Supporting Our Armed Forces: Why We Waive Additional Fees for Forces Help to Buy

At JB Property Law, our commitment to the armed forces community goes beyond words. It is reflected in the practical decisions we make as a business.

One of those decisions is our approach to Forces Help to Buy (FHTB).

While many firms charge additional legal fees for handling Forces Help to Buy transactions, we have chosen to waive these extra costs for our armed forces clients. This is a conscious decision and one that sits at the heart of who we are.

What is Forces Help to Buy?

Forces Help to Buy is a government scheme designed to support serving personnel in getting onto the property ladder. It allows eligible members of the armed forces to borrow up to 50% of their salary (up to a set limit) interest-free to use towards a property purchase.

It is an incredibly valuable scheme but it does add an extra layer to the conveyancing process. From a legal perspective, it involves:

• Additional documentation and administration

• Liaison with the Ministry of Defence

• Meeting specific timelines and requirements linked to the scheme

For many firms, this additional work results in additional fees.

Why We Do Things Differently

At JB Property Law, we have made the deliberate choice not to charge extra for Forces Help to Buy transactions.

Why? Because we believe this support should be as accessible and straightforward as possible for those who serve. Our armed forces clients already navigate unique challenges, from deployments to relocations, and we do not believe they should face additional financial barriers when trying to buy a home. For us, this is about removing friction, not adding to it.

A Reflection of Our Values

This decision is deeply rooted in our connection to the armed forces community.

Our founder, Joanne Bowmer, has built JB Property Law around a genuine understanding of military life. Shaped in part by her husband Ashley’s service.

Ashley served as Kingsman Bowmer with the 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His perspective continues to influence how we approach our work today.

As Ash explains:

Having served myself, I know that military life doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off for the day. It’s something your whole family lives with. That’s why it means so much to see support being offered in a way that genuinely understands that reality.

More Than a Transaction

For us, conveyancing is not just about completing a transaction, it is about supporting people at an important moment in their lives.

For armed forces personnel and their families, buying a home can represent stability, security, and a place to return to amidst the demands of service life. By waiving additional Forces Help to Buy fees, we aim to make that process simpler and more accessible.

Supporting Those Who Serve

This is not a marketing decision. It is a values-driven one. We are proud to support:

• First-time buyers in the armed forces

• Serving personnel relocating across the UK

• Families building long-term stability through home ownership

Every decision we make as a firm comes back to this: how can we better support our clients?

Our Ongoing Commitment

As we continue to grow our specialist armed forces conveyancing service, our commitment remains the same. We will continue to look for ways to:

• Remove unnecessary barriers

• Provide flexible, understanding support

• Deliver a service that reflects the realities of military life

Waiving additional Forces Help to Buy fees is just one example of how we are putting that into practice. At JB Property Law, supporting the armed forces community is not just part of what we do, it is part of who we are.