Supporters of the scheme feel Help to Buy is an enabler to facilitate wider economic growth as well as a much needed stimulant for the housing market. Naysayers feel Help to Buy is at risk of creating a housing bubble that could burst and hurt the UK economy.

There are also concerns that without a clear exit strategy for the scheme, people could struggle to remortgage or repay the government loan at some point. Fears also exist about the focus on new build properties, which carry an additional premium on the sale.

As soon as the property is occupied, it is relatively common in particular sectors or locations for there to be a reduction in value.

This guide will explore the different types of Help to Buy mortgage, how to demonstrate suitability for your client, alternative home loans that should be considered and what could cause the plug to be pulled on the scheme.

Contributors to this guide were: the Council of Mortgage Lenders; Ian Wilson, head of Halifax Intermediaries; Brian Murphy, head of lending at Derby-based Mortgage Advice Bureau; David Hollingworth, associate director of London & Country Mortgages; Mark Bullard, head of sales at NatWest Intermediary Solutions; Richard Sexton, director of e.surv; and Martin Richardson, general manager of business development at Leeds Building Society.