Government must find ways to help all first time buyers

Steven Marks, Lending Operations Executive at Newcastle Building Society comments on the Government's new measures to encourage first-time buyers and key workers to participate in its affordable housing schemes, issuing £1,500 grants to help qualifying buyers.

"Any measures taken by the Government to help first time buyers are to be welcomed, however, the target group of just 2,000 people through affordable housing schemes is very small indeed and will make little difference to the market as a whole. If the Government was serious about helping FTBs more generally it would take the opportunity to review stamp duty which is a major issue at the lower end of the market."