Is the HomeBuy scheme in danger of being axed?

A The communities and local government department is looking at the HomeBuy Direct scheme as part of its overall review of the low-cost homeownership programme. This will feed into the government's comprehensive spending review due to be published on 20 October. So it won't be known whether it will continue to fund HomeBuy Direct until it publishes its spending plans for 2011-12.

However, as you have discovered, many individual HomeBuy Direct developments will close at the end of September. That decision is up to the developer of each scheme: HomeBuy Direct funding should continue to be available on other properties so you don't currently need to worry. The best thing to do is talk to your local HomeBuy agent and the developer who is working on the house you are looking at.