The Welsh Government has announced the extension of three major housing support schemes, giving hundreds more households across Wales the opportunity to buy, keep or renovate their homes over the coming year.

The schemes – Help to Buy – Wales, Help to Stay – Wales and the Empty Homes Grant – will now continue until 31 March 2027, providing continued support during what ministers say remains a challenging period for many families facing high housing and living costs.

Under the extension, up to 400 additional households will be able to purchase a new-build home through Help to Buy – Wales. The long-running scheme has helped thousands of buyers, particularly first-time purchasers, by reducing the size of the deposit needed to buy a home.

The Help to Stay – Wales scheme, which provides assistance to homeowners struggling to meet mortgage repayments, will also remain available until the end of the 2026/27 financial year.

The Welsh Government says the programme forms part of its commitment to support families through the continuing cost-of-living pressures and prevent avoidable home repossessions.

Meanwhile, the Empty Homes Grant will continue to fund the renovation of up to 300 empty and neglected properties, helping bring them back into use as modern, energy-efficient family homes while tackling the issue of long-term vacant buildings in communities across Wales.

Together, the three initiatives represent a broad package of housing support, aimed at helping first-time buyers, protecting existing homeowners and increasing the number of homes available without relying solely on new developments.

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Siân Gwenllian, announced the extensions during a visit to Hollybrook Park in Connah's Quay, where she met residents who purchased their homes through the Help to Buy – Wales scheme.

She said: "This government is committed to the principle that every family deserves a safe and affordable home in which to live. Increasing the supply of social homes is one way of achieving this and we have announced our 20,000 additional homes target.

"We are also offering targeted support for those who own or wish to own their homes – an option that is not affordable or accessible for many as prices continue to grow beyond the reach of local people across many parts of Wales. Today I am announcing the extension of three schemes that support people that are buying their first home, helping families from losing their home and helping to renovate empty properties into homes.

"The cost-of-living crisis has hit hard, and these extensions are about helping families and young people to buy and to keep their homes through challenging times.

"I am hugely grateful to our partners – the homebuilders, local authorities, mortgage lenders, and the Development Bank of Wales – whose commitment makes all of this possible. Together, we will keep pushing to make homeownership a reality for more people right across Wales."

The announcement was welcomed by the housebuilding industry.

Louisa Edwards, Marketing Manager at Edwards Homes Ltd, said: "We welcome the extension of the Help to Buy Wales scheme until 31 March 2027.

"This is excellent news for first-time buyers, providing continued support to help them purchase a new home in Wales.

"To date, 45 per cent of Edwards Homes' sales have been made through the Help to Buy Wales scheme, demonstrating just how important and valuable it has been in helping people take their first step onto the property ladder."

Help to Buy – Wales has been one of the Welsh Government's flagship homeownership initiatives since it was introduced in 2014. The scheme enables eligible buyers to purchase a new-build property with a five per cent deposit, with the Welsh Government providing an equity loan to reduce the amount that must be borrowed through a mortgage.

The Empty Homes Grant forms part of wider efforts to address the thousands of long-term empty properties across Wales, bringing disused buildings back into productive use while helping regenerate communities and reducing the need for development on greenfield sites.

The latest extensions come as housing affordability continues to be a major issue in many parts of Wales, particularly in rural and coastal communities where rising house prices and demand for second homes have made it increasingly difficult for local people to get onto the property ladder.

Ministers say the combined package of support will continue to help families access affordable housing, protect homeowners experiencing financial difficulties and create more sustainable communities by making better use of existing housing stock.