# Shared Ownership — Buying & Selling Process and Eligibility *Personal knowledge base — researched 2026-05-16. British English. All procedural claims carry inline citations.* --- ## TL;DR - **Who qualifies:** Household income **≤ £80,000** (outside London) or **≤ £90,000** (in London); you must be **18+**, **not own another home** (or be selling it), unable to afford a suitable home on the open market, and able to get a Shared Ownership mortgage. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - **Buying route has changed:** The **Help to Buy Agent** registration service has been wound down — you no longer apply through a regional Help to Buy agent. You now find homes via **Share to Buy** / portals / the housing association directly, and the **registered provider (housing association) checks your eligibility**. (The separate Help to Buy *equity loan* scheme closed in 2023.) [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) - **The journey:** Register → find a home → reserve (fee up to ~£500) → provider financial assessment (they decide your max affordable share) → mortgage in principle → memorandum of sale → specialist SO conveyancing → RICS valuation → exchange → completion. Typically **8–14 weeks** as there's no chain. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) - **Selling:** Instruct provider → RICS Red Book valuation (valid ~3 months) sets the price → provider gets a **nomination/marketing period (4, 8 or 12 weeks)** to find a buyer → if none found you can sell on the open market or do a simultaneous staircasing-to-100% sale → assignment of lease + deed of covenant. ~12–16+ weeks. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) --- ## 1. Eligibility in Full — Who Qualifies ### 1.1 Core criteria (GOV.UK) To buy a Shared Ownership home you must meet **all** of the following: - Your **household income is £80,000 a year or less** (outside London), **or £90,000 a year or less** (in London). [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - You **cannot afford the deposit and mortgage payments** for a home that meets your needs on the open market. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - You are **aged 18 or over**. [source: Share to Buy — Eligibility & prioritisation](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-eligibility-and-prioritisation/) - **One** of these applies: - you are a **first-time buyer**; **or** - you **used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now**; **or** - you are **forming a new household** — e.g. after a relationship breakdown; **or** - you are an **existing shared owner** wanting to move; **or** - you **own a home and want to move** but cannot afford a new home that meets your needs. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) ### 1.2 You cannot own another home You generally cannot already own a home. If you **do** currently own a property, you must have **formally accepted an offer on it ("sold subject to contract" / STC)** and provide written confirmation of the sale, and you will normally have to **complete the sale of your existing home before (or at the same time as) completing** the Shared Ownership purchase. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) ### 1.3 Residency / immigration You must have the right to live in the UK with **no restrictions on accessing public funds** and meet the provider's residency requirements; eligibility is checked by the registered provider as part of the application. [source: Share to Buy — Eligibility & prioritisation](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-eligibility-and-prioritisation/) [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) ### 1.4 Ability to get a mortgage / sustain payments You must be able to obtain a **Shared Ownership mortgage** (or otherwise fund the share) and sustain the combined mortgage + rent + service charge. Providers run an **affordability and sustainability assessment** via a regulated mortgage/financial adviser before you can proceed (see §6). [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) ### 1.5 Variant schemes (different rules) - **Older People's Shared Ownership (OPSO):** for buyers **aged 55+**; you can buy up to a **maximum 75% share**, and once you own 75% you **pay no rent** on the remaining 25%. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - **HOLD (Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disability):** for disabled buyers whose needs aren't met by available properties — lets you buy a suitable home on the open market via Shared Ownership. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - **Right to Shared Ownership (RtSO):** allows eligible tenants of newer housing-association rented homes to buy a share of the home they already rent. [source: GOV.UK — Right to Shared Ownership: A guide for tenants (Sept 2025)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691318c35dec0071ce496351/The_Right_to_Shared_Ownership_-_A_guide_for_tenants.pdf) --- ## 2. Local Connection & Priority Many Shared Ownership homes — especially those built under a planning agreement (**Section 106**) — give **priority to applicants with a local connection**: people who **live or work in the local authority area**, or have family there. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) [source: Share to Buy — Eligibility & prioritisation](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-eligibility-and-prioritisation/) Priority is also given to: - **Serving members of the armed forces**, and in some cases former service personnel and bereaved spouses/civil partners of those who died in service. [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) - Applicants matching **local-authority cascade/banding rules** in the Section 106 agreement — the developer/provider must offer the home to local-connection applicants first, then widen the search if no eligible local buyer is found within a set period. [source: Share to Buy — Eligibility & prioritisation](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-eligibility-and-prioritisation/) > Always check the **specific local-connection criteria and any banding/cascade** for a development before reserving — they vary by site and council. --- ## 3. The Buying Journey — End to End > Average completion time: **roughly 8–14 weeks (about 1–3 months)**, because Shared Ownership purchases usually have **no onward chain**. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) ### Step-by-step 1. **Register / search for homes.** Create an account on **Share to Buy** (or search portals / the housing association website) and filter by location, bedrooms, deposit and budget. Each listing has a budget calculator showing the minimum deposit and indicative monthly cost. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 2. **Find a home & register interest.** Click *Register Interest* to notify the housing provider, and arrange a viewing. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 3. **Reserve the property.** Pay a **reservation fee — usually up to £500** (varies by provider; some quote ~£200). [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 4. **Eligibility & financial assessment by the provider.** The registered provider checks you meet the scheme rules (this is now done by the **provider, not a Help to Buy agent** — see §4), then a **financial interview / affordability assessment** (using a Homes England-style calculator and a regulated adviser) determines the **maximum share you can afford** — providers deliberately cap the share so you neither over- nor under-stretch. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) 5. **Mortgage in principle.** With your share decided, get an **agreement/decision in principle** from a Shared Ownership-friendly lender, ideally via a specialist broker. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 6. **Instruct a specialist Shared Ownership solicitor/conveyancer.** SO leases are complex — use a conveyancer experienced in Shared Ownership (Share to Buy maintains a specialist panel). [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 7. **Memorandum of Sale.** The provider issues a Memorandum of Sale to your solicitor confirming purchase details (price, share %, deposit). [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 8. **Conveyancing, searches & valuation.** Your solicitor reviews the lease, raises enquiries and runs searches; the lender carries out a **mortgage valuation**. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 9. **Mortgage offer.** Lender issues the formal offer; review it carefully with your broker/solicitor. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 10. **Exchange of contracts.** You pay your **deposit — usually 5%–10% of the share value** — and become legally bound; a completion date is set. [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) 11. **Completion & keys.** The lender releases funds to your solicitor, the balance is paid to the provider, legal ownership transfers, and the provider hands over the keys. [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) --- ## 4. Routes to Buy — Help to Buy Agent vs Share to Buy vs Direct (current status) > **Status note (as of 2026-05-16):** Two different "Help to Buy" things have ended. - **Help to Buy *equity loan* scheme — CLOSED.** The equity-loan scheme for new-build purchases **ended in 2023** and is **not** the same as Shared Ownership. (Context only — not a Shared Ownership route.) - **Help to Buy *Agents* (registration/eligibility service) — WOUND DOWN.** Help to Buy Agents historically had to "**test the eligibility of both Shared Ownership and Help to Buy applicants against criteria specified by … Homes England**." With Help to Buy closing, the **Help to Buy website is being taken offline**, and applicants **no longer submit an online application through a regional Help to Buy agent**. [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) [source: Aster — How you apply for shared ownership has changed](https://www.aster.co.uk/sales/shared-ownership-home-buying-process/how-you-apply-for-shared-ownership-has-changed) - **What replaces it:** The **registered provider (housing association) now checks your eligibility** directly — typically *after* you reserve with the developer and *before* they grant authority to proceed. Buyers find homes through **Share to Buy, Keaze, NewHomesForSale, Rightmove, Zoopla**, or the housing association's own site; the Government has indicated a **directory of providers on GOV.UK**. [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) **Practical routes today:** | Route | What it is | Best for | |---|---|---| | **Share to Buy portal** | National search portal + budget calculators + specialist solicitor/lender panels | Browsing many providers in one place | | **Direct to housing association** | Apply on the provider's own site; the provider does eligibility + financial assessment | When you've targeted a specific scheme/area | | **General portals (Rightmove/Zoopla)** | Listings link back to the provider | Wider market scan | | **(Legacy) Help to Buy Agent** | Being wound down; replaced by provider-led eligibility checks | No longer the primary route | --- ## 5. New-build vs Resale Shared Ownership | Aspect | New-build SO | Resale SO | |---|---|---| | **Share you buy** | The provider's affordability assessment sets your **maximum affordable share** | You generally **match (or exceed) the current owner's share** | | **Lease** | Brand-new lease (likely the **2021 "new model" lease**) | You take on the **existing lease** — check remaining term and which model it is | | **Condition** | New, often with builder warranty (NHBC etc.) | Existing condition; check repairs reserve / service charge history | | **Sold via** | Developer/provider sales team | Provider's resale process (often via Share to Buy / provider site) | [source: Share to Buy — Step-by-step guide](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/step-by-step-guide-to-buying-a-shared-ownership-home/) [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) --- ## 6. The Financial Assessment — How Providers Decide Your Maximum Share - **Minimum initial share:** Under the **2021 "new model" lease** the minimum initial share can be as low as **10%** (older leases commonly required **25%**). Homes England **removed the blanket 25% minimum** for new-model homes (effective 31 July 2024). [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) - **Maximum initial share:** Usually up to **75%** (and the provider may cap your share *below* your absolute maximum so you don't over-stretch). [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) - **Affordability rule of thumb:** Total **housing costs (mortgage + rent + service charge) should not exceed ~45% of net household income (~40% in London)**; lenders typically lend **~2.5–4.5× gross income**, and any borrowing above standard limits needs a regulated adviser's justification that it is **affordable and sustainable long-term**. [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) - **Why they cap the share both ways:** The provider must ensure the share level is **suitable for your affordability, needs and circumstances**, assessed by a **regulated, qualified mortgage/financial adviser** — so you neither buy too small a share (under-using your means) nor over-stretch. [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) - **Other costs to budget:** deposit (5–10% of the share), reservation fee (up to £500), **rent on the unsold share**, service charges, estate/management charges, repairs reserve fund, buildings insurance, and possible stamp duty. [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) --- ## 7. The Selling Process — Detail > Typical timescale: **~12+ weeks** to sell back to / via the housing association; **16+ weeks** if selling on the open market with a simultaneous staircase to 100%. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) 1. **Instruct the provider (housing association).** Tell them you want to sell and provide your specialist solicitor's details when applying. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) 2. **RICS valuation sets the price.** An **independent RICS "Red Book" valuation** determines market value. It is **valid for ~3 months** (often extendable by ~1 month for ~£150–£300). Housing associations accept **only RICS valuations**, not estate-agent appraisals. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) [source: Shared Ownership Resources — SO valuation: buying & selling](https://www.sharedownershipresources.org/need-to-know/valuations/shared-ownership-valuation-buying-selling/) 3. **Nomination / marketing period (right of first refusal).** The provider gets a **set window — typically 4, 8 or 12 weeks** (per the lease) to find a buyer from its waiting list before you can sell openly. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) [source: Shared Ownership Resources — SO valuation: buying & selling](https://www.sharedownershipresources.org/need-to-know/valuations/shared-ownership-valuation-buying-selling/) 4. **If no buyer is found:** the provider authorises you to **sell on the open market** — either selling just your share, or doing a **simultaneous staircasing-to-100% ("back-to-back") sale** where the buyer purchases 100% and the provider takes its share of the proceeds. You may sell **at, above or below** the RICS valuation on the open market. [source: Shared Ownership Resources — SO valuation: buying & selling](https://www.sharedownershipresources.org/need-to-know/valuations/shared-ownership-valuation-buying-selling/) [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) 5. **Simultaneous sale & staircasing mechanics.** Example: a £300,000 property, you own 50% and staircase to 100% on sale — the buyer pays £300,000; **£150,000 goes to the housing association** (its 50%), **£150,000 to you** (your 50%, less fees and mortgage). On a back-to-back, completion can happen **without a formal exchange of contracts**. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) 6. **Legal completion — assignment of lease & deed of covenant.** The sale is by **assignment of the existing Shared Ownership lease**; the buyer typically signs a **deed of covenant** with the landlord; the provider issues a **Memorandum of Staircasing** if staircasing to 100% as part of the sale. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) ### Typical selling fees (2026 estimates) | Item | Indicative cost | |---|---| | Housing association admin/compliance fee | £300–£500 | | RICS valuation | £250–£500 | | Valuation extension | £150–£300 | | Nomination fee (where HA sources the buyer) | ~1–1.5% of full market value | | Leasehold information pack (LPE1) | £200–£400 | | Solicitor conveyancing | £1,200–£1,800 | | EPC | £60–£120 | [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) > Note: the **1–1.5% nomination fee** when the housing association finds the buyer can offset the saving of avoiding open-market estate-agent commission (~1–2%) plus extra staircasing legal work — compare both routes. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) --- ## 8. Documents to Check BEFORE You Reserve - **The Lease** — the legally binding contract; review the **full term, ground/repairs obligations, staircasing terms, sub-letting/assignment restrictions and pet/alteration rules** with your solicitor before signing. [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) - **"Shared Ownership: Key Information Document" (KID)** — all providers must give prospective buyers a KID (per the Capital Funding Guide), including a **forward-looking five-year service-charge projection** and the cost-disclosure section. [source: Penningtons — Updates to Shared Ownership key information documents](https://www.penningtonslaw.com/insights/updates-to-shared-ownership-key-information-documents-what-providers-need-to-do/) [source: London City Hall — Key information about shared ownership (KID)](https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/kid3_for_ahp_16-23_key_information_about_shared_ownership_final.pdf) - **Service Charge Information Document** — where a service charge applies, must be provided **at the reservation stage**; ask for a breakdown of how the charge is calculated and what it's spent on. [source: Penningtons — Updates to Shared Ownership key information documents](https://www.penningtonslaw.com/insights/updates-to-shared-ownership-key-information-documents-what-providers-need-to-do/) [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) - **EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)** — check the energy rating before reserving. [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) - **Service charge history & budget** — past statements + the forward budget; check the repairs reserve fund balance. [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) - **Building safety information** — for flats, ask for the building's fire/safety status and any remediation plans/EWS position. - **Management pack / LPE1 (resale)** — leasehold property enquiry pack covering charges, disputes, consents and building info. [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) --- ## 9. Buyer Checklist — Questions to Ask the Provider **Eligibility & priority** - [ ] Is there a **local-connection / Section 106** requirement, and what banding/cascade applies? - [ ] Does the provider do the eligibility check directly (no Help to Buy agent)? When in the process? **The home, lease & share** - [ ] Is this the **2021 "new model" lease** or an older 25%-minimum lease? What is the **lease term remaining**? - [ ] What is the **minimum and maximum initial share** I can buy here? - [ ] What are the **staircasing terms** (steps allowed, valuation basis, costs)? - [ ] Any restrictions on **sub-letting, pets, alterations, assignment**? **Money** - [ ] What is the **rent on the unsold share** and how/when does it increase? - [ ] What is the **current service charge**, the 5-year projection, and the repairs reserve balance? - [ ] **Reservation fee** amount and is it refundable? - [ ] What **deposit %** is required (5–10% of share)? - [ ] Estate/management charges, buildings insurance, ground rent? - [ ] Stamp duty position? **Process & risk** - [ ] What's the **financial assessment** process and who is the adviser? - [ ] Expected **timescale to completion**? - [ ] For flats: **building safety / fire remediation** status? - [ ] On future **resale**: nomination period length, fees, and selling restrictions? [source: GOV.UK — Who can apply](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/who-can-apply) [source: GOV.UK — Costs](https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/costs) [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) [source: SAM Conveyancing — Selling a Shared Ownership property](https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/selling-a-shared-ownership-property) --- ## Scheme-change notes (as at 2026-05-16) - **Help to Buy equity loan** scheme **closed in 2023** — not a Shared Ownership route (context only). - **Help to Buy Agent** registration/eligibility service has been **wound down**; the Help to Buy website is being taken offline. **Registered providers now check eligibility directly.** [source: Home Reach — Help to Buy Agents Closing](https://www.homereach.org.uk/guides-and-faqs/help-to-buy-agents-closing) - **25% minimum initial share removed** for 2021 new-model-lease homes (effective 31 July 2024) — minimum can be as low as **10%**. [source: Share to Buy — Costs & affordability](https://www.sharetobuy.com/shared-ownership/shared-ownership-costs-and-affordability/) - RICS valuations follow the updated **Red Book Global Standards effective 31 January 2025**. [source: Shared Ownership Resources — SO valuation: buying & selling](https://www.sharedownershipresources.org/need-to-know/valuations/shared-ownership-valuation-buying-selling/) - **Shared Ownership Code** (industry standard) updated **October 2025** — sets service-charge and pre-reservation disclosure expectations. [source: Penningtons — Updates to Shared Ownership key information documents](https://www.penningtonslaw.com/insights/updates-to-shared-ownership-key-information-documents-what-providers-need-to-do/)