Get advice on shared home ownership

What is shared ownership?

Shared ownership is when you buy between 25% and 75% of your home and pay a reduced rent on the rest. You can gradually buy more shares until in most cases, you own 100% of your home. Shared ownership is sometimes referred to as part buy or part rent.

There are a number of different ways to buy a low-cost, new or existing shared ownership home. Help to Buy schemes are funded by the Government through the Homes and Communities Agency.

Shared ownership for older people

You can get help from another home ownership scheme called ‘Older People’s Shared Ownership’ if you are 55 or over. This works in the same way as the general shared ownership scheme, but you can only buy up to 75% of your home.

Once you own 75% you won’t have to pay rent on the remaining share.

Home ownership for people with long-term disabilities (known as HOLD)

HOLD assists people with long-term disabilities to buy a share in a property.

Re-sales

These are homes that have already been bought through shared ownership in the past. You buy the share the current owners are looking to sell, and pay a reduced rent on the rest.

Help to buy mortgage guarantee

Mortgage guarantees help you buy a home with only 5% deposit of the purchase price. It is open to both first time buyers and current owners. It is valid for homes up to £600,000 in the UK. The guarantee is provided to your mortgage lender by the Government - not to you.

This scheme is not handled by Help to Buy Agents. You will need to contact lenders directly for more details.

Help to buy equity loan - 2021/2023

To qualify for a help to buy equity loan (2021/2023), you must:

  • be a first-time buyer
  • be buying a new build home
  • ensure the new build home you buy falls within the relevant regional price cap

If you are married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner as if you were married, you will need to make a joint application with your husband, wife, civil partner or partner.

You, and anyone you are buying a home with, must not:

  • own a home or residential land now or in the past in the UK or abroad
  • have had any form of sharia mortgage finance

You must tell us if you, or anyone you are buying with, has a connection with a homebuilder, as this could affect your eligibility for the equity loan scheme.

You are not allowed to sublet your home without Homes England’s consent.

To apply for a help to buy equity loan (2021/2023), you must:

  • have a deposit of at least 5% of the purchase price
  • reserve a new build home with a registered Help to Buy homebuilder
  • arrange a repayment mortgage of at least 25% of the purchase price. This is separate from the equity loan.
  • be able to afford the repayments on the equity loan, your repayment mortgage, and other outgoings
  • sign a legal declaration to confirm that you are a first-time buyer. Your conveyancer will explain this to you.

Developers’ own scheme

Many private housing developers have their own equity loan scheme. In general, you pay for 70% and 85% of the value of your property. The rest is covered by an equity loan. Normally there is nothing to pay for this loan however, you will be expected to buy the remaining equity within 10 years.

Rent to Buy

You may need time to save for a deposit to purchase a home. In this case, renting a home at a lower price may be a good option for you. 

Rent to Buy may be offered by new housing developers. This gives you an opportunity to rent the home you wish to buy at a reduced rate. However, you will be expected to buy the property through shared ownership, in a set period of time.

Who can apply

Anyone can apply as long as you have the following:

  • You must have a maximum household income of less than £60,000 per annum
  • You should have a household income of greater than £18,000 per year. If you earn less than this, there may be other schemes that can help
  • You must have savings of at least £2,500 to cover legal and other costs. You must also have a good credit history, if you are making a purchase

To find out more or to apply

You can apply by visiting the help to buy website.

How to contact us

Contact the Home Buy Agents on 0800 456 1188.

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