Moat is the government-appointed HomeBuy agent for Essex, Kent and Sussex (not including London Boroughs). This means you only complete one application form to access all of the HomeBuy options available in your area. We carry out headline eligibility assessments, so that you can apply to any housing association using just one Moat reference number. Please use the following table as a guide to your eligibility:
Your home is at risk if you do not keep up rent and mortgage repayments or payments on other loans secured on it. Please note the value of properties can go down as well as up.
| New Build HomeBuy / Resales | HomeBuy Direct / First Time Buyers’ Initiative | Rent to HomeBuy / Discounted Rent | ||
| Access to savings of: | £5,000 | £2,500 | £0 | |
| Minimum income: We can be flexible with your income if you have a large amount of savings or equity. |
£18,000 | £18,000 | £18,000 | |
| Maximum income: | £60,000 | £60,000 | £60,000 | |
| Maximum household debt: Not including Student Loans Company. |
£15,000 | £15,000 | £15,000 | |
| You must be able to raise a mortgage through a reputable mortgage lender: | Yes, although it is possible to use savings or equity to buy a share. | Yes | N/A |
The minimum income levels shown above are based on annual salaries (single or joint), before tax is deducted. Further affordability checks will be carried out to ensure the scheme is affordable for you.
In addition, the following applies to all options:
- You are unable to afford to buy a property that meets your current housing needs without assistance through HomeBuy.
- You can show that you are not in mortgage or rent arrears, or in breach of your current tenancy agreement at the time of application.
- You are aged 18 years or over.
- You have a bank account.
- You do not already own a property that meets your current household’s needs. We are able to assist people who need to sell their property due to overcrowding or due to a relationship breakdown.
- You must have enough income to cover your regular monthly expenditure as well as the monthly costs associated with buying or renting a property.
- If you are applying to buy a property, we will be able to consider your application if you are currently saving for a deposit, however you will be unable to proceed to buy a home if you do not have the level of deposit required.
- If you are applying to rent a property, you must be committed to entering into home ownership through a low cost home ownership product within the next five years.
| NHS |
All clinical staff employed by the NHS except doctors and dentists. |
| EDUCATION |
Qualified teachers in LEA schools and sixth form colleges, lecturers in FE colleges, children's social workers employed by the LEA and qualified nursery nurses working in specified nursery schools. |
| POLICE |
Police officers and community support officers including those working for the British Transport Police or the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) in certain areas. Some front line civilian police roles are also eligible – this varies by force. |
| PRISON SERVICE |
Prison officers and related grades, operational support grades, nursing staff, industrials and instructional officers. |
| PROBATION SERVICE |
Probation officers, senior probation officers, probation service officers and other operational staff (except Assistant Chief Officers) who work directly with offenders. |
| LOCAL AUTHORITY | Local authority employed clinical staff, adult social workers, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, rehabilitation officers for the visually impaired and qualified nursery nurses. Local authority planners employed by the Local Planning Authority delivering statutory planning services, Connexions Personal Advisors provided that they are employed by a local authority or a Connexions Partnership. |
| FIRE FIGHTERS |
Uniformed fire and rescue staff below principal level. |
| MoD | – Regular service personnel, including Military Provost Guard Service in the Navy, Army and Air Force – Clinical staff (with the exception of doctors and dentists) – MoD Police Officers – Uniformed staff in the Defence Fire Service In addition, the following group will qualify for discounted rent schemes only: – Full Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) |
| ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS/PRACTITIONERS |
Qualified Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners who work in a local authority, government agency, NHS or other public sector agency, AND who hold either an EHRB Certificate of Registration or an EHRB Diploma in Environmental Health. |
| HIGHWAYS AGENCY TRAFFIC OFFICER SERVICE | Traffic officer staff of the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service. All applicants must be in the following safety critical roles: – Supervisor (On road and Off road) – Traffic Officer – RCC Operator. |
Your home is at risk if you do not keep up rent and mortgage repayments or payments on other loans secured on it. Please note the value of properties can go down as well as up.