Shared ownership
Getting onto the property ladder can feel overwhelming, but shared ownership makes home ownership more achievable. With the right guidance, you can secure your home with a smaller deposit.
Our experienced shared ownership solicitors will guide you through every stage of buying, staircasing, or selling a shared ownership property. We’ll help you understand your options, avoid unnecessary costs, and make confident decisions at each step.
We can help you with:
- Reviewing the lease and associated legal documents
- Liaising with the housing association or landlord
- Drafting and negotiating contracts
- Advising on staircasing to increase your share in the property
- Guiding you through selling your share or the full property
- Handling registration with HM Land Registry
Talk to our property solicitors today
At Owen White Catlin, we provide honest, practical advice and support you through the entire shared ownership process. Whether you’re purchasing your first share, buying more of your home, or selling, we’ll act efficiently and decisively to protect your interests and secure the best possible outcome.
You can contact us using our simple online enquiry form or by calling us on one of our office numbers directly. One of our expert lawyers will be happy to help.
Common questions about shared ownership
Shared ownership is a “part rent, part buy” scheme. Instead of buying a property outright, you purchase a share (usually between 25% and 75%) and pay ground rent on the remaining portion to a housing association or landlord. Over time, you can increase your share through a process called staircasing, eventually owning your home outright. This approach allows you to get on the property ladder sooner, with a smaller deposit.
Shared ownership is typically aimed at:
- First-time buyers
- People who previously owned a home but cannot afford to buy one now
- Current shared ownership owners looking to move
To be eligible, you generally must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Not currently own a home, or plan to sell your existing property before buying
- Have a household income below £80,000 (£90,000 in London)
- Maintain a good credit history with no mortgage or rent arrears
There are also separate schemes specifically designed for those aged over 55 or individuals with long-term disabilities.
- 1. Instruction and checks – We’ll handle all legal checks, including reviewing the lease and contract documents, and liaising with the landlord where necessary. And raising searches
- 2. Reporting to you on all legal contracts in a clear manner so you understand what you’re buying
- 3. Exchange of contracts – Once all terms are agreed and you’re satisfied with the property, contracts are exchanged making a legally binding agreement.
- 4. Completion – On completion day, we handle the transfer of the funds to the sellers representatives and register your ownership to the Land Registry.
- 5. Collecting your keys – When the transfer is complete, you can collect your keys and start moving into your new home.
If you decide to sell your share in your property, there are a number of options available depending on the terms of the lease. These can often include:
- Sell the share you own to a new buyer, or;
- Purchase the remaining share from the landlord and sell the property outright, or;
- The landlord buys your share and sells the property to a buyer direct.
If you want to increase your share through staircasing, we can guide you through the process step by step, helping you eventually own your property in full.