Allow public sector workers to access part of their annual salary early to help with housing deposit.

We want the UK Government to introduce a policy allowing public sector workers to access part of their annual salary early to help fund a housing deposit when purchasing their first home.

Under this proposal, eligible employees (for example those with a minimum length of service) could request an advance of up to half of their annual salary to be used towards a housing deposit. In exchange, their remaining salary for that year would be reduced accordingly through payroll.

For example, an employee could receive a portion of their annual pay upfront to help cover a deposit, then receive reduced monthly pay for the remainder of that year so that their total annual salary remains unchanged.

Many public sector workers have stable employment and can afford mortgage repayments but struggle to accumulate large deposits while paying rising rents. Allowing employees to access part of their earnings earlier would help them overcome this barrier without creating an additional cost to taxpayers.

Such a scheme could improve retention in public services, help workers remain in the communities they serve, and support the Government’s wider goal of increasing home ownership.