The HomeBuy Direct Scheme assists first-time purchasers with government grant delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency via housing associations.

The HomeBuy Direct Scheme assists first-time purchasers with government grant delivered by the Homes and Communities Agency via housing associations. Mortgages are granted in favour of the first lender and subsequent mortgages in favour of the agency and the developer (seller). Purchasers’ solicitors are invited to act for the agency and the developer.

Consideration should be given in particular to rules 3.16-3.32 of the Solicitors Code of Conduct. Purchasers’ solicitors should be careful to avoid owing a duty of care to the developer which clearly would put them in breach of the current rules.

C J Anderson, Andersons, Croydon