Right to Shared Ownership scheme
The Right to Shared Ownership is a government scheme is for anyone renting social housing who is living in a new home delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026.
The Right to Shared Ownership offers you the chance to buy an initial share in your current home worth between 10% and 75% of its market value on Shared Ownership terms. You will pay rent to your landlord on the rest.
You can buy more shares in your home in future, as and when you can afford to do so. This is known as ‘staircasing’. If you buy more shares, you’ll pay less rent. The amount of rent you pay will be based on the size of the share in your home you have not bought.
Am I eligible for the Right to Shared Ownership scheme?
To be eligible for the Right to Shared Ownership, you must be the tenant of a housing association (or tenant of another Registered Provider of social housing that is not a local authority, co-operative housing association, or Community Land Trust).
The Right to Shared Ownership does not apply to homes in remote rural areas, or specialist homes for older people or people with disabilities.
To be eligible for the Right to Shared Ownership, you must also:
- have lived in your current home for at least 12 months
- have been a tenant of social and/or affordable housing for at least three years (this need not be for three years consecutively or with the same landlord)
- it’s your only and principal home
- satisfy all of the usual eligibility criteria for the Shared Ownership scheme, including its income threshold (a gross annual household income of £80,000 or less when buying outside of London, and £90,000 or less when buying in London).
- be living in a property that was built after 2021 using Government grant, and is eligible for the scheme.
Using the Right to Shared Ownership to purchase a share in your current home is a financial commitment. For example, you may lose your home and the money you put into it if you do not pay your rent. Therefore, we recommend that you read The Right to Shared Ownership: A guide for tenants and advise that you seek professional financial and/or legal advice before applying.
How to apply
Check if your eligible to apply for Shared Ownership.