Overview
This Help to Buy equity loan repayment calculator estimates what it costs to repay your equity loan — in part ("staircasing") or in full. The crucial point many people miss: you repay a percentage of your home's current value, not the cash you originally borrowed. So if your property has risen in value, the repayment is larger. Enter your original price, your equity-loan percentage and today's value to see the repayment amount, how much of that is down to house-price growth, and the valuation and legal fees to budget for.
How it's calculated
Your equity loan is a fixed percentage of the property (typically 20%, or 40% in London). To repay it:
- Full repayment = your equity % × the current market value.
- Part repayment repays a slice (usually a minimum of 10%), reducing your equity % for the rest.
- You'll need a RICS valuation and usually a solicitor, plus admin fees.
Interest ("interest fee") and the monthly management fee are separate — they are the cost of holding the loan and do not reduce the capital you owe.
Repayment = equity loan % × current property value
Because it tracks value, repaying while prices are lower costs less. If your home has fallen in value, the repayment could be less than you borrowed.
Worked example
A home bought for £250,000 with a 20% equity loan, now worth £300,000, repaid in full:
| Originally borrowed (20% of £250k) | £50,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full repayment (20% of £300k) | £60,000 | |
| Extra due to house-price growth | + £10,000 | |
| Valuation & admin fees | £600 | |
| Total to complete | £60,600 |
Although only £50,000 was borrowed, repaying costs £60,000 because the loan is 20% of today's £300,000 value — £10,000 more, purely from growth. Add valuation and legal fees and you'd budget around £60,600.
Current rates & key facts
Help to Buy equity loan — key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Repayment basis | A % of the current market value — not the original cash borrowed |
| Interest fees | Interest-free for the first 5 years, then a fee applies (separate from capital) |
| Part repayment | Usually a minimum of 10% of the loan at a time |
| Valuation | A RICS "Red Book" valuation is required to set the repayment figure |
Scheme rules differ between the England 2013–2021, England 2021–2023 and Welsh schemes. Always follow your administrator’s official repayment process — this is an estimate only.
Last updated 1 July 2026 · Source: GOV.UK — Help to Buy equity loan