After analysing the equity loans that have been secured in each local authority, Zoopla's research clearly shows that Wakefield in West Yorkshire, where the average house price for a new home stands at £221,740, is England’s biggest Help to Buy hotspot.
In second place is Wiltshire (unitary authority) where the average price for a new-build home is £333,760 with County Durham in third (£196,783 average value).
In the 12 months to Q2 2019, Wakefield continued to be the most popular area for Help to Buy loans, followed in second place by Central Bedfordshire, where the average price of a new build home is £389,884. In the same 12-month period, the Borough of Tower Hamlets (average new-build home £588,342) was home to the most Help to Buy loans in London followed by Barnet (£520,408).
Zoopla also analysed the year-on-year change to the amount of Help to Buy loans being secured and found that the Borough of Waltham Forest, where the average price of a new-build is £422,879, was home to the biggest increase (241.3%). Meanwhile the local authority of Havant in Hampshire saw the biggest decrease in Help to Buy loans (-72%).
Most Help to Buy loans (All time)
Most Help to Buy mortgages (12 months until (and including) Q2 2019)
Biggest increase of Help to Buy mortgages YoY
Biggest decrease of Help to Buy mortgages YoY
Alex Rose, Director of New Homes, Zoopla, said: “Whilst it might be presumed that first-time buyers only use Help to Buy in markets with stretched affordability such as London, our analysis shows that its popularity spans the entire country.
Without doubt, the scheme has unlocked home ownership for many first-time buyers across England and, in some instances, has enabled them to access larger properties – in effect skipping that first rung on the property ladder and going straight to the second step.”
