Eligibility
To be eligible for a discounted sale affordable home in Tonbridge and Malling purchasers need to:
- Be a first-time buyer, as defined in paragraph 6 of schedule 6ZA of the Finance Act 2003. You and anyone you are buying with must not own a home or have owned one in the past in the UK or abroad (National criteria).
- For DOMV homes a household could be a first-time buyer or used to own a home (or have an interest in one) but can’t afford to buy one on the open market now.
- Have a local connection – as outlined below. Only one purchaser needs to have a local connection (Local criteria)
- Have a gross annual household income of less than £59,000 (local criteria)
- Use a mortgage or home purchase plan to fund at least 50% of the discounted
- purchase price (National criteria) – First Homes only.
To be a first-time buyer you:
- Do not and have not previously acquired via purchase, gift, trust or inheritance a major interest in a dwelling or an equivalent interest in residential land situation anywhere in the world; and/or
- Benefited from any form of sharia mortgage finance.
You will need to sign a declaration that you are a first-time buyer.
You have a local connection if you:
- currently live in the borough and have lived here for at least the last 12 months or 3 of the last 5 years; or
- are permanently employed (full time or part time) in the borough, or need to move into our borough in order to take up an offer of permanent employment; or
- have close family members (parent, step-parents, brothers/sisters including step siblings, adult children (aged over 18) and grandparents who currently live in the borough and have lived here for at least the last five years; or
- are a serving member of the Regular Forces or a former member within five years of discharge (or a bereaved spouse or civil partner of such a member), or a serving or former member of the Reserve Forces who needs to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability sustained as a result of their service; or
- have some other special reason for needing to reside in the borough, for example you:
- are currently residing outside the borough but are fleeing violence or harassment (including hate crime); or
- are currently residing outside the borough but need to move into the borough in order to provide or receive significant and ongoing care or support to or from a close family member (as listed above); or
- have no local connection to any local authority area.
Permanent employment can be full or part time (minimum of 16 hours per week contracted) employment. Temporary employment, sub-contract work for a locally based company and training or education are not included. Self-employment will need to be evidenced and based on the address that the company is registered.
In order to satisfy the eligibility criteria you will need to provide evidence of the following:
- Your local connection, as defined above: proof of your residence in the borough or employment. This can be evidenced by providing copies of tenancy agreements, Council Tax bills in your name for the relevant period, copy of letter showing registered on electoral role, copy of your contract of employment or other formal confirmation of employment or offer of employment.
- Gross annual household income of less than £59,000. The incomes of all purchasers will be taken into account. This can be evidenced by providing the last three wages slips for each purchaser.
- First time buyer status, through signing a declaration.
You will be asked to sign a declaration to confirm all the information you provide is truthful and accurate.