First Homes scheme
First Homes is a government scheme that helps local first-time buyers buy a home at a discounted price.
Eligible buyers can buy a First Home with a discount of at least 30% off the property's market value. The discount is protected by a legal agreement and stays with the property when it is sold in the future. This helps keep the home affordable for other eligible buyers.
To buy a First Home, you must meet the national eligibility criteria and any local requirements that apply to the development.
Key features
First Homes offer several benefits and requirements.
Including:
- at least 30% discount on the market value
- the discount stays with the property when it is resold
- the home must be sold to an eligible buyer
- Council approval is needed before a resale can go ahead
- the property remains an affordable home ownership product permanently
First Homes in West Northamptonshire
First Homes have been delivered on a small number of developments in West Northamptonshire.
Including:
- Landimore Park, Hardingstone (Tilia Homes)
- Monksmoor, Daventry (Crest Nicholson)
These developments are now complete and there are currently no new First Homes available to buy.
Future opportunities are likely to come from existing First Homes being sold by their current owners.
First Homes resales are usually marketed through estate agents in the same way as other properties. However, the property must continue to be sold at the discounted First Homes price to an eligible buyer. Council approval must also be obtained before the sale can proceed.
Selling your First Home
If you want to sell your First Home, you must follow a specific process. This makes sure the property remains a First Home and is sold at the required discounted price to an eligible buyer.
You can download the First Homes resale process flowchart below.
How the First Homes resale process works
If you are thinking about selling your First Home, appoint an estate agent and tell them the property is part of the First Homes scheme.
The estate agent will contact the council to request the First Homes resale application forms.
You can also request application forms from the Housing Strategy Team on email at [email protected].
You must obtain an independent valuation from a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) surveyor based on the full market value of the property.
The estate agent will then apply the required First Homes discount when marketing the property.
The property will be advertised as a First Home and will include details of the eligibility criteria that buyers must meet.
To confirm the buyer is eligible for the First Homes scheme, the following checks are completed.
The checks include:
- an estate agent helping the buyer complete the First Homes application form
- the buyer providing evidence to show they meet the eligibility criteria
- the estate agent checking that the buyer meets the requirements set out in the Section 106 agreement
- completed application and supporting documents will be sent to the council for approval
Once the buyer has been approved, there will be a legal process.
Such as:
- seller and buyer appoint conveyancers
- the buyer arranging a mortgage
- the conveyancers completing the legal work
- the buyer's conveyancer providing the required certificates, undertakings and supporting information to the council
- the council issues the approvals needed for the sale to go ahead
Once all approvals are in place and the legal work has been completed, the sale can move to exchange of contracts and completion.
After the sale has completed, the following actions are needed:
- the buyer moves into the property
- the buyer's conveyancer sends the council a copy of the updated Land Registry title
- the updated title must show that the First Homes restrictions remain in place
Administration charge
The council charges sellers an administration fee of £210 for each First Home resale.
This fee covers the cost of processing the resale application and is based on cost recovery. The charge is reviewed regularly.
Contact us
For more information about the First Homes resale process, contact the Housing Strategy Team on email [email protected].
Last updated 17 September 2026