23/03/2004

New housing scheme opens door for key public sector workers

Nurses, teachers and other public sector workers are set to get help with buying or renting a home as part of a £690 million scheme launched today.

The 'Key Worker Living programme' aims to help people working in frontline roles in key public services in London and the South East and East of England, where house prices are high and it can be difficult to recruit staff.

The workers who could get help include: NHS clinical staff; teachers; police officers and some civilian staff; prison and probation service staff; social workers; and whole-time junior fire officers and retained fire fighters (all grades) in some fire and rescue services.

The scheme will offer different kinds of help, including: equity loans of up to £50,000 towards buying a home; higher loans of up to £100,000 for top London teachers; shared ownership of new properties; and 'intermediate renting', where the rent is set at a level between that charged by social and private landlords.

The scheme aims to build on the success of the Starter Home Initiative, which is on track to make more than 9,000 key workers home owners by the end of this month.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the government was "determined to make a difference in the performance of our schools and hospitals and help those working in community safety".

(gmcg)

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