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GrantEngland

Shared Ownership (England)

Homes England (Greater London Authority in London); homes sold and managed by housing associations

Description

Part-buy, part-rent: you buy a share of a housing association home and pay rent on the rest, which cuts the deposit and mortgage you need. Under the current programme rules you can start from as little as 10% (most homes are offered between 25% and 75%), and rent on the share you don't own is capped at 3% of its value a year at first sale, with providers encouraged to average no more than 2.75%. Newer homes come with a 990-year lease and a 10-year 'initial repair period' during which the landlord — not you — picks up essential repair and maintenance costs, and you can staircase up in 1% steps for the first 15 years rather than being forced into 5% or 10% chunks. Household income has to be £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 in London).

Amount

Buy a 10%–75% share (most homes 25%–75%), with rent on the unsold share capped at 3% of its value a year at initial sale

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available in: England.
  • Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.
  • Relevant income bands: earning under the Personal Allowance, basic rate taxpayers, higher rate taxpayers.
Notes
Two variants matter for eligibility filtering and are frequently missed: Older People's Shared Ownership (OPSO) lets people aged 55+ buy up to a 75% share, after which no rent is charged on the remainder; and Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD) allows a home outside the usual scheme stock where nothing available meets the buyer's needs. Share range and repair/lease terms quoted here are those of the Affordable Homes Programme 2021–2026 as set out in Homes England's Capital Funding Guide; the successor Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026–2036 is now the live funding route and the guide states further SAHP-specific changes will follow, so re-check lease/repair specifics for brand-new SAHP homes.
Requirement
Household income of £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 or less in London), and you can't afford the deposit and mortgage for a home that meets your needs outright. You must also be a first-time buyer, a former owner who can't afford to buy now, forming a new household (for example after a relationship breakdown), an existing shared owner moving, or an owner who can't afford a home meeting their needs.

Want help with this application?

This one is usually simple enough to do yourself using the free official link below — but if you'd rather have help, we're building relationships with vetted professionals and can let you know if that becomes available.

Some of the organisations we may connect you with pay us a referral fee if you use their service. This never affects which listings you see in the directory. No live partner is confirmed yet for this listing.

You can also do this yourself for free via the official source

How to apply

Find shared ownership homes via the Share to Buy portal or local housing associations, then apply to the provider — they assess affordability and eligibility. In London, homes are advertised through the Homes for Londoners search; a local-connection or key-worker priority may apply in some areas.

View official source

Last verified: 22 September 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.