Hundreds of first-time buyers purchased a house in Dorset through the Help to Buy ISA scheme in the year to March, new figures show.

There was a drop in the number of first-time buyers using the scheme across the country. Experts said it reflected the wider market, as those who did not have a mortgage agreed before the autumn mini budget would have faced a challenging environment due to increased interest rates.

The latest Treasury data shows 216 properties were expected to be bought in Dorset with support from the Government's scheme in the year to March — down on 547 the year before.

Under the help-to-buy scheme, the Government tops up buyers' savings with a 25% bonus. The scheme closed for new applicants in November 2019, but 2,466 bonuses have been paid to individual buyers in Dorset since its launch.

Married couples or partners can both claim for bonuses from separate ISAs to complete on a single property together.

Across the UK, 558,176 property completions have been carried through since the launch of the scheme in December 2015, with 1,827 of them in Dorset.

Nationally, there were around 60,300 properties sold through the Help to Buy ISA in 2022-23. This was fewer than the previous year, when nearly 88,000 new homes were secured.

Ben Thompson, deputy CEO at the Mortgage Advice Bureau, said: "We remain hopeful that inflation and interest rates will peak in the next year, upping the pressure on mortgage rates to begin to fall. This should see more buyers using their Lifetime or Help to Buy ISAs to complete their purchases.”

First-time buyers in Dorset received an average of £1,193 per month on top of their savings. This was lower than the national average bonus of £1,217.

Current ISA holders can continue to save in their account until November 2029 and claim their bonus by December 2030.

Mr Thompson added: "For prospective buyers just starting out on their journey, it is still vital that they save as much as possible for a deposit. Using the current higher interest rates to their advantage by looking for better rates on their Lifetime ISA, or opening other savings accounts with good rates, is critical to getting mortgage ready."

A Treasury spokesperson said: “We are committed to helping first time buyers get on the property ladder. The Help to Buy ISA has so far supported over half a million property completions.

“To continue helping first time buyers, adults under 40 can open a Lifetime ISA and save up to £4,000 each year until they reach 50, with the Government providing a 25% bonus for the purchase of a first home under £450,000.”

The Government set a value limit of £250,000 for properties purchased outside London and £450,000 for those in London. New figures show a new house would cost first-time buyers in Dorset around £283,648 in March. This was 5% more than in March 2022, when prices stood at approximately £269,628.