FIRST-TIME buyers in the north of England are to be given a chance to get on the property ladder in a new local government-funded scheme.
The First Steps Grant is intended to help key workers buy homes in the communities they serve.
Four councils - Chorley Borough Council, South Ribble Borough Council, Preston City Council and West Lancashire District Council - secured one-off funding from the North West Housing Boad to set up the scheme.
It can provide grants of up to 20 per cent of the purchase price, on homes which are not new builds, to first-time buyers. Certain criteria must be met. The amount repayable will reduce every year and for anyone still living in the property after 10 years the grant will no longer need to be repaid.
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