What Forces Help to Buy is
Getting a deposit together is the hardest part of buying a home, and Service life — moving every few years — doesn’t make it easier. Forces Help to Buy, or FHTB, lets eligible personnel borrow from their own future pay, interest-free, to help buy a property.
The scheme started as a pilot and became a permanent policy from 1 January 2023, so it’s available to all eligible personnel now and in the future.
Who can apply
All Regular personnel who:
- have completed the required length of service;
- have more than six months left to serve when they apply; and
- meet the required medical categories.
There can be exceptions for special medical or personal circumstances. The full rules, including the current service length requirement, are in JSP 464 Volume 1 Part 1.
Who can’t
- Reservists.
- Military Provost Guard Service.
- Anyone with six months or less left to serve.
How much you can borrow
You can borrow up to 50% of your annual salary, to a maximum of £25,000. There’s no interest. While you owe money you pay an insurance premium of 41p a year for every £100 borrowed, taken from your pay in equal monthly instalments.
| Annual salary | Maximum advance | Insurance a year | Insurance a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| £28,000 | £14,000 | £57.40 | £4.78 |
| £35,000 | £17,500 | £71.75 | £5.98 |
| £45,000 | £22,500 | £92.25 | £7.69 |
| £50,000 or more | £25,000 | £102.50 | £8.54 |
Premium rate as at 1 April 2026. The advance is repaid from your salary in monthly instalments — check the repayment period in JSP 464 or with JPAC before you commit.
Work out yours
Put in your details to see what you could get, using the current JSP 752 rates.
Worked examples
First home
A corporal earning £36,000 can borrow up to £18,000. She takes £15,000 for her deposit and fees. Her insurance premium is 150 × 41p = £61.50 a year, about £5.13 a month.
At the cap
A major earning £62,000 would be entitled to £31,000 on the 50% rule, but the cap limits him to £25,000.
Buying with FHTB, step by step
- Work out your budget. Use the calculator above to see your maximum advance, then talk to a mortgage lender or broker about what you can borrow alongside it.
- Get pre-approval. Apply on JPA for Forces Help to Buy pre-approval as early as you can.
- Find your property and instruct a solicitor.
- Allow time. If you’re applying on paper, the form must reach DBS at least six weeks before your expected completion date.
- Plan for repayments. Once the advance is paid, repayments and the insurance premium come from your salary each month.
Refund of Legal Expenses
Some personnel can also claim a Refund of Legal Expenses when buying or selling a home in connection with a Service move, up to a maximum of £5,000. If you use FHTB or a Long Service Advance of Pay on the same purchase, the same legal costs can’t be refunded twice.
What you can use it for
The advance is for buying a property. You can put it towards:
- your deposit;
- solicitor’s fees;
- estate agent’s fees and other costs of the purchase.
If you also qualify for Refund of Legal Expenses on the same purchase, you can’t be refunded twice for the same costs.
How to apply
- Apply on JPA using the self-service application for Forces Help to Buy pre-approval. The JPA Self Service User Guide has step-by-step instructions.
- If you don’t have regular JPA access, use JPA Form E035 and send it to the DBS Military Personnel FHTB Section at least six weeks before your expected completion date.
- Questions go to the Joint Personnel Administration Centre: 0141 224 3600 (option 4) from outside the MOD.
Before you apply
- It reduces your take-home pay. Monthly repayments and the premium come straight out of your salary — make sure your budget works, especially alongside a mortgage.
- Tell your lender. Mortgage lenders will want to know about the advance and the repayments when they assess what you can afford.
- Think about leaving. If you might leave the Services before it’s repaid, check what happens to the balance under JSP 464 first.
Frequently asked questions
Is Forces Help to Buy really interest-free?
Yes. You repay what you borrow. The only extra cost is the insurance premium of 41p a year per £100 borrowed.
Can reservists use it?
No. The scheme is for Regular personnel; reservists and MPGS are excluded.
What’s the difference from Long Service Advance of Pay?
LSAP is an older, smaller advance — up to £8,500 — which can carry interest (2.25% where applicable). FHTB is larger and interest-free.
How long does approval take?
If you’re applying on paper, the form must reach DBS at least six weeks before completion. Apply early either way.
Where are the full scheme rules?
In JSP 464 Volume 1 Part 1. The Joint Personnel Administration Centre can also answer questions on 0141 224 3600 (option 4).
Sources and last checked
- GOV.UK — Forces Help to Buy guidance
- JSP 464 Volume 1 Part 1 (scheme rules)
- JSP 752 v67.1, Chapter 3 Section 1 — LSAP/FHTB rates, 1 April 2026
Last checked against JSP 752 version 67.1 on 31 October 2026. Rates change, usually each April — always confirm with your unit HR admin staff before you claim.