What is a shared-ownership mortgage?
Shared ownership allows you to take out a mortgage on a share of a property and pay rent on the rest. Our guide explains how shared ownership works and how to apply.
Key takeaways
Shared ownership lets you buy a share of a property with a mortgage and pay rent on the remaining portion
It’s available to first-time buyers, low-income households, and some previous homeowners
It helps you get on the property ladder with a smaller mortgage and deposit
You can gradually buy more shares in your home, eventually owning it outright
What is a shared-ownership mortgage?
Shared ownership, also known as 'part buy, part rent', is a type of mortgage that gives first-time buyers the chance to purchase a share in a new build property.
You can take out a mortgage for the share you own (often between 10% and 75% but some properties won’t offer shares below 25%) while paying rent on the rest to a housing association.
As you’ll only be paying a mortgage on the share you’re buying, the amount needed for a deposit is usually much less than if you were to buy a property outright.
Shared ownership gives lower income households the opportunity to get on the property ladder at a more affordable cost.
Who qualifies for a shared-ownership mortgage?
You’ll be eligible to buy a home through a shared-ownership scheme if your household income is less than £80,000 or less than £90,000 if you're buying a property in London.
You’ll also need to be either a first-time buyer or a previous homeowner who cannot afford to buy now. Alternatively, you will need to be renting from a council or housing association.
You will need to be able to prove you’re not in mortgage or rent arrears. You will also have to show that you have a good credit history and you can afford the costs associated with buying a shared-ownership home.
Our mortgage eligibility guide covers what mortgage lenders look for when deciding how much you can borrow.
Military personnel will be given priority over other groups through government-funded shared-ownership schemes.
If you have a long-term disability, you could also qualify for a shared-ownership scheme under the government’s Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD).
How does shared ownership work?
Shared-ownership schemes can be seen as a middle ground between owning and renting, with the option to buy a bigger share of your home at a later date.
If you’re looking to take out a shared-ownership mortgage, you’ll need to consider the following:
Shared ownership: things to consider
Make sure the scheme is available in your area
If eligible, you can speak to your local council’s housing team/association to apply.
Make sure you check if you can get a mortgage first
Not all lenders will advance a mortgage for shared ownership. You'll also still need to apply for a mortgage to pay for your share of the property.
Make sure you can afford the costs of shared ownership
Including stamp duty, moving costs, mortgage fees and insurance.
Changes to shared ownership schemes
As of April 2021, changes to shared ownership schemes were introduced under the government’s 'Affordable Homes Programme'.
These include:
The minimum amount of share you can have in a property has reduced from 25% to 10%, but this might not apply in all cases
You can buy additional shares in 1% instalments instead of the former 5% or 10% minimum share
You must be a first-time buyer with an annual household income of less than £80,000 or £90,000 for buyers in London
Instead of you being responsible for maintenance and repair costs, the landlord will pay these costs for the first ten years of ownership
Fees for buying additional shares have now been reduced
How much rent will I pay on a shared ownership property?
The rent you pay on a shared ownership property is based on the percentage of the home you don’t own. Typically, you’ll pay around 2.75% of the housing association’s share per year.
For example, if they own 50% of a £200,000 property (£100,000), your annual rent could be £2,750 (£229 per month).
From 12 October 2023, rent increases for new shared ownership homes are capped at the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus 1% per year, ensuring more predictable costs.
Always check your lease for specific terms, as rent rates and increase policies may vary between providers.
What is staircasing and how does it work?
With shared ownership, you can choose to increase your share of the property overtime through a process known as 'staircasing'.
This means that you can keep buying shares of the rented part of your home from the relevant housing association until you own all of it.
Following changes to the scheme, you can now staircase in 1% increments. In most cases, you can ‘staircase’ all the way to owning 100% of the property. This way, you’ll no longer need to pay any rent, just your mortgage payments.
How much you pay for additional shares will depend on the value of your home at the time. This will be determined by the housing association.
For example, if your property is valued at £250,000 and you want to buy an additional 25% share, the cost of the extra share would be 25% of the valuation. In total, this would be £62,500.
Can I sell my shared ownership home?
Whether you can sell your shared-ownership home will depend on how much ownership you have. If you end up with 100% ownership of your home, you can choose to sell your shared-ownership property privately through an estate agent.
That said, you may need to pay to have your property valued. Bear in mind also that the housing association has the right to ‘first refusal’ for 21 years after you first bought your home.
If you don’t own 100% of the property, the buyer will have to buy it as part of a shared-ownership scheme. They can do this by buying a share greater than or equal to what you currently own.
What happens if the property value changes?
If and when you decide to sell your shared-ownership property, you can find yourself in different scenarios.
If the value of your house has risen, you’ll end up splitting the earnings with your lender (the housing association). What both parties will receive depends on how much of the house you each own.
Should the cost of the property decrease, you could be paying more money into a house that’s falling in value or selling at a loss.
However, if you’re planning to keep it and want to make a move to buy a bigger share, a decrease in value could work in your favour.
This is because you’ll be able to gain a higher share of the house and pay less than you would have originally.
Are shared-ownership schemes the same as shared equity schemes?
Shared ownership and shared equity are different types of schemes. Shared-equity schemes offer a low-interest loan on part of the home you can’t afford to buy, rather than buying it and renting it back to you at a low-cost rent.
Shared-equity schemes are also offered under the government’s Help to Buy scheme.
Which lenders offer mortgages for shared ownership?
If you buy a shared-ownership property, you’ll need a shared-ownership mortgage for the proportion of the property you buy. You’ll typically need a 5% or 10% deposit.
Not all lenders offer shared-ownership mortgages, but many do, including:
Barclays
Halifax
HSBC
Kent Reliance
Kensington Mortgages
Leeds Building Society
Lloyds Bank
Nationwide
Newbury Building Society
Santander
Skipton Building Society
TSB
Virgin Money
Please note that each lender may have specific eligibility criteria and terms for their shared ownership mortgages.
It's advisable to consult directly with the lenders or seek advice from a mortgage broker to find the most suitable option for your circumstances.
Your mortgage is secured on your home, which you could lose if you do not keep up your repayments.
Why should I use a shared-ownership mortgage broker?
Whether you should use a shared-ownership mortgage broker is completely up to you.
However, with years of experience and an in-depth knowledge of the mortgage market, a broker could instruct on how to find the best deal for your needs and circumstances.
Since they have a good understanding of lenders’ eligibility criteria, they will be able to indicate those mortgage providers that are more likely to suit your requirements and vice-versa.
Not only that, but if you happen to have a poor credit score or take home a low income, they can advise on how to avoid being rejected by lenders.
Ultimately, using a shared-ownership mortgage broker is a wise solution if you want some much-needed peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that you’ve secured the best option for you.
And don’t forget – MoneySuperMarket is here to help you as well by scouring the market and comparing a large array of deals.
Advantages and disadvantages of shared ownership
As with any type of property purchase, shared ownership has it's advantages and disadvantages:
Pros of shared ownership
A way to get on the property ladder
You’ll get on the property ladder without over-stretching your finances. You may also find yourself buying a bigger home than you’d otherwise be able to afford.
Saving money
As you’re saving on rent, you may find you can afford to put money away each month to use later to increase your share in the property.
Staircasing
You’ll have the option to buy more shares of your home through 'staircasing'. This way, you’ll no longer need to pay rent, just your mortgage.
You can choose to sell
You can choose to sell whenever you want and could benefit from an increase in property value.
Cons of shared ownership
Limits on selling
If you later want to sell your home, you could find your options limited due to restrictions on who can buy your home. This could make a quick sale difficult.
Asking permission
If you don’t own your property outright you may need permission from the housing association if you want to make home improvements and structural changes. If it’s just a case of painting or decorating a shared-ownership home, you may be able to do so, as long as you foot the bill yourself.
Service charges
You may need to pay service charges for maintenance of communal areas of your building (e.g. if you buy a flat in a block).
Pets and tenants
You may find there are rules to shared ownership like no tenants or pets.
Stamp duty
You’ll need to pay stamp duty on the whole value of the property when your share of the property is greater than or equal to 80%.
How do I apply for a shared-ownership scheme?
The government offers a shared-ownership scheme under its Help to Buy mortgage scheme. So if you’re looking to apply, a good place to start is your local Help to Buy agent.
You can find your nearest agent on the Help to Buy website and they will be able to run through your options.
If you live in a council or housing association home, you can apply for Social HomeBuy. This is a scheme that helps you buy a share of the home you already live in, allowing you to pay rent on the rest.
You’ll need to buy at least 10% of your home, but you will get a discount of approximately 20% of the purchase price. This will depend on where you live and the size of the share you're buying.
If you choose to increase your stake in your home later, again, you will get a discount. If you want to apply, ask your landlord for an application form.
Personal Finance Expert
Our expert says...
"Shared ownership can be a great option for first-time buyers struggling with high property prices. It requires a smaller deposit, making homeownership more accessible, and allows you to 'staircase', meaning you can buy more of your home over time. Plus, with capped rent increases, it offers more stability than private renting."
Other helpful guides
For more information about home ownership, have a look at more of our useful guides, including…
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