4 Aug 2021

Caps for grants 'completely unrealistic' - First home buyers

From Morning Report, 6:37 am on 4 August 2021

A first home buyers group says the price caps for the first home grant scheme are completely unrealistic in today's market.

It was introduced by National in 2014 to help first home buyer raise a deposit, but now the numbers being paid out are tracking towards being the lowest since the grants started.

People say the maximum house prices covered by the grants are too low and have not kept up with the overheated housing market.

The Government has admitted it has got the settings wrong.

Lesley Harris from the First Home Buyers Club told our political reporter Charlie Dreaver the settings are out of date, and not fit for purpose.

The Government admits there's a problem and says it will announce further changes to price caps, but not for another few months.