Apply for property assistance schemes
Property scheme guidance
If HS2 construction or operation affects your land or property, we can help. We offer property schemes based on how close you are to the railway and how you’re affected.
Read our guide to property schemes to see what support is available in your area. If you’re not sure which phase of HS2 you’re closest to, contact our HS2 helpdesk.
Overview of property schemes
Express purchase
The express purchase scheme makes it easier for you to sell your property to the government. It relaxes some rules that normally apply to statutory blight.
This scheme is for properties in the surface safeguarding area.
Read more about express purchase.
Rural support zone
The rural support zone (RSZ) is the area outside the safeguarded area. It’s typically up to 120 metres from the centre line of the railway in rural areas.
In the RSZ, you can choose from two schemes:
- a cash offer, or
- the voluntary purchase scheme.
Read more about the rural support zone.
Homeowner payment scheme
The homeowner payment scheme (HOP) covers the area outside the safeguarded area. It’s typically between 120 and 300 metres from the centre line of the railway in rural areas.
If your property is eligible, you’ll get a one-off cash payment. The amount depends on how far you are from the centre line of the railway.
Read more about the homeowner payment scheme.
Need to sell
This scheme helps you if you have a ‘compelling reason’ to sell but cannot do so – or can only sell at a much lower price – because of HS2.
Read more about the need to sell scheme.
Rent back
Rent back lets you continue living in your home after selling it to the government under an HS2 property scheme. We can consider all homes we agree to buy for rent back, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Read more about the rent back scheme.
Special circumstances and atypical properties
The government recognises that some residents and businesses near the HS2 route may need help even if they do not meet the strict eligibility requirements. This could include buying their property, making a payment, or offering other support.
The government considers these cases on their individual merits.
Read more about special circumstances and ’atypical’ properties.
Shimmer Estate
The Shimmer Estate is in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, between Rotherham and Doncaster.
Because of the unique impact at this location, we announced two schemes for owner-occupiers on the estate in June 2017:
- Shimmer cash offer scheme
- Shimmer relocation assistance scheme
These schemes are now closed.
In July 2025, safeguarding directions were removed between the West Midlands and Leeds (the former phase 2b eastern leg). If you own property affected by this announcement, you can no longer apply for HS2 property schemes.
We’re still assessing applications already underway. If you have a live application, please speak to your case officer first.
For details about these closed schemes, please refer to the Shimmer Estate cash offer scheme guidance notes and Shimmer relocation assistance leaflet.
Selling your property to us
Selling your property may be a new experience for you. We’re committed to making it as easy as possible. This guide explains what happens after we’ve agreed to buy your property on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.
The process is called conveyancing. It can only begin after we’ve agreed to buy your property and usually takes about three months, but this can vary.
To avoid delays, appoint a legal adviser (such as a solicitor, legal executive or licensed conveyancer) as soon as you accept our offer.
The conveyancing process
Before the conveyancing process
We must agree to buy your property through one of the discretionary property, statutory blight, or express purchase schemes.
Title pack
Once we’ve instructed our solicitors to start the conveyancing process, they’ll contact your legal adviser to request a title pack. The title pack contains several documents we call protocol forms. Please provide any information your legal adviser requests as soon as possible to help them complete these forms and avoid delays.
Searches
Our solicitors carry out detailed checks to see if there are any issues that could affect the sale, such as a planning application. We complete searches to find out about the property and make sure we’re paying the right price.
Due diligence
Our solicitors review the documents they receive, such as the protocol forms and searches. This review identifies any issues that need to be addressed. Your legal adviser may ask you to take out indemnity insurance, at your cost, to cover such issues.
Contract and transfer issued
Once all queries have been resolved, we’ll send a draft contract and transfer to your legal adviser. These documents confirm the sale of your property and transfer ownership.
Completion date agreed
Once the contract and transfer documents are agreed, signed by you, and returned to us, the Department for Transport will sign and seal them on behalf of the Secretary of State. Our solicitors will then agree a completion date with you.
Exchange
This is the final exchange of legal documents confirming the completion date. We pay a 10% deposit to your legal adviser.
Day of completion
On completion day, you hand over the keys to our agents who will carry out a final inspection and release the remaining 90% of the purchase price to your legal adviser. We reserve the right to postpone completion if there are any issues on the day.
Further information
Conveyancing can be complicated, and this is only a very brief overview. The most important thing is that you appoint a legal advisor from the start to guide you through the process.
You can contact the Helpdesk by:
- Freephone: 08081 434 434
- Minicom: 08081 456 472
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: by completing our website enquiry form
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