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LIFT (Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers) is Scotland's main government-backed shared equity scheme. The Scottish Government takes a 10–40% equity share and charges no rent on it. There is no flat income limit — eligibility is an affordability assessment — and price thresholds are set per council area and property size.
LIFT is Scotland's flagship affordable homeownership scheme. It allows eligible first-time buyers to purchase a property they couldn't otherwise afford by sharing the ownership with the Scottish Government.
How LIFT works. The Scottish Government takes an equity share of between 10% and 40% of the property. You get a mortgage on your share and own that portion outright. There is no rent charged on the government's portion — this is distinct from English shared ownership schemes where you pay rent on the unsold share. You can buy out the government's share at any time.
Eligibility. You must be a first-time buyer (or in one of the priority groups, such as over-60s with a housing need, social renters, disabled people and armed forces members or veterans). There is no flat income limit — the old £38,000 income cap was scrapped. Instead the administering agent, Link, runs an affordability assessment: if you could buy a suitable home unaided, you won't qualify. The property must be in Scotland and be your only or main residence.
Price thresholds. The maximum price is set per council area and per apartment size (habitable rooms), and the table is republished by the Scottish Government — so there is no single Scotland-wide cap. Our [LIFT scheme guide](/blog/lift-scheme-scotland-guide) carries the current table, and the [OMSE thresholds guide](/blog/omse-scotland-open-market-shared-equity) explains how it is set.
LBTT interaction. LBTT is calculated on the full purchase price, not just your share, and first-time buyer relief applies in the normal way.
Buying out the government. You can purchase additional equity in the property at any time (called "staircasing"). The price for additional shares is based on the current market value, not the original price. This means if property values rise, buying out becomes more expensive. Most LIFT owners plan to staircase as their income grows.
Repaying the equity. When you sell the property, the Scottish Government receives their percentage of the sale price — not the original amount. If your home has risen in value, the government's share is worth more than they initially contributed. This is the fundamental difference from a loan: it's a shared investment in the property's value.
No — the Scottish Government's Help to Buy scheme and First Home Fund have both ended. LIFT replaced them as the primary shared equity support for Scottish first-time buyers. LIFT operates on a shared equity basis (the government takes a property stake) rather than an equity loan (a fixed sum to be repaid). The key benefit of LIFT vs Help to Buy is that no interest is charged on the government's share.
For OMSE (existing homes on the open market) you apply online to Link, the administering agent; for NSSE (new-builds) you apply through the housing association or developer selling the home. Our LIFT scheme guide walks through each step, and the LIFT Shared Equity Calculator shows the share and mortgage your income and deposit support.
You can sell at any time. The property is valued at the market price, and the Scottish Government receives their equity percentage from the sale proceeds. For example, if the government holds 30% equity and you sell for £220,000, they receive £66,000. After paying off your mortgage and the government's share, you keep the remaining equity — which represents the growth in value of your share over your ownership period.
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