Demand for affordable homes is high, especially in areas where property prices are expensive. Allocation of homes and public funding is allocated responsibly and although help will be given to as many people as possible, help cannot be given if you do not meet the eligibility criteria.

If you do, your application will be welcomed and help given. Where applications exceed availability, assessment and selection of applicants are considered according to housing need and affordability. Part of this assessment is estimating the amount of mortgage you could apply for. As a guideline this is based upon three and a half times single salary, or three times joint salary.

Some of the properties and funding is available only for key workers.

You don't have to be a key worker to apply for HomeBuy. There are properties and funding available for first time buyers who are not key workers. Priority for these is given to people who are council or housing association tenants, or to those who are registered on the local council's housing needs register. Help will also be given if you are a first time buyer who needs to buy a property but cannot afford one that suits your basic needs. People who need to buy a property as a result of a relationship breakdown are considered the same as first time buyers.

To be eligible to purchase a property through HomeBuy you will need:

• To have access to, or savings of £3,500 - this is to ensure you can afford the initial cost of buying a home, eg, legal fees, stamp duty, etc
• To be in permanent or fixed term employment. People on fixed term contracts may apply
• A minimum income to ensure you can obtain a mortgage to buy a property. As a general rule this starts at £18,000 per annum gross (single or joint). These minimum figures could be higher, depending on the area where you wish to live. Maximum household income (single or joint) is £60,000 per annum gross.
• To demonstrate that you cannot afford to buy a property that meets your current housing needs without assistance through HomeBuy
• To demonstrate that you are not in mortgage or rent arrears, or in breach of your current tenancy agreement at the time of application
• To be age 18 or over and have a bank account

In addition:

• Your application will not be accepted if you have debts of over £15,000 (this may be increased to £20,000 if your debts include loans from the Student Loans Company). Evaluation is given for joint applications with student loans in excess of £5,000 on their own merits taking into account other aspects of affordability, ie, other loans and regular income
• Applicants from people who are not British or EU citizens are subject to the applicant's ability to raise a mortgage through a reputable mortgage lender
• Your application will not be accepted if you already own a property that meets your current housing need

You may be asked to send an "agreement in principle" from a bank or building society if:

• You or your partner are self employed
• You have at any time been declared bankrupt
• You have, or have had, County Court Judgements (CCJs) or loan defaults served against you
• Your home has been repossessed in the past six years

Discounted rent properties for key workers

Key workers wishing to apply for a discounted rent property will need:

• To be in permanent, temporary, fixed term or agency employment. NHS bank staff are also eligible. Key workers must have a minimum of six months remaining on their employment contract at the start of the discounted rent tenancy
• No minimum income levels apply to discounted rent but you will need to demonstrate that you can afford the rent of the property for which you are applying in addition to your regular monthly bills and expenses
• To demonstrate that you are not in mortgage or rent arrears, or in breach of your current tenancy agreement at the time of application
• If you are a foreign national without permanent leave to remain in the UK you will need to have at least six months remaining on your work permit at the start of the discounted rent tenancy
• To be age 18 or over and have a bank account