The government is relaxing the criteria for those who can apply for the shared ownership scheme from April.
Aspiring homeowners around the country could need a deposit of as little as £1,500 to realise their dream of homeownership under new measures announced by the government.
Thousands of people could benefit from an extension to the shared ownership scheme, which allows people to part buy and part rent their home and watch their equity grow over time.
The government is relaxing the criteria for those who can apply for the scheme from April 2016, meaning 175,000 more people will be eligible for homeownership across the country.
It is part of a national crusade to help a million more people into homeownership, including investing £4 billion to build an additional 135,000 shared ownership homes.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: "We’re determined to ensure that hardworking people right across the country once again see home ownership as an achievable ambition to achieve.
"Shared ownership schemes have proved a real help to first-time buyers, but punitive restrictions have locked too many out of this opportunity to buy.
"These changes will open the door for thousands of people across the country to own their own home."
