The First Homes scheme is available to first time buyers only, aged 18 or over, so if the home is being purchased by more than one person, all must be first time buyers.

To be eligible, your household income must not be more than £80,000 per year.

You will need to currently live in Kirklees, Wakefield or Barnsley, or have a local connection. For example you have lived in Kirklees for the past 3 years as primary residence, previously lived in Kirklees for at least 5 years cumulatively within the past 10 years, have close family and that have lived in Kirklees for 3 years, need to move to Kirklees to provide care support to somebody in the Kirklees area, are employed full time on a permanent basis for more than 16 hours per week in Kirklees, or about to take up an offer of a permanent full time employment in Kirklees.

You are an armed service member who is in, or were in, the armed forces within 5 years. This includes divorced or separated spouses or civil partners of deceased members, or a former member whose death was caused wholly or partly by their service. Armed forces are exempt from the local connection criteria.

The First Homes scheme was created to help people who would otherwise find it difficult to get onto the property ladder. Due to this, buyers must get a mortgage that covers at least 50% of the cost of the First Home after the discount has been applied.

When the home is re-sold it must have a 30% discount applied versus market value and Kirklees Council must approve the sale value.

You will need a deposit of at least 5% of the discounted purchase price.

A property purchased using First Homes should be your only home.

First Homes cannot be rented to a third party.