Help to buy ISA help

[italianjob1275]

Hi all. Getting very close to completing on our new house and have come to the part where Mrs Italian job gets the solicitor to close her help to buy ISA and claim the bonus.

At this point the solicitor have told us that because I have had a house before she isn’t entitled to the bonus.

Is this true? I’ve read on which and MSE that only one of you had to be a first time buyer this is why I nagged her to get one in the first place!

[mcecm]

I would say you are correct and solicitor is wrong. I was in the same position as you at this time last year - second house for me, first for wife - and we used her help to buy ISA with no problems

[DoubleSix]

Ahhh, solicitors giving financial advice! Always good for a laugh.

[italianjob1275]

mcecm said:

I would say you are correct and solicitor is wrong. I was in the same position as you at this time last year - second house for me, first for wife - and we used her help to buy ISA with no problems

Excellent that’s what I was hoping to hear thank you!

[Rob_125]

I was under the impression, h2b could not be used with a non h2b buyer. But a lisa could, not sure if a h2b can be ported into a lisa?

[italianjob1275]

Solicitor are still saying no.

Rang the money advice service who say that an ISA is a personal product and as such can be used even though I’m not a first time buyer... annoying that I have to do the chasing when the solicitor are supposed to work for me!

[smithyithy]

As far as I know OP you are correct.

H2B ISA is a 'per person' product - if one half of the couple is a first time buyer, they can have one and claim the bonus (as in your case); Similarly, if you're both first time buyers then you could both have your own for twice the bonus.

[italianjob1275]

Just an update.

The solicitor finally accepted the H2B ISA and we're just waiting for a completion date now.

The purchase price was £183k and the house is in Eastwood Nottingham