Help to Buy Equity Loan Repayment Calculator
Calculate exactly how much you owe on your Help to Buy equity loan. Repayment is your loan percentage of the current property value — not the original amount. Includes interest fee schedule from year 6, staircase strategy, and full process costs. All figures in GBP.
£
£
yrs
Equity Loan Repayment Amount
£76,000
20.0% of current value £380,000
Original Loan
£60,000
Extra Owed (Value Rise)
£16,000
Interest Accrued (yr 7)
£2,142
Total to Settle
£78,142
Property Value Increase
£80,000
Govt Share of Gain
£16,000
Advanced
Advanced Analysis
Repayment trigger events, interest schedule year-by-year, partial staircase repayment
The Help to Buy equity loan must be repaid when you sell, at the end of 25 years, or you can repay it voluntarily at any time after year 1. The repayment amount is always calculated as your original equity loan percentage of the current property value, not the original price.
Selling the Property
£76,000
Repayment is deducted from sale proceeds before you receive your equity. You must get a RICS surveyor valuation. Homes England must approve the sale price if selling privately. Cannot sell for less than open market value.
Early Voluntary Repayment
£76,000
Can repay minimum 10% of property value at a time (staircase). Must obtain RICS valuation first. Pay off in full or in tranches. No penalty for early repayment. Interest stops on the repaid portion from the repayment date.
End of 25-Year Term
£129,385
If not sold or repaid, the loan must be repaid at year 25. Repayment is 20.0% of the value at that point. The total interest charged from year 6 to year 25 would be £31,267.
Important: You cannot sell, remortgage, or let your home without Homes England consent while the equity loan is outstanding. Unauthorised transactions are a breach of the scheme rules.
Pro
Professional Analysis
Property appreciation impact, remortgage to fund repayment, RICS surveyor process costs
%
Your equity loan is tied to the current property value, not the original price. If your home doubles in value, you owe double the original loan amount. This table shows your repayment obligation over time.
| Years from Now | Projected Value | Equity Loan Owed (20.0%) | vs Today | Interest Fees to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | £380,000 | £76,000 | £0 | £2,142 |
| +1 yr | £391,400 | £78,280 | +£2,280 | £3,278 |
| +2 yrs | £403,142 | £80,628 | +£4,628 | £4,459 |
| +3 yrs | £415,236 | £83,047 | +£7,047 | £5,687 |
| +5 yrs | £440,524 | £88,105 | +£12,105 | £8,293 |
| +7 yrs | £467,352 | £93,470 | +£17,470 | £11,112 |
| +10 yrs | £510,688 | £102,138 | +£26,138 | £15,777 |
| +15 yrs | £592,028 | £118,406 | +£42,406 | £24,882 |
How to Use This Help to Buy Repayment Calculator
Enter your original purchase price, your equity loan percentage (20% for England, 40% for London), the current market value of your property (from a RICS surveyor), and the number of years since purchase. The calculator shows your repayment amount, any interest fees owed, and the total to settle your equity loan.
Key Points to Understand
- The repayment is your equity loan percentage of the current value — not the original loan amount. If your home rose in value, you owe more.
- Years 1–5 are completely interest-free. From year 6, a fee of 1.75% per year is charged on the original loan amount, rising each year by RPI+1%.
- You can repay in minimum 10% tranches (staircasing) any time after year 1.
- A mandatory RICS valuation from the government's approved panel is required before any repayment event.
- The 25-year term runs from the date of purchase, not from when you start paying interest.
The Formula
Repayment Amount = Equity Loan % × Current Property Value
Year 6 Fee Rate = 1.75%
Year 7+ Fee Rate = Previous Year Rate × (1 + (RPI + 1%) / 100)
Annual Interest Fee = Original Loan Amount × Current Fee Rate
Example: Bought for £300,000 with 20% equity loan (£60,000).
Current value: £400,000.
Repayment = 20% × £400,000 = £80,000
Extra owed vs original: £80,000 − £60,000 = £20,000
Year 6 fee: £60,000 × 1.75% = £1,050/year
Year 6 Fee Rate = 1.75%
Year 7+ Fee Rate = Previous Year Rate × (1 + (RPI + 1%) / 100)
Annual Interest Fee = Original Loan Amount × Current Fee Rate
Example: Bought for £300,000 with 20% equity loan (£60,000).
Current value: £400,000.
Repayment = 20% × £400,000 = £80,000
Extra owed vs original: £80,000 − £60,000 = £20,000
Year 6 fee: £60,000 × 1.75% = £1,050/year
Example
Sarah Bought in Bristol in 2017 — Now Ready to Sell
Sarah bought a new-build for £280,000 using a 20% Help to Buy equity loan (£56,000). She is now in year 8 and her home is worth £360,000.
| Original Purchase Price | £280,000 |
| Equity Loan (20%) | £56,000 |
| Current Value | £360,000 |
| Repayment Amount (20% of £360K) | £72,000 |
| Extra vs Original Loan | £16,000 |
| Year 6 Interest Fee | £980/yr |
| Year 7 Interest Fee | £1,029/yr (RPI 3% assumed) |
| Year 8 Interest Fee | £1,081/yr |
| Total Fees Yrs 6–8 | £3,090 |
| RICS Valuation + Admin | £750 |
| Total to Settle | £75,840 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The repayment is always based on the current property value, not the original loan. If you borrowed 20% on a £250,000 home and it is now worth £400,000, you owe £80,000 (20% of £400,000) — even though the original loan was £50,000. This is the most important feature of the scheme and often surprises owners who assumed they would only repay the original amount.
The first five years are completely interest-free. From year 6, Homes England charges a management fee of 1.75% per year on the original loan amount. This fee increases each April by the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 1%. Unlike a mortgage, these fees do not reduce your loan balance — the full repayment amount (based on current value) remains due. The fees are collected monthly via direct debit.
Yes, you can repay voluntarily at any time after the first year. You can repay the full amount or in minimum 10% tranches (known as staircasing). Each repayment requires a RICS-approved valuation. Repaying early can save significant interest fees, especially if your property has appreciated substantially. There is no early repayment penalty, though you will pay the RICS valuation fee and an admin fee each time.
You can remortgage your main mortgage while keeping the equity loan in place, but you need Homes England consent. The combined LTV of your new mortgage plus the equity loan percentage cannot exceed 100% of the property value. You cannot borrow additional funds above the existing mortgage balance without specific permission. Some borrowers remortgage to a slightly higher LTV to generate funds to repay the equity loan partially or in full.
Before any repayment event — selling, voluntary repayment, or staircasing — you must commission a formal valuation from an RICS-registered surveyor on Homes England's approved panel. Online valuations or estate agent appraisals are not accepted. The valuation costs £400–£700 and is valid for 3 months. Homes England uses this figure to calculate the exact repayment amount. You cannot negotiate the repayment below the surveyor's valuation.