Or should it be called “No Choice – No Homebuy” ?

At the end of March 2009 the Government announced the Homebuy Agent contracts for April 2009 – 2011. Two of the Homebuy Agents we work with had their areas greatly extended – a decision, we believe, based on the excellent service they provided to the public. Some Agents retained their contracts and in other areas new Homebuy Agents were appointed.

What do most have in common ?

NO FUNDING

What are our clients saying about this ?

Their actual comments cannot be repeated on this website but the gist is :

· Why didn’t the government inject more funds into these schemes instead of using it to prop up the Banks who got us all into this mess in the first place !!

· Bet there would have been more money for the scheme if MPs hadn’t milked the system !!

How have families been affected ?

· the perfect property had been found, an offer made and accepted

· mortgage agreements in principle have been issued

· solicitor had been appointed

· we were about to submit our clients’ full applications

· then THE BLOW FELL

· call from clients : we’ve had a letter saying there’s no more funding and we can’t buy

· What can we say to clients in this position? Apart from consoling them – very little.

Have the Government apologised ?

· NO

All those sites offer a LOT of information. If you do not have the time to work your way through countless pages, spare yourself the work – just ask us!
General Information
Wikipedia on Right to buy
The free online encyclopedia offers a simple, down-to-earth overview, mostly historical.
Official Authorities

Consumers and Local Government

The official information on the Right to Buy scheme. Overview, reports, guides and consultations to download. Very extensive.
Scottish Executive Right-to-Buy pages
Right to Buy in Scotland. Extensive information.
Local Support: Regional Government Sites
All Councils of the UK
Looking for the website of your (City) Council? Just follow this link – they are all listed there.
Local Councils Directory
Directgov is the place to turn for the widest range of government information and services. We have linked to the “local councils” directory: find principal local councils throughout the UK. Browse the A to Z lists, or search by region or country. Includes county, city, borough and district councils and unitary authorities.
Your Local Citizens’ Advice Bureau
Free advice for debt management by your Local Citizens’ Advice Bureau. Search this site for your local branch.
Northhampton Housing Links
Northampton Borough Council provides a linklist on Housing Information and a lot of related topics as well.
Burnley Government Links
Links and Web Resources by Burnley Government, featuring a categorized database of resources and links that you may find useful.
Hartlepool Borough Council – Housing Information

Housing advice
Housing finance
Multiple occupancy homes
Housing associations and co-operatives
Housing improvement and repairs
Supporting People
Pendle Government Housing Information
Housing and Community Services by the Borough of Pendle Government, aimed at both council housing and private housing.
Kettering Borough Council’s Housing service
“Kettering Borough Council’s Housing service aims to ensure that every household in the Borough of Kettering has a decent home that meets its needs.”
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Extensive link list to local and regional Government and Business sites.
Chiltern District Council Housing Information
Information about housing improvement and repairs, private housing, housing finance and multiple occupancy homes.

The following is a summary of changes that apply to all applications submitted from 18th January 2005 onwards:
the initial qualification period was extended from 2 years to 5 years for new tenants
the discount repayment period was extended from 3 years to 5 years
the amount of discount to be repaid if a property is resold within 5 years is now a percentage of the market value of the property when it is resold – disregarding the value of any improvements you have made
anyone who enters into a deferred resale agreement (usually with a property company) triggers the repayment of discount at the time the agreement is entered into NOT at the time at which the ownership of the property is transferred
if you enter into an agreement to transfer your property to a third party in the future then this will trigger repayment of your discount. Discount repayment is triggered from the date that you ENTER into the agreement
owners who wish to resell their home within 10 years of it having been sold under the Right to Buy must first offer it at market value to their former landlord or to another body prescribed by the Secretary of State
landlords can now serve a Preliminary Notice after THREE months (instead of after 12 months) requiring a tenant to complete their Right to Buy purchase
tenants will no longer be able to choose to exercise the Right to Buy on Rent to Mortgage terms after 17th July 2005
you cannot buy your home if:
a court makes a possession order which says that you must leave your home
you are an undischarged bankrupt
have a bankruptcy petition pending against you
have made an arrangement with creditors (people you owe money to) and you still owe them money

The Government does not rule out further changes to the rules in the future but any such change would first have to be approved by Parliament.

CTAB Mortgage Desk is a trading name of COUNCIL TENANTS’ ADVICE BUREAU (UK) LTD. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Your Home is at risk if you do not keep up your mortgage repayments

The best bet is to always phone us on 01775 821900 and we will immediately start looking for funds.

If you feel the need to tell the Government about any problems that you are experiencing simply click here

Already sits on page one of Google for that search term.

We deal not only with the Homebuy Agent in your area but also with Housing Developers.

Very clearly, an extremely large number of people are getting somewhat tired of phoning their Homebuy Agents and asking if the Government funding is in place.  We too as brokers are having exactly the same problem.

I am putting this link up on Gumtree and ‘CTAB Mortgage Desk’ invite you to use this blog as a sound board. It will in turn be placed on the Governments Housing blogsite.

No swearing please, it’s as frustrating for us as it is for you.

Our Shared Equity Mortgage page is [here]

We are here to try and help, we are probably the only mortgage brokers in this area that regulary post in all the main parties  blogs. We do get replies and are not frightened to speak our mind!

(Our Director David Castle’s book blog is here)

Next page and some feedback

Leslie (Ms) arranges and brings about mortgages – she does not offer an advice on product service, she prefers to send, via e-mail, Key Facts Illustrations (KFIs) of the mortgage products available to you. You can then sit down and read and discuss them.  If you have any questions simply call Leslie on 01775 821900 and she will look at your options or explain any sections of the illustrations that you do not fully understand.  When you have decided which mortgage product is most suitable for your individual circumstances Leslie will obtain the lender’s agreement in principle (AIP) and send both the AIP and KFI to your Homebuy Agent.  It’s your mortgage and it’s your home. It’s why the scheme is called ‘My Choice Homebuy’.

Because of CTAB’s reputation in all aspects of Social Housing they can deal with all known Homebuy Agents.

CTAB started out as far back as 1986.

Authorised and Regulated by The Financial Services Authority Registration Number 304891

Credit Consumer Licence Number 435179

Data Protection Number Z6741535

CTAB Mortgage Desk are Stakeholder Brokers to Orbit First Step and Homes2Own

We can liaise with all of the Homebuy Agents

Our e-mail address is ctab@btconnect.com

Fees and charges.  What will CTAB charge for arranging

your mortgage ?

Our fee, payable only on completion if we arrange your mortgage, varies depending on the type of mortgage.

Standard residential purchase or remortgage

Buy to let/Let to buy purchase or remortgage

Right to buy purchase or remortgage

£499.00

Social Homebuy purchase or remortgage

Shared Ownership purchase or remortgage

All shared equity schemes or remortgage

£199.00

Secured or personal Loan

£0.00

Household insurance policy

Mortgage payment protection policy

Mortgage protection policy

£0.00

We make no charge for arranging these policies whether at the same time as a mortgage or separately.

Mortgage  fees can usually be included in your mortgage if this is what you prefer. We have facilities with almost every UK Lender, so you won’t be spoilt for choice.

We arrange mortgages, we do not sell mortgages, so the mortgage quotations will not be based on lenders’ commissions only on the products that our mortgage sourcing software produces. Quotations for products meeting your needs will then be posted to you.

Your Home is at risk if you do not keep up the repayments on it