The short answer: Budget 2026 says pre-registration is expected by the end of December 2026, full applications from February 2027 and the first loans from April 2027.
What those dates mean
- By the end of December 2026: pre-registration is expected.
- From February 2027: full applications are expected to open.
- From April 2027: the first loans are expected to be issued.
These are the Government's stated dates, not a guarantee that an individual home, developer, lender or buyer will be ready on that date. The formal delivery, legal and regulatory arrangements still need to be in place.
What can I do in the meantime?
Keep building a realistic deposit, budget separately for buying costs, check your regular outgoings and credit history, and avoid treating a 2.5% deposit as proof that a lender will approve a mortgage. If you are considering a new build, ask whether the developer expects to participate, but treat early sales information as provisional.
