First Home Scheme in Ireland
The First Home Scheme (FHS) is a shared-equity scheme that can bridge part of the gap between your mortgage, deposit and the price of an eligible home.
Page checked: 21 October 2026
How the First Home Scheme works
The FHS provides an equity facility rather than a conventional loan. In return for funding, the scheme takes a percentage equity share in the property. The scheme describes the support as a way of bridging the gap between the buyer's deposit and mortgage and the price or build cost of an eligible home.
Who can be eligible?
The current FHS eligibility rules include being over 18, being a first-time buyer or another eligible homebuyer category, having mortgage approval with a participating lender, borrowing the maximum amount available from that lender, not using a Macro Prudential Exception, and having a minimum 10% deposit. The scheme states that there are no specific household income limits, but lender and scheme criteria still apply.
What properties qualify?
The FHS currently covers qualifying new-build homes in private developments, self-builds on privately owned sites, and a Tenant Home Purchase product for certain tenants buying the home they occupy after a landlord notice to terminate because the property is being sold. Price ceilings apply by local authority and property type.
How much can the FHS provide?
The FHS can provide up to 30% of the purchase price or build cost. If you also use Help to Buy, the FHS maximum is 20%. The current FHS site also states a minimum equity share of 2.5% of the purchase price or build cost, or €10,000, whichever is higher.
The equity share matters later
The FHS is linked to the value of the home. If the property value changes, the euro amount required to redeem the same percentage equity share changes as well. The scheme also applies service charges from year six if the equity facility remains in place.
Current service charges
The FHS currently lists no service charge for the first five years, followed by annual rates of 1.75% for years 6–15, 2.15% for years 16–29 and 2.85% from year 30 onward. These rates are part of the scheme's current terms and should be checked again before applying or modelling long-term costs.
Can I use Help to Buy as well?
Yes, for the FHS New Build and Self-build products. The FHS states that Help to Buy can contribute towards the deposit and that using HTB reduces the maximum FHS funding from 30% to 20% of the purchase price or build cost.
Official sources
Scheme rules, eligibility, price limits, tax treatment and charges can change. The information above is a general guide, not an eligibility decision. Check the current official rules before applying.