Shared Ownership Scheme

The Shared Ownership Scheme provides a way to get onto the property ladder by buying a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share.

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What is the Shared Ownership Scheme?

The Shared Ownership Scheme in the UK is ideal for prospective homeowners that are struggling to save a large enough deposit to buy a property that meets their needs.

Instead, the UK Shared Ownership Scheme involves purchasing a percentage share of a home that you can afford (anywhere between 10% and 75% of the property’s market value).

You’ll then pay rent to a landlord, often a housing association, to cover the remaining sum.

Over time, you can buy more of the property in minimum increments of 10% until you have full ownership of your home.
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Why choose UKMC for shared ownership support?

Things to consider

What are the benefits?

One of the biggest benefits of buying a property using the Shared Ownership Scheme is it requires a smaller deposit. This is because you won’t be putting down a deposit to cover the entire market value of the house, just a percentage share of the property. This means you’ll spend less time saving and more time enjoying your new home.
Eager to get more for your money? With the Shared Ownership Scheme, you won’t be bound by the limitation of only buying properties that are valued between 4-4.5x your household income. Instead, you can buy a more expensive property that also meets your specific needs. Regardless of whether that means you purchase a property with a garden or additional bedroom, this can make all the difference to your home enjoyment.
Because you’ll own a percentage of the property, this portion will increase in value with its overall price. As a result, you’ll benefit from an amount of equity that you can leverage to purchase more of your home in future.

What are the risks?

To be eligible for this scheme, you must have a household income of £80,000 or less. For those looking to buy a shared ownership property in London, this maximum household income is £90,000. You must also demonstrate you can’t afford the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs to be eligible for the Shared Ownership Scheme.
When purchasing a property using the Shared Ownership Scheme in the UK, you’ll only be able to buy either a new-build home or a property being sold via the official shared ownership resale scheme. Alternatively, you may also be able to buy a home using this scheme if it has been specially designed to meet your needs. For example, if you have a long-term disability.

On top of making the required mortgage payments, you’ll also have to pay rent to the landlord that owns the remaining share of the property. As a result, there are certain affordability checks you’ll need to pass to ensure you can cover the mortgage payments, rent, and the additional funds required to purchase more of the property over time.


If you’d like to find out more about the pros and cons of the UK Shared Ownership Scheme, arrange a consultation with an experienced team of mortgage advisors at UKMC.

Frequently asked questions

A deposit of between 5% and 10% of the property’s market value is typical for those using the Shared Ownership Scheme to purchase their home.
While selling a shared ownership property can be more complex than selling full ownership properties, it’s certainly possible with the right support and advice.
No, you can’t rent out a property under the Government’s shared ownership scheme (unless you have 100% full ownership), but you may be able to take in a lodger to generate additional income.
Yes, you can decorate and refurbish the property as you please, but you will require written permission from the landlord if you want to carry out structural changes.
​​Yes, in most cases, you can buy 100% of the shared ownership property – the only exception is for properties in ‘designated protected areas’ which may limit you to just 80%.

More than just a mortgage advisor, we take the time to understand your specific needs, helping you to secure the best deal for you and your family. To find out more, complete our call back form today!


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HOW TO APPLY FOR Shared Ownership

01

eligibility

First, check that you’re eligible to purchase a property using the Shared Ownership Scheme. You can do this by asking your mortgage advisor or by reading the relevant government guidance.

02

Find a property

Next, you’ll have to find a suitable shared ownership home that you like in your desired location. As with any property you’re interested in, you should view the home, make sure you’re eligible, and ensure you can afford the property.

03

Reserve the home

You’ll be asked to pay a reservation fee to the landlord of up to £500. This secures the property for a fixed period and the amount is deducted from the final amount you pay on completion day. If you do not buy the home, you won’t usually get the fee back (check with the landlord before you reserve).

04

Contact us

A mortgage advisor will help you to secure the most appropriate mortgage for your current needs and circumstances from a selection of lenders and understand your mortgage offer, while a solicitor or conveyancer will handle the process of ownership transfer.

What Is The Criteria To Apply?

To qualify for a Shared Ownership Scheme, your household income needs to be less than £80,000 per year. If you live in London, this must be less than £90,000.

You must be a first-time buyer, have a history of being unable to buy or are a current shared owner.

Applicants for the Shared Ownership Scheme must be at least 18 years old.

You must be a resident of the UK or if you are a non-UK citizen have indefinite leave to remain. You may be required to have local connections depending on some authorities’ requirements.

A deposit is needed (typically 5%), and you should have a good credit history.

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