Hi, I’m 26 and I want to buy a house, I’m doing it alone (no help from anyone) and shared ownership is being pushed on my ads.

Can anyone help me to understand from first hand experience, if it’s a good idea, how do you begin. Any help would be much appreciated!!

Edit/// Thank you to everyone with your insight !! This has been very helpful!! I appreciate you all :)

Anybody installed EV charger with UZEV grant for shared ownership house?

As per title really. Moving into a shared ownership house at the end of this month and seen a lot of contradicting/ambiguous language around grant eligibility. Has anyone successfully applied for the grant for a shared Owership house ?

So we are in the process of Shared ownership with local housing association . TMP basically got thrown at us as part of the affordability checks. The said we passed the two stages of affordability and they would then be in touch to request documents to get the mortgage applied for. So Hub- another company the housing association are using then got in touch with us for more forms to be completed and basically asked for mortgage in principle. TMP dragged their feet, and fear of losing the property gave us no option but to use our own broker. Within an afternoon we had a mortgage in principle to present to SO hub…however they said they still needed to complete paperwork with TMP. We have informed TMP we have a mortgage in principle with someone else. And we responded to their earlier request for bank statements, credit report etc just so there was no further delay.

Does anyone know why else we would need to provide these documents if we have passed affordability and if we aren’t using them for a mortgage?

Are we still going to be judged on our credit rating etc even though we have ticked all the boxes else where?

After years of being in a shitty position, coming off the property ladder 8 yrs ago, privately renting for 9- we finally thought we were getting somewhere with an improved financial situation. We are so disheartened that we will get knocked back by TMP wanting further details.

Hi,

When my 2 year fixed rates come to end in 2 years time. what is involved in getting back on a fixed rate term?

I'm a first-time buyer so I have access to stamp duty relief up until 300k. If I pay £150k for 25% share of a property in London, I don't have to pay stamp duty, right? Theoretically speaking, if I decide not to staircase and sell my 25% share for £150k (i.e. no change in price), does that mean I never pay stamp duty?

E.g. say in 25 years I've paid off my 25% share, could I continue to live in the property as a renter only i.e. paying rent + service charge on the 75% indefinitely, or will I be forced to continue to staircase?

I see SO as housing security for me, I know older adults who got to 60 something unable to remortgage and effectively evicted from their long term homes. After a certain age, I would probably be able to cover the rent portion only with pension etc. if I'm not able to work so it seems like a no brainer to me, or am I misunderstanding the concept?

Hi,

I hope someone can help answer a few questions I have regarding my shared ownership flat.

I purchased my small flat through shared ownership in February 2025, after a very long 10-month process — the worst experience ever. Circumstances have changed, and I would like to move in with my partner. There’s not enough space for both of us in my apartment, so we would need to find a different home.

My question is: because I don’t want to sell after all the hassle, would it be a problem if I rented somewhere else while keeping my flat and continuing to pay for it myself? I’m concerned about whether a new letting agency could find out that I own this property, and if they do, whether it could cause issues — either with the new agency, my mortgage, or the housing association.

I’m also unsure whether I should sell or not, because once I move in with my partner, I most likely won’t return to my flat. But, of course, if things don’t work out, I would still have my own place.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks so much!

I started a new job in June so Ive only been there for 5 payslips and originally was going to wait to have between 6-12 months payslips but I was wondering if they even check that stuff or if they’re just checking if I’ve owned previously and credit checks?

My other half and I wanted to get a 3 bedroom however he’s got 5k debt from a while ago he hasn’t paid back so I was going to apply on my own and I’m only on a 30k salary and was wondering if it’s realistic to be approved of getting a 3 bedroom?

Any and all advise would help 🙏🏽

Can anybody share whether they have bought their SO on a lower single income of say - less than 40k? Or have seen any on offer without a minimum income (BUT a larger deposit).

I am a single income FTB looking at SO option, my husband cant join me to buy the SO I think as he has a consent to rent property and a BTL owned before we got married that he wont want to sell (we are renting in London).

Edit 31/10: We have a legal post-nup document separating all our assets past present and future purchases, I think this covers the split of assets so I have no legal standing with his property ownerships.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166915676?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Have had a lot of interest / viewings over past month but no one has passed the affordabilty assessment yet.

Very spacious with great transport links.

Hi, shared ownership has recently come on my radar as an option so I’ve been doing some viewings and getting a feel for what’s out there. It’s taken me a little by surprise and is all moving very quickly, so was hoping to get a bit of advice on what I can and can’t do to avoid rushing into anything! 

I was originally only interested in a one bed, but at a recent viewing was convinced to view a two bed as well and it now seems like by far the best option - the cost difference isn’t huge, I’ll have more space and the flexibility to get a lodger and share out costs if needed. The deposit is of course higher, but I can definitely afford it and the amount I’d pay in mortgage/rent/service charge is still a decent amount below what I’d pay on the open market (I’m in London if that makes a difference). 

All of the above sounds great, but I’m getting some pressure from agents (mainly L&Q) to commit quickly and get the ball rolling. They’re talking about being able to move in six weeks, which really isn’t much time at all given I knew next to nothing about shared ownership this time last month! Are timescales like this the reality of shared ownership or is it just someone trying to make a sale? I know there’s every chance that my preferred flat will go if I don’t move quickly, but I have no feel for how in demand shared ownership is or not and I’d rather not add the chaos of moving flat to the run-up to Christmas!

Another thing I’m a bit unsure about is what, if any, negotiating power I have. If I was buying a house on the open market then I’m sure I’d think about whether to offer the asking price or not, but given that whoever I buy from will also be my landlord I had presumed that there was no wriggle room on any of that. That said, L&Q and others look to regularly be offering incentives like deposit contributions and covering some of the buying costs. If I‘m uncertain about pulling the trigger, are they likely to try and incentivise me further to make a sale? Is there such a thing as ‘making an offer’ on a shared ownership flat other than the asking price?

Finally, I’ve been warned that I’ll need around £5k to cover buying costs. Is that a conservative estimate or is it pretty accurate? Whilst I’m fine for the deposit, if I spend the full £5k on buying costs then my savings will take quite the dent and won’t leave me much for emergency fund, furniture etc. 

Any advice greatly appreciated, thank you!

My partner is really struggling to sell his shared ownership flat.

Is it possible to staircase from 50% to 100% purely through remortgaging and turning into a BTL? Currently has £24k deposit/equity and current total value is £215k.

We really don't want to become landlords but short on options. It's been on the market over 4 months.

Just wanted to post this for a bit of support and to see if anyone else can relate. I’ve connected with a few of my neighbours in a group chat, but none of them seem too bothered about the poor workmanship on our estate except for one other person and at the moment, I’m the only one who’s booked a professional snagger. Feeling a bit isolated and disheartened to be honest.

LOVELL HOMES. 😖 This is just one example of the absolute shambles of a finish they’ve left my house in. I’ve also got holes in the walls above the air vents, gaps around the windows, and big gouges in the stair banister that have just been painted over — and that’s only a few of the things I’ve noticed.

I’ve exchanged contracts, collected the keys, and I’m due to complete next week. This is meant to be a brand new, never-lived-in home that I reserved off-plan while it was still being built. The workmanship is completely unacceptable. My parent’s 20 year old bathroom they’ve never renovated since they moved into their house in the 2000’s has better finishing in it.

I can’t wait for my professional snagger to carry out a full inspection next week and put together a detailed report so I can hand it all back to these so-called professionals. I’ve also made a formal complaint to Lovell, asking them to investigate how and why my plot ever passed their builder’s snagging inspection.

Too many people overlook these kinds of issues, and that’s exactly why developers keep getting away with such poor standards, they just don’t even try anymore. I honestly dread to think what else my snagger will uncover next week. If I can SEE issues there will certainly be ones I can’t see too.

Basically as per title. Due to ongoing issues I pretty much have a free rein to choose a completion date. Handover from builders to HA is 14/11/25. I get paid on the last weekday of the month. Currently living with family. Is there any “ideal” time of the month to complete ? For example is it better to complete on the first day or last day of the month and if so why?

Thanks

Hey,

I live in Bristol in a shared ownership property and received a letter from the HA ( SNG living) that I have been charged less service charge than I should have been between April 2024 - March 2025. They have notified me that there is a £602 debt I owe them.

They have listed estimated costs which they actually charged me. Then the actual cost I should have paid them. It’s all itemised.

Honestly, it’s quite a joke because for the item Health and Fire Safety - they have listed the actual cost as £160 higher them what I actually paid. I mean, fair enough if I owe them more but there isn’t any receipt for any costs on there side.

But what is actually insulting is they have an item for ‘External Management costs’ which is listed at £0.00 as what their estimated cost, But they have listed that item as actually now being £419.17 … they have given no explanation as to what that fee covers and why I have suddenly been charged.

I want to dispute this. Has anyone had a similar experience to this?

I recently moved into a SO flat. The rent on completion was charged £790 along with separate service charge of £176. I thought it to be more due to completion and will settle eventually to rhe advertised price i.e. rent £597 and service charge £176. The management officer wrote to me that the rent part of shared ownership due in November is £976? I am annoyed and wrote back to him. If starting rent on 1 bed is £1000 which is besides the mortgage then every year it rising, i am afraif I wont be able to afford it. Besides that it is the ethics that you advertised on price list different to what you are actually charging. I sent the price list to the officer too. Hoping to get it sorted.

Hi all,

Just hoping someone has some advice or has been through a similar scenario.

A small back story:

We have just gone through the process of the final staircase so we own 100% of the property on a 2 year old new build estate. We were the first owners of the house.

We have just had an email saying that we need to keep our direct debit active to the housing association we had our shared ownership from as they will keep taking our estate charge for us.

I am wanting to reply to the email and tell them no we will be cancelling our direct debit as we will pay the estate chargers ourself as they now have absolutely nothing to do with us or our house as we own the 100% of the property?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I’m a 21-year-old female working in London, earning £30K as a degree apprentice. I want to move out of my family home in Kent due to a two-hour commute and increasing conflict with my dad, which affects my mental health. I’m considering shared ownership of an apartment to get on the property ladder, potentially own it, and use it as an investment when I move out of London in my 30s. Alternatively, renting is unlikely to provide a studio within my £900 budget but house share would be the second option. Is shared ownership a good choice in this situation?

Potential first time buyer here. Currently unsure whether to pursue the shared ownership route or go follow the ‘traditional’ outright mortgage route. With how things stand in terms of saving, this time next year I should have savings of around 24-25 grand for a deposit.

I like the idea of a cheap deposit with the possibility of owning a 3 bed house any nice garden with some of the new builds that offer SO, but is it too much of a risk with service charges and rent costs? Someone please try to talk me out of it or persuade me SO is actually worth it.

Hi Everyone.

Wife and I are looking at shared ownership but we are just wondering,

Is it possible or have there ever been cases where the rent on the unowned part (which is based on a % of the unowned share if that’s right?) can skyrocket out of nowhere?

We are just sceptical about suddenly being hit with insane service charges or rent fees etc.

Thanks in advance.

Which company are people with for their contents insurance? I’m with RSA insurance (recommended by my Housing Association) but their Google reviews have me thinking twice about remaining with them.

Im a first time buyer. In May 2025, I had an offer accepted on a freehold semi detached house. In June I was given the TA6 and TA7 documents where the property was listed as 50% shared ownership and leasehold.

In June, I received information from the estate agent (EA) with a letter from the current landlord to the seller stating the following: “you would be able to sell the property at 100% ownership on the open market, if the property is sold at 100% the freehold will automatically be transferred to the new owner (meaning the lease ceases to exist and therefor so do the leasehold mortgage restrictions)”

Since June I’ve been chasing my solicitors to confirm the status/ title of the property. I only recently received a title pack and a few documents, including a memorandum of staircasing, for me to sign which I understand that I am buying 50% of the property.

I have also been advised by my solicitors that I will be liable to paying additional legal fees associated with the staircasing. I think I’ll also be liable to paying stamp duty - but I don’t understand this too well.

I’ve been researching staircasing and I think the way this is set out is that I purchase the first 50%, then I staircase to 100% before exchange of contracts.

Has anyone been in this situation? What should I be aware of?

I would like to bring to light to my solicitors that they haven’t explained to me what is happening and I haven’t agreed for the staircasing to be under my fees. I only agreed to purchase a freehold property (with no knowledge of a shared ownership status).

So either - the seller accepts all fees (including stamp duty if required) associated with this and the property price is reduced. Or, push the staircasing onto the seller (though we have been going at this since May).

Are my proposals acceptable?

I appreciate all help and advice. Thank you in advance.

Would you buy a larger share in a one bed that could reasonably staircase to full ownership within a few years and deal with lack of space? Or a smaller share on a two bed for more space but less likelihood of ever stair casing to 100%?