Post Completition

About one week after completion, our Sales Support team will give you a call to check in. They’ll make sure you’re settling into your new home comfortably, and that you’ve:

Set up utilities in your name
Register for council tax
Resolved any other intial queries or issues

The Sales Support team is your main contact for the first month after completion. After this period, they’ll pass your details on to our Aftercare and Home Ownership teams to provide ongoing support.

Important information about your new home’s registration

As you’re moving into a newly built home, please be aware there can be a delay in registering your property with Royal Mail. This process can take up to 8 weeks, which may affect delivery companies’ ability to locate your address during that time. Unfortunately, this is outside our control, and we cannot chase this on your behalf.

Check out our podcast!

In Season 1 episode 6 Lisa our Sales Support Manager spoke to us all about defects, and life after moving ito your Shared Ownership home.

Starting Out

Utility accounts and contact information

We will notify the utility companies that you are the new owner of your home. However, due to GDPR regulations, we cannot set up utility accounts or speak with providers on your behalf.

When you contact your utility providers, they may ask for your MPAN (Meter Point Administration Number) or serial number – these details will be given to you on the day of completion.
Ongoing support after the first month

After your initial month with us, our Aftercare team will be your go-to for any issues relating to defects or repairs. For all other queries related to your home, the Home Ownership team will be ready to assist you.

New home tips

Defects

Defects and minor issues in your new build home

It’s common for defects and minor issues to occur in new build homes. Our dedicated Aftercare team will be in touch within two weeks of your move-in date to support you with any concerns.

Some defects may have already been identified during our snagging and de-snagging process. These will be highlighted to you at completion or through our Sales Support team. Please note that we do not accept snagging reports from external companies, as we manage the snagging and de-snagging directly with the developer before handover.

Understanding your defect liability period

Your new home comes with a defect liability period, which starts from the completion of the building, not the day you move in. If you are buying a home that is already complete, some or all of this period may have already passed. We’ll provide the exact expiry date when you reserve your home.

At the end of the defect liability period, there’ll be an end of defects inspection carried out by the developer and Southern Housing. This is where the developer will inspect any final issues and agree which items should be treated as defects.

What's not a defect

Moving up or moving on?

Buying further shares in your home – Staircasing

If you decide to buy more shares in your Shared Ownership home, this process is known as staircasing. You can do this at any time, and the more shares you buy, the lower your rent will be. If you're looking to staircase our Sales Services Team can help you with that. Your lease outlines the specific terms for staircasing, and your solicitor can guide you through the legal steps involved.
Selling your home

When you're ready to move on, Southern Housing’s dedicated resales team will support you through the process of selling your Shared Ownership home. They can guide you through each step, from valuation to finding a buyer. Full details and helpful resources are available on their resales webpage, making it easy to understand what to expect and how to get started.

Learn More