Almost a year after it was first launched, a local council has become the first to start using a government-backed digital logbook for first time buyers.

The ‘First Homes’ logbook, which tracks the use of a property, is intended to help people buy new homes being developed in their area at significantly discounted rates.

Local Authorities are tasked with matching buyers to developments and monitoring the ‘affordable housing’ status of the property throughout its lifetime.

And now Bristol City Council has become the first users of the system, which was developed by the Residential Logbook Association. It was designed to support the Government’s ‘First Homes’ scheme for first time buyers.

The logbook connects local authorities with mortgage lenders and the RLBA’s reporting systems.

Developers work with the RLBA to complete and issue the logbooks for each new home sold under the scheme.

Flag up

Simon Lumb of the RLBA says: “The logbooks are configured so that they can report development status to the local authority and also flag up if the property is put on the rental or sales markets in the future.

“Developers looking to participate in the First Homes’ scheme work with the RLBA to create the logbooks for any given development.”

Bristol City Council is an early trialist of the initiative, and the first batch of homes sold under the scheme in the city has now been added to the RLBA registration system.

Integrity

Julie Curtis of Bristol City Council says: “We have a statutory duty to protect the integrity of the First Homes scheme over the lifetime of the properties as they pass from owner to owner.

“Secondly, the early flagging of when a property is put on the rental market or being sold is important to ensure that future ownership stays with local, deserving applicants.”