Shared Ownership Unpacked

What is shared ownership? Shared Ownership is a government-backed initiative which allows you to buy a share of a property and pay rent on the remaining share, providing an alternative route to homeownership and private renting. This initiative helps you have a place to call your own, feel more secure than you would renting and build equity.

If you’re struggling to get a large enough mortgage to buy a home on the open market, have a good income but haven't managed to save enough deposit, or find that homes in the area you want to live are simply too expensive, then Shared Ownership could be your answer.

We'll always try to avoid using jargon, but sometimes it's unavoidable, so if you're not sure what something means we've built a handy Jargon Buster just for you.

Use our Jargon Buster

Podcast fan?

Check out our podcast where we dive into all things Shared Ownership - expect expert advice, honest stories, and a few laughs along the way.

Season one was Hosted by Joe Bartlett, AKA The Home Buyer Coach and our very own Rob Horne from the Southern Housing New Homes Marketing Team. Six episodes. Zero jargon. All things Shared Ownership.

We've recently gathered back round the microphones for Season two and we've added the amazing Jodi James from the Southern Housing New Homes Marketing Team to our hosts. This season is four episodes and they're better than ever!

Eligibility Criteria

Your household income is £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 a year or less in London)
You're unable to afford the full deposit of a home on the open market.
You're a first time buyer
you used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now
You're starting out again on your own - perhaps after a divorce
You're already a shared owner and want to move home
You're a current home owner but cannot afford to buy a new home that you want outright

Eligibility Criteria UK Government

Still have questions?

Hopefully this page has helped explain the basics of Shared Ownership. But we know there's quite a lot to cover and we've only just started unpacking it. For a more detailed breakdown of the initiative, including how buying, selling and increasing your share works, explore our FAQs page.

Shared Ownership FAQs

What’s next?

Now that you’ve got a clearer picture of how Shared Ownership works, you might want to explore what the buying process looks like step-by-step.

Shared Ownership Journey