<p><span>The Home Builders Federation has applauded the government’s move to extend Help to Buy until 2023 as announced in the Budget.</span></p> <p><span>HBF said it was “very pleased” the government had recognised the positive impact of the equity loan initiative on boosting supply and helping around 250,000 people access the housing ladder. And it welcomed the additional funding the government was providing.</span></p><p><span>But HBF commented that it needed to understand the effect the scheme’s new restrictions could have on scheme sales in different locations. </span></p><p><span>From 2021 until 2023 Help to Buy will be offered only to first time buyers and for houses with a market value up to new regional property price caps.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>HBF added it looked forward to “working with the lenders to ensure sufficient affordable high loan to value mortgage products are in place for the scheme’s planned end date”.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>On Sir Oliver Letwin’s report on build out rates, referred to by the chancellor Philip Hammond in his Budget speech, HBF said it welcomed the recognition that housebuilders do not landbank.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>“This supports the findings of numerous previous such reports. We look forward to working with government on how the other recommendations made in the report can help increase housing …