First-Time Buyer ISA: Last Call to Respond Before 17 August 2026

Last Updated: 11 July 2026

The consultation on the First-Time Buyer ISA closes on 17 August 2026, and once it does, the chance to tell the government what you think is gone. If you hold a Lifetime ISA, are saving for a first home, or think you might one day, this is the rare moment when an ordinary saver’s view actually counts. It takes one email.

I’ve written in full about what the First-Time Buyer ISA is and what the consultation proposes. This is the short version, and a nudge to act before the date passes.

A timeline of the Lifetime ISA reform: c

What’s actually happening

In the November 2025 Budget the government confirmed that the Lifetime ISA, or LISA, will be replaced. In June 2026 HM Treasury opened a consultation on the design of the replacement, a simpler First-Time Buyer ISA, and it closes at 11:59pm on 17 August 2026. Nothing changes for you today. If you already hold a Lifetime ISA you can keep paying in under the current rules, and you can still open one until the new account arrives. Responding now is about shaping what comes next, not reacting to something that’s already happened.

Why your view matters

Consultations sound like they’re for lawyers and lobbyists. They’re not. The Treasury reads what ordinary people send, and the savers most affected by a first-home account are the ones actually trying to buy a first home. If the withdrawal penalty once caught you out, if the £450,000 price cap ruled out where you live, or if the rules simply confused you, that’s the feedback worth sending. A short, honest paragraph from real experience carries more weight than you’d think.

How to respond, in one step

Email ftbisaconsultation@hmtreasury.gov.uk before the deadline. That’s it. There’s no template to fill in and no formal form. Say who you are, what your experience has been, and what you’d want the new account to do. If you’d rather answer the specific questions, the full consultation document is on gov.uk, but an email in your own words counts just the same.

What about your own money in the meantime

This is a consultation, not a change, so the current rules still apply at the time of writing. If a Lifetime ISA fits your plans, opening or keeping one now holds you under the existing terms. If you’re not sure it fits, my guide to the Lifetime ISA walks through the bonus, the penalty and the age window. Check the current position on gov.uk before you act, and remember none of this is personal advice.

Do I actually have to respond?
No. It’s optional, and the new account will go ahead either way. Responding is simply your chance to influence the detail before it’s fixed.

When exactly does it close?
At 11:59pm on 17 August 2026, according to gov.uk at the time of writing. Deadlines like this can move, so check the consultation page before you rely on it.

Does this change my existing Lifetime ISA?
Not now. Current holders can keep contributing under the existing rules, and you can still open a Lifetime ISA until the replacement launches.

Key takeaways

  • The First-Time Buyer ISA consultation closes at 11:59pm on 17 August 2026. After that, the chance to feed in is gone.
  • Responding is one email to ftbisaconsultation@hmtreasury.gov.uk, in your own words, with no template needed.
  • Your view carries most weight if you’ve saved for a first home or used a Lifetime ISA yourself.
  • Nothing changes today: current Lifetime ISA rules still apply, and you can still open one until the replacement arrives.
  • Check the current position on gov.uk before acting, as dates and details can change.

All figures are correct at the time of writing and can change, so always check gov.uk for the current numbers. The value of investments can go up and down, and you can get back less than you put in. This is general information, not financial advice. If you are unsure, speak to a regulated financial adviser.

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