Property schemes
How we can help you
If HS2 construction affects your land or property, we may be able to help. The support available depends on how close you are to the railway and how you’re affected.
Read our Property Schemes Guide to find out what’s available in your area. If you’re not sure which part of the route you’re nearest to, contact the HS2 helpdesk.
Schemes available
Express purchase
If your property is in the surface safeguarding area, express purchase makes it easier for you to sell to the government. It relaxes some of the rules that normally apply to statutory blight.
Rural support zone
The rural support zone (RSZ) is outside the safeguarded area. In rural areas, it typically covers land up to 120 metres from the centre line of the railway.
If your property is in the RSZ, you can choose between:
- a cash offer, or
- the voluntary purchase scheme.
Homeowner payment scheme
The homeowner payment scheme (HOP) covers properties outside the safeguarded area — typically between 120 and 300 metres from the centre line of the railway in rural areas.
If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a one-off cash payment. The amount depends on how far your property is from the centre line.
Need to sell
This scheme is for people who have a compelling reason to sell but cannot — or can only sell at a much lower price — because of HS2.
Rent back
If you sell your home to us under an HS2 property scheme, rent back lets you carry on living there. We consider all homes we agree to buy for rent back, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Special circumstances and atypical properties
We recognise that some residents and businesses near the route may need help even if they do not meet the standard eligibility requirements. This could include buying their property, making a payment or offering other support.
We consider these cases on their individual merits.
Read more about special circumstances and atypical properties.
Shimmer Estate, Mexborough
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 there in June 2017:
- Shimmer cash offer scheme
- Shimmer relocation assistance scheme
Both schemes are now closed.
In July 2025, safeguarding directions were removed between the West Midlands and Leeds (the former phase 2b eastern leg). If your property was affected by this, you can no longer apply for HS2 property schemes.
We’re still working through applications already underway. If you have a live application, speak to your case officer first.
For details about these closed schemes, see the Shimmer Estate cash offer scheme guidance notes and the Shimmer relocation assistance leaflet.
Selling your property to us
Selling a property can be a new experience. We want to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Once we agree to buy your property on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, the legal transfer process — called conveyancing — can begin. It usually takes about three months, though this can vary.
To avoid delays, appoint a legal adviser as soon as you accept our offer. This could be a solicitor, legal executive or licensed conveyancer.
The conveyancing process
Before the conveyancing process
We must first 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, they’ll contact your legal adviser to request a title pack. This contains several documents called protocol forms. Please give your legal adviser any information they ask for as quickly as you can — this helps avoid delays.
Searches
Our solicitors carry out detailed checks to identify anything that could affect the sale, such as a planning application. This also helps us make sure we’re paying the right price.
Due diligence
Our solicitors review the documents received — including the protocol forms and search results — to identify any issues that need to be resolved. Your legal adviser may ask you to take out indemnity insurance, at your cost, to cover any such issues.
Contract and transfer issued
Once all queries are resolved, we’ll send a draft contract and transfer document to your legal adviser. These confirm the sale and transfer ownership of your property.
Completion date agreed
Once you’ve signed and returned the contract and transfer documents, 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 at this stage.
Day of completion
On the day of completion, you hand over the keys to our agents, who carry out a final inspection. We 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.
Get legal advice early
Conveyancing can be complicated. This is a brief overview only. The most important step you can take is to appoint a legal adviser early — they’ll guide you through the whole process.
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