ISA Accounts

[silverzx]

Some bank used to (they may not now) do account where you saved a certain amount and then gave you a bonus when you used the money in the account to put down a deposit on a mortgage from them.
It might sound like epic lock in, but depending on the size of the deposit and the bonus it can be worthwhile.
I did this with natwest but it was back in 2010 and I know they've stopped it.

Also the interest rates on ISA's aint brilliant. Short term, 12 months you might find it more worthwhile to have the 123 current account as it pays a high interest rate up to 20k.
Or if you aint got a lump sum, see if there any any monthly saver accounts kicking about at present as they commonly pay a higher rate for saving in the manner that you plan to.

ISA imho is for putting it in to and forgetting about it for 5 years, letting compound interest do it's thing.
For short term there are better options (depending on the size of the savings).

Cool, what are these "short term better options" you speak of?

Basically I have about £4k to chuck in now, then £1k end of the month for the next 12 months and an additional £4k lump sum to chuck in around September time.

So end of the year around £18k.

The thing that's attracting me to ISA is if I put £7k in pre-April then thats non-taxable which gives me allowance for another £15k for the 2015-2016 year?