Following a competitive tendering exercise to ensure continued high levels of service and value for money, the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has published the list of organisations which will act as Local HomeBuy Agents across England for the period 2009-11.

Each Local HomeBuy Agent acts as a first point of contact for families and single households seeking to buy a home through the HCA's HomeBuy affordable home ownership products. Agents will first establish whether applicants meet eligibility criteria before assessing applicants' financial circumstances to ensure that they can afford home ownership longer term. Local HomeBuy Agents will also help people to think about their housing options and assist them to make the right choice to meet their housing needs.


A total of 15 organisations, all of which are registered social landlords, have been appointed to cover the 37 zones across England. Two organisations have been appointed as Agents for the first time – Time2Buy, a locally based partnership that will cover the Tees Valley and County Durham zone, and a partnership between Sovereign and West Country Housing who will cover the whole of the South west region.

It was also announced that a single organisation - Metropolitan Home Ownership - has been appointed as the National HomeBuy Agent, and will manage the after sales process for the First Time Buyers' Initiative and HomeBuy Direct across all zones.

Richard Hill, Director of Investment and Renewal responsible for the National Affordable Housing Programme at the HCA, said: "This is a new national network of Local HomeBuy Agents which represents the very highest service levels and the best value for public money.

"HomeBuy continues to help thousands of people into homeownership, in an affordable and sustainable way, and continues to be an important stimulus in the market. I am pleased that consumers will continue to have a clear route to the best product available to them in their area."

(CD/JM)