firms, Amanda possesses a profound, hands-on understanding of the technical intricacies of the property market.
As the designated Legal Content Reviewer for SAM Conveyancing, Amanda ensures that every guide, legal update, and resource published meets the absolute highest standards of accuracy, regulatory compliance, and factual integrity. Her rigorous review process guarantees that complex property legislation and industry processes are communicated clearly, transparently, and safely for home buyers and sellers alike.
