FHTB Calculator

Forces Help to Buy explained

Forces Help to Buy (FHTB) lets Regular service personnel borrow part of their salary, interest-free, to help buy a home. Here is how much you can get, who qualifies, how you pay it back and how to apply.

Checked on 17 October 2026 against the Ministry of Defence guidance on GOV.UK (last updated 9 January 2026) and the MOD Discover My Benefits page. The full rules are in JSP 464, Volume 1, Part 1, Chapter 6.

  • 50%of annual salary, including specialist pay
  • £25,000maximum advance
  • 0%interest
  • Up to 10 yearsto repay through salary
Work out your numbers in the calculator

What is Forces Help to Buy?

It is an interest-free advance of salary for eligible Regular service personnel. The Ministry of Defence set it up to help more of the Armed Forces own a home during a career that often means moving. It started as a pilot in 2014 and became an enduring policy on 1 January 2023, so it no longer has an end date.

How much can you borrow?

Up to 50% of your annual salary, including specialist pay, to a maximum of £25,000. For example, on a £30,000 salary the most you could borrow is £15,000. Anyone earning £50,000 or more reaches the £25,000 cap. See worked examples for more.

You can put the money towards your deposit and towards costs such as solicitor and estate agent fees. Payment is normally made directly to your legal representative.

Who can use the scheme?

All Regular personnel who:

  • have completed the required length of service
  • are not a reservist or a member of the Military Provost Guard Service
  • have more than six months left to serve when they apply
  • meet the right medical categories

There can be exceptions, especially for special medical and personal circumstances. The exact length-of-service rule is set out in JSP 464, so check it there or with the FHTB team before you rely on it.

What can you use it for?

  • buying your first home
  • moving home because of a new assignment
  • in some circumstances, extending a property you own when your family's needs have changed

How do you pay it back?

The advance is repaid through deductions from your salary, normally over a period of up to 10 years. Spread over the full 10 years (120 months), a £15,000 advance works out at £125 a month and a £25,000 advance at about £208 a month.

If you leave the Services before it is fully repaid, the outstanding balance is recovered from your terminal benefits. The FHTB team can tell you how much you still owe.

Tax: GOV.UK points to HMRC guidance on the tax side. Under HMRC's rules on employment-related loans, an interest-free loan of more than £10,000 can count as a taxable benefit, so check how this applies to you.

How to apply

  1. Apply on JPA using the self-service application for FHTB, normally at least six weeks before your expected completion date. You will need the property address, lender details and solicitor details.
  2. Approval: the FHTB team reviews it, then it goes to your Unit HR, Unit Medical Officer and Commanding Officer (or their authorised representative) before final processing.
  3. Payment is normally made to your solicitor or conveyancer.

No permanent JPA access? Use JPA Form E035 and send it to Defence Business Services, Military Personnel, FHTB Section, Centurion Building, Grange Road, Gosport, PO13 9XA. Phone: 0141 224 3600, option 4 (internal 94560 3600, option 4).

Plan the whole purchase, not just the advance

The advance can cover your deposit, but you still need money for stamp duty, legal fees, surveys and moving on the day. The calculator lets you compare up to 10 homes side by side, with your FHTB advance, mortgage, stamp duty and upfront cash for each, and shows how overpaying shortens your mortgage.

Compare homes with your FHTB advance

Common questions

How much can I borrow with Forces Help to Buy?

Up to 50% of your annual salary, including specialist pay, to a maximum of £25,000. The advance is interest-free.

Who can use Forces Help to Buy?

Regular service personnel who have completed the required length of service, have more than six months left to serve when they apply and meet the medical category rules. Reservists and members of the Military Provost Guard Service are not eligible. Exceptions can apply, so check JSP 464 or contact the FHTB team.

How do I repay Forces Help to Buy?

Through deductions from your salary, normally over a period of up to 10 years. If you leave the Services before it is repaid, the outstanding balance is recovered from your terminal benefits.

What can the money be used for?

Buying your first home, moving home because of a new assignment, or in some circumstances extending a property you own when family needs have changed. It can go towards the deposit and costs such as solicitor and estate agent fees.

Is Forces Help to Buy still running?

Yes. It became an enduring policy on 1 January 2023, so it no longer has an end date.

How do I apply?

Apply on JPA using the self-service application for FHTB, normally at least six weeks before your expected completion date. If you have no permanent JPA access, use JPA Form E035.