Government Schemes for First-Time Buyers in Northern Ireland
Last updated: 5 June 2026
What government schemes can help first-time buyers in Northern Ireland?
First-time buyers in Northern Ireland have several schemes to choose from in 2026. The two biggest are NI’s own shared-ownership schemes — Co-Ownership and FairShare — which let you buy a share of a home and pay rent on the rest. Alongside them, the Lifetime ISA adds a 25% government bonus to your deposit savings, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme helps you buy with a 5% deposit, and Housing Executive tenants may be able to buy their home at a discount. A couple of well-known schemes — the Help to Buy equity loan and First Homes — don’t operate in NI at all.
Here’s how each one works, who it’s for, and the NI-specific detail that matters. Schemes change and eligibility is personal, so treat this as a map rather than advice on which route is right for you.
If you’d like that personal steer, book a free initial chat — we work with these schemes every week.
1. Co-Ownership (Co-Own)
Co-Ownership is Northern Ireland’s flagship shared-ownership scheme, run by a not-for-profit housing association since 1978. It has helped more than 34,000 people buy a home, and around 9 in 10 of those are first-time buyers.
You buy a share of a property — between 50% and 90% — with a mortgage, and pay rent to Co-Ownership on the share you don’t own. Over time you can buy further shares (called “staircasing”) until you own the home outright.
The key NI detail for 2026:
- Maximum property value: £215,000 (raised from £210,000 on 14 April 2026)
- Starter share: 50%–90% of the property’s value
- Lenders offering Co-Ownership mortgages: AIB, Danske Bank and Progressive Building Society
- Zero-deposit option: currently available through AIB NI
- Savings rule: if you have more than £5,000 in savings, anything above £5,000 must go towards your purchase
Co-Ownership is the most realistic route onto the ladder if you can’t yet save a full deposit — and it’s specifically funded for that purpose. Our full Co-Ownership NI guide walks through eligibility and the application process in detail.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
2. FairShare
FairShare is Northern Ireland’s second shared-ownership scheme. It works much like Co-Ownership, but the homes are new-build properties sold directly by housing associations — currently Apex and Clanmil.
You buy a starter share of between 50% and 90% of a new-build home, take a mortgage on that share, and pay rent on the rest. As with Co-Ownership, you can staircase to full ownership over time.
- Property type: new-build homes from participating housing associations
- Starter share: 50%–90%
- Rent on the unowned share: set at 2.5% per year (reviewed annually) — below market rent
- Lenders: Halifax, Nationwide and Santander offer FairShare mortgages
- Fees: no application fee to FairShare itself
FairShare is worth a look if you like the shared-ownership model but want a brand-new home. Whether Co-Ownership or FairShare fits better usually comes down to the kind of property you want and what’s available where you’re buying.
3. The Lifetime ISA (LISA)
The Lifetime ISA is the simplest way to give your deposit a boost. You save, and the government adds 25% on top.
- How much: save up to £4,000 a year; the government adds a 25% bonus — up to £1,000 free each year
- Who can open one: anyone aged 18–39. You can keep paying in until you’re 50, but your first payment must be before you turn 40
- Property price cap: the home you buy must cost £450,000 or less
- The 12-month rule: the account must be open for at least 12 months before you can use it (and its bonus) towards a home
- Buying together: if you’re both first-time buyers, you can each use your own LISA on the same property
One important catch: if you withdraw the money for anything other than a first home (or before age 60), you pay a 25% penalty — which can leave you with less than you put in. So only save into a LISA money you’re earmarking for your home.
If you think you might buy in the next few years, it’s worth opening a LISA now — even with £1 — just to start that 12-month clock.
4. Two more options to know about
The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
Sometimes branded “Freedom to Buy”, this scheme helps you buy with a deposit as small as 5%. The government gives participating lenders a guarantee on 91–95% mortgages, which encourages them to offer low-deposit deals.
- Buy with a 5% deposit
- Permanently available across the UK since July 2025
- Covers homes up to £600,000
- You still pass the lender’s normal affordability checks
In practice, many NI lenders now offer 95% mortgages directly, so you may not need the scheme by name — but it’s part of why low-deposit deals exist. See our 5% deposit mortgages NI guide.
The Help to Buy ISA
The Help to Buy ISA is closed to new applicants — it has been since November 2019. We mention it only because it still matters if you already hold one.
- If you opened one before it closed, you can keep saving into it and still claim the 25% bonus
- The bonus is capped at £3,000, and you can save up to £200 a month
- You can’t claim a Help to Buy ISA bonus and a Lifetime ISA bonus on the same property — you choose one
If you’re choosing between the two and starting fresh, the Lifetime ISA is almost always the stronger option today.
5. House Sales Scheme (the NI “Right to Buy”)
If you rent your home from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a housing association, you may be able to buy it at a discount through the House Sales Scheme. Broadly, you need to have been a tenant for five years or more, and the discount grows the longer you’ve lived there.
It’s a niche route, but for eligible social tenants it can be the most affordable way to become a homeowner. We’ll be covering it in full in a dedicated guide.
Two schemes that don’t apply in Northern Ireland
It’s just as useful to know what isn’t available here, because a lot of UK-wide content will mention them:
- The Help to Buy equity loan — an England-only scheme that closed to new applicants in 2022 and ended in 2023. It never operated in NI.
- First Homes — a discount-on-new-build scheme for England only.
This is exactly why working with a local adviser helps: the live picture in NI is different from what you’ll read for England.
First-time buyer scheme FAQs (Northern Ireland)
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What's the difference between Co-Ownership and FairShare?
Both are NI shared-ownership schemes where you buy a 50–90% share and pay rent on the rest. The main difference is the homes: Co-Ownership covers properties up to £215,000 (often resale or open-market), while FairShare offers brand-new homes built by housing associations like Apex and Clanmil.
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Can I use a Lifetime ISA with Co-Ownership in Northern Ireland?
Yes. You can use your Lifetime ISA and its 25% bonus towards the deposit or share purchase on a Co-Ownership or FairShare home, as long as the property is within the LISA’s £450,000 limit (which NI shared-ownership homes are) and your account has been open at least 12 months.
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Do I still need a deposit with Co-Ownership?
Not always. Some lenders require a deposit on your share and some don’t — AIB NI currently offers a no-deposit Co-Ownership mortgage. Either way, if you have more than £5,000 in savings, Co-Ownership requires anything above £5,000 to go towards the purchase.
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Is Help to Buy available in Northern Ireland?
No. The Help to Buy equity loan was an England-only scheme that has now ended, and the Help to Buy ISA is closed to new applicants UK-wide. In NI, the equivalent help comes from Co-Ownership, FairShare, the Lifetime ISA and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme.
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What's the maximum property value for Co-Ownership in 2026?
£215,000, effective from 14 April 2026 (up from £210,000). With the average NI house price around £196,000, that covers a large share of typical first homes.
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Which scheme is best for me?
There’s no single best scheme — it depends on your deposit, income, the property you want and where you’re buying. Co-Ownership and FairShare suit buyers who can’t yet afford a full purchase; a Lifetime ISA suits anyone still saving. A short conversation will narrow it down quickly.
Find the right scheme for your situation
The schemes are only useful if you pick the one that fits — and that depends on your income, your savings and what you’re trying to buy. We work with Co-Ownership, FairShare and low-deposit lenders across Northern Ireland every week, and we’ll tell you honestly which route gives you the best shot.
30 minutes, no obligation. You’ll come away knowing which schemes you qualify for and what your realistic options are.
Or call 028 9066 5544. Or email office@crawfordmulholland.com.
Related reading
- First-Time Buyer Mortgages NI — the complete guide
- Guide to Co-Ownership in Northern Ireland
- How Much Deposit Do You Need in NI?
- 5% Deposit Mortgages in NI
- First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty in NI
- First-Time Buyer Mortgages — service overview
- Mortgage Calculator
Important: This guide is for general information only and does not constitute personalised mortgage or financial advice. Scheme rules, eligibility and limits can change — always check current terms. Crawford Mulholland is an FCA-regulated mortgage adviser (MCSM Financial Ltd, FRN 948332). Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
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