LIFT Shared Equity Scheme Reopens with Higher Property Price Thresholds

Key points

• The LIFT Open Market Shared Equity scheme has reopened for applications in Scotland
• The scheme aims to help first-time buyers and selected priority groups to secure a property
• The news will offer a further boost to first-time buyers following the relaunch of the First Home Fund in June
• There has been a significant increase in the thresholds for buying a property in Edinburgh and the Lothians, making it easier for first-time buyers to get a foot onto the property ladder

The Scottish Government has announced that the LIFT Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme has reopened for applications. The relaunch of the scheme offers more good news to first-time buyers following the relaunch of the First Home Fund in June.

What is the OMSE Scheme?

The OSME is aimed at helping people on low to moderate incomes to buy a home on the open market, as long as the property is within a certain price threshold. Under the scheme, you pay for a 60-90% share of the property you are buying using your deposit and a mortgage, with the Scottish Government contributing the remaining 10-40% of the purchase price.

Once you have bought the home, there are no regular monthly repayments or interest charges due to the Scottish Government. When you come to sell the property, the Scottish Government simply takes a share of the selling price in line with the percentage share that they contributed.

Who is eligible to apply?

The LIFT OMSE scheme is open to first-time buyers and a number of ‘priority groups’, these being:

• Social renters (i.e. those who rent from the council or a Registered Social Landlord)
• People with a disability who are able to demonstrate a housing need
• Members of the armed forces
• Veterans who left the armed forces within the last two years
• Widows, widowers and partners of service personnel who lost their life while serving in the armed forces within the last two years
• Those aged over 60 with a housing need.

 You can read full details of the eligibility criteria at https://linkhousing.org.uk/LIFT

What are the thresholds for the scheme?

There are thresholds set, based on geographical area and type of property being purchased that set the maximum price of the property in order to use the OMSE scheme. These thresholds have all increased significantly since the scheme was last available.

For example, in Edinburgh the maximum price that could be paid to buy a 1-bedroom property using the scheme was previously £155,000. This has now increased to £185,000. Similarly, the threshold for a 3-bedroom property in East Lothian has risen from to £215,000 to £255,000. The increase in the thresholds means that those using the scheme will now be able to consider a wider selection of properties when looking for a home.

You can find full details of the thresholds here.

Does this replace the First Home Fund (FHF)?

No. Both schemes are currently active as of 13 August 2026, and the LIFT OMSE scheme is not intended as a replacement for the FHF.

Next Steps

If you are thinking of buying a property, get in touch with Warners’ expert purchasing team today on 0131 662 4747, or by email at property@warnersllp.com and our expert team will be delighted to help.