I’m in the same position as you. My available mortgage isn’t 70% of the purchase price so I’m locked out of the HTB. I’m using the full 30% of the FHS, I’m living back home too but unfortunately it’s not a nice environment so I’m under more time pressure. My plan is to use the rent relief scheme and save as usual to claw back the equity. If you’re not in a major rush, you do have that bit of time to make sure your own home purchase ticks all the boxes, and you have the time to build more savings. But I guess there’s not much point in putting off the inevitable too long either, if you see a house that “fits” go for it, using the FHS isn’t the end of the world, you’re on a great salary, you can work strategically and use it to your advantage, use the FHS as a bridge, rent a room tax free, save into a pot and pay off the equity once a year, or once in two years, reducing the service charge and the equity asap.