Help to buy

Homeowners in England who used a Government scheme to get onto the property ladder are now struggling to get the vital paperwork they need to remortgage or sell because they can't get through to the helpline. MoneySavers say they've spent hours trying to contact the scheme's newly appointed administrator.  

First-time buyers planning to use a Help to Buy equity loan to fund a new-build property purchase have until Monday (31 October) to submit their application. Almost 10 years since its original launch, the Government's equity loan scheme will close for good in March 2023, but anyone who wants to take part must apply by the beginning of next week.

Some 16-year-olds are struggling to open a Help to Buy ISA before the deadline at the end of this month because they haven't yet received their national insurance (NI) numbers. The problems come after a change to the way NI numbers are sent out earlier this year resulted in a massive backlog – if you're affected, here's what you can do about it.