Help to Buy sales have fallen 46% as the full impact of stricter eligibility criteria and price caps are seen in the headline figures for the first time.

Official government data published today shows there were just 7,270 house purchases through the Help to Buy equity loan scheme in the three months to 30 September last year. This is down 46% on the 13,353 sales recorded in the same period in 2020, and 36% down on the same period in 2019.