Shared Ownership Mortgages: How They Work, Eligibility and Costs
Shared Ownership can give you another route into homeownership if buying a suitable property outright isn’t currently affordable — perhaps because of your income, the size of your deposit, or a combination of the two.
You buy a share of the property, usually between 10% and 75%, and pay rent to the housing provider on the part you don't own. You'll normally also need to budget for costs such as service charges or estate charges, depending on the property.
We'll help you understand how much you may be able to afford, compare Shared Ownership mortgage options and guide you through the lender and housing provider requirements.
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How Does Shared Ownership Work?
With Shared Ownership, you buy a percentage of a property rather than purchasing the whole home outright. You’ll normally take out a mortgage for the share you’re buying and pay rent to the housing provider on the remaining share.
Depending on the property and scheme, you may be able to buy between 10% and 75% initially. Your deposit is usually based on the value of the share you’re purchasing, rather than the full property value, which can make the amount you need to save more manageable.
For example, if a property is worth £300,000 and you buy a 25% share, you would be purchasing £75,000 of the property. A 5% deposit on that share would be £3,750, with a mortgage potentially covering the remaining £71,250.
However, the mortgage payment is only part of the monthly cost.
You’ll also need to budget for the rent payable on the share you don’t own and, depending on the property, there may be service charges, estate charges or other costs. These are important because both the housing provider and mortgage lender will need to be satisfied that the overall arrangement is affordable for you.
Your monthly housing costs could therefore include:
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your mortgage repayment
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rent on the share you don’t own
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service or estate charges
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other management or property charges where applicable.
This is one of the areas where Shared Ownership affordability can be quite different from buying a property outright. A smaller mortgage doesn’t necessarily mean the overall property will be affordable once all of the other monthly costs are included.
Our Shared Ownership Calculator can help you bring these figures together and get an indication of the mortgage, rent and overall monthly cost based on the share you’re considering.
If you’d prefer us to work it through with you, speak to our dedicated Shared Ownership team. We can look at your income, deposit and commitments alongside the rent and charges for the property and help you understand what may be realistic before you commit to a purchase.
Shared Ownership at a Glance
10%–75%
Share of the property you may be able to purchase
5%–10%
Typical deposit based on the share you’re buying
£80,000
Maximum household income outside London*
£90,000
Maximum household income in London*
What Does a Shared Ownership Home Actually Cost Each Month?
With Shared Ownership, your monthly housing cost is usually made up of more than just the mortgage.
You’ll normally have a mortgage payment on the share you own, rent on the share owned by the housing provider and, depending on the property, additional charges such as a service charge, estate charge or management fee.
Some Shared Ownership properties may also have a ground rent charge, particularly older leases. For most newer qualifying leases, ground rent on the share you own is restricted to a "peppercorn", which effectively means no financial ground rent is payable. Your solicitor should check the lease and confirm exactly what applies to the property you’re buying.
The rent is based on the share you don’t own. For new-build Shared Ownership homes, the starting rent is usually no more than 3% of the value of the housing provider’s share, with many providers charging around 2.75%. The rent is normally reviewed each year and may increase in line with the terms of your lease.
This is why it’s important not to look at the mortgage payment in isolation.
For example, a Shared Ownership mortgage may look relatively small compared with the full property value, but the rent and service charges can make a significant difference to the total amount you’ll pay each month.
Before reserving a property, check the Key Information Document provided by the housing provider. This should set out the costs attached to that particular home, including the rent and other ongoing charges.
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Shared Ownership Mortgage Lenders
At Delta Mortgages, we have access to Shared Ownership mortgage options from across the market — from well-known high-street lenders through to more specialist providers.
That gives us a broad range of criteria and products to consider when matching the mortgage to your circumstances, the share you’re buying and the property itself.
Our dedicated Shared Ownership team will compare suitable options, check the lender’s Shared Ownership criteria and make sure the mortgage product can be used for the property before you apply.
The lender logos shown below are examples of some of the lenders we may consider. Availability will depend on your circumstances and the property you’re buying.
Let’s Talk Shared Ownership Mortgages
Speak to a Shared Ownership mortgage adviser today for straightforward, no-obligation advice tailored to your income and circumstances.
Call our dedicated team on 01202 084945, or use the button below to arrange a call back.
The Shared Ownership Buying Process
Buying through Shared Ownership has a few extra stages compared with a standard property purchase because both the housing provider and the mortgage lender need to be satisfied that the purchase is suitable and affordable.
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Mortgage Offer, Exchange and Completion
Once the lender has finished its checks and is happy with the application and property, it will issue your formal mortgage offer.
At the same time, your solicitor will continue working through the legal side of the purchase with the housing provider and their solicitors. They’ll confirm when everything is ready for you to exchange contracts and agree a completion date.
Before you exchange, make sure you’re clear on the final figures — including your mortgage payment, rent, service charge and any other regular costs attached to the property.
On completion day, the mortgage funds are released, the purchase completes, and you become the legal owner of your share. 🎉
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Instruct a Solicitor
You’ll need a solicitor or conveyancer to deal with the legal work. Many housing associations have a suggested panel of firms that are already familiar with Shared Ownership transactions, although you can usually choose your own solicitor if you prefer.
Because Shared Ownership involves a lease with the housing provider, it’s important to use someone who understands this type of purchase. Your solicitor should explain the lease terms, how the rent and service charges work, the rules around staircasing, and any restrictions or conditions that apply to the property.
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Reserve the Property and Arrange Your Mortgage
Once you’ve found a property and the housing provider is happy for you to proceed, you may be asked to pay a reservation fee to secure it for a set period.
From there, your Delta adviser can take over the mortgage side with you. We’ll check which lenders are suitable for your circumstances, make sure the property and scheme fit their criteria, and then submit the mortgage application when you’re ready.
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Complete the Affordability Assessment
The housing provider will usually carry out its own affordability assessment to check that the share you’re buying and the overall monthly costs are sustainable for you.
As part of this process, they may ask to see an Agreement in Principle (AIP) from a mortgage lender to show that the mortgage amount you need is potentially achievable.
If you’re at this stage, contact our dedicated Shared Ownership team on 01202 084945. We can look at your income, deposit and commitments, check suitable lender criteria, and arrange an AIP where appropriate before you submit it to the housing provider.
The housing provider’s assessment is separate from the mortgage lender’s full affordability and underwriting checks, which will take place when you make a formal mortgage application.
Already have an AIP? Make sure it was obtained for a Shared Ownership mortgage.
Many lenders use specific Shared Ownership products or have separate criteria for these applications, so an AIP for a standard residential mortgage does not necessarily mean the lender will accept the same borrowing on a Shared Ownership property.
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Find a Shared Ownership Property
Shared Ownership homes can be either new-build properties or resale homes, where an existing Shared Ownership owner is selling their share.
The housing provider will normally give you details of the share available, the rent payable on the remaining share, service charges and any other ongoing costs attached to the property.
If you’re looking for a new-build or pre-loved Shared Ownership home, you can search for properties in your area on the Share to Buy website.
Who Is Eligible for the Shared Ownership Scheme?
Shared Ownership is often associated with first-time buyers, but you don’t necessarily need to be buying your first home to qualify.
There are specific eligibility rules all applicants must meet before applying for a Shared Ownership home:
Your household income must usually be:
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£80,000 a year or less outside London
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£90,000 a year or less in London
By household income, we mean the combined annual income of the people who will be buying the property and living there as their home.
For example, if you’re buying with a partner, both incomes would usually count towards the household income limit. If you’re buying alone, it would normally just be your income.
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You may be eligible for Shared Ownership if you meet the income and affordability rules and fall into one of the following groups:
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a first-time buyer
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someone who owned a home previously but cannot now afford to buy a suitable property outright
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someone forming a new household, for example following a relationship breakdown
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an existing Shared Ownership owner looking to move
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a current homeowner who needs to move but cannot afford to buy a suitable new home on the open market (see the next section for the additional rules that apply to current homeowners).
Buying with someone else? If you make a joint Shared Ownership application, everyone applying must meet the eligibility criteria and will become a joint legal owner of the property. The housing provider will also take the financial circumstances of all applicants into account when assessing affordability.
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You can still potentially use Shared Ownership, but there are extra requirements.
You’ll normally need to have:
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Accepted an offer on your current residential property (often referred to as "sold subject-to-contract" or "sold STC").
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A memorandum of sale confirming the agreed sale (usually produced by your estate agent), which the housing provider may want to see before they accept your application.
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Legally completed the sale of your existing home before or on the same day as your Shared Ownership purchase completes.
You should also tell the housing provider about any other property you own or have an interest in, including a buy-to-let or a property overseas.
Shared Ownership is designed to help people who cannot otherwise afford a suitable home, so you would not normally be able to keep another residential property while buying through the scheme. Any existing property ownership should be discussed with the housing provider at the outset, as it could affect your eligibility.
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Some Shared Ownership homes have extra local eligibility rules.
For example, you may need to show that you:
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already live in the area
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work locally
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have close family connections to the area
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have previously lived there and need to return
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meet another local priority set for that particular development.
These rules are more common on some rural developments or where the homes have been provided specifically to help local people stay in the area. The exact requirements can vary from one property or housing provider to another.
If you’re interested in a particular Shared Ownership property, check the eligibility details with the housing provider before paying a reservation fee. They should be able to confirm whether any local connection rules apply and what evidence they’ll need from you.
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The housing provider needs to make sure the Shared Ownership purchase is affordable for you now and is likely to remain manageable.
They’ll usually look at things such as:
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your income
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your regular household spending
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any loans, credit cards or other financial commitments
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the amount of deposit and savings you have available
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the expected mortgage payment
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the rent on the share you don’t own
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any service charge, estate charge or other property costs
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any known changes that could affect your finances, such as a change in working hours or upcoming commitments.
The aim is to work out what share of the property you can comfortably afford without leaving your monthly budget too tight. Housing providers may also have their own minimum amount they expect you to have left over each month after your normal costs have been taken into account.
This is separate from the mortgage lender’s own affordability checks.
If you’ve found a property, our dedicated Shared Ownership team can look at the figures with you, arrange a Decision in Principle where appropriate, and help you understand how the mortgage, rent and charges fit together before you commit to the purchase.
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Yes. Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO) is available for people aged 55 or over who meet the usual Shared Ownership eligibility rules.
With OPSO, you can buy between 10% and 75% of an eligible property. The important difference is that once you own 75%, you do not pay rent on the remaining 25%.
OPSO properties are specifically designed or marketed for older people, so availability will depend on what is being offered in your area.
Find out more about Older Persons Shared Ownership on GOV.UK
There is a separate route called Home Ownership for people with a Long-term Disability (HOLD).
HOLD may be an option if you have a long-term disability that meets their definition and the Shared Ownership homes normally available do not meet your needs — for example, because you need a ground-floor property or need to live close to a particular support network.
Under HOLD, a participating housing provider can help you buy a suitable property on the open market on a Shared Ownership basis. You’ll still need to meet the usual income and affordability rules, and a HOLD provider must be operating in the area where you want to buy.
Sometimes more than one household may want to buy the same Shared Ownership home.
If that happens, serving members of the Armed Forces are given priority. Some former members of the Armed Forces may also receive priority, depending on their previous role and circumstances.
This does not remove the normal Shared Ownership eligibility and affordability requirements — you’ll still need to meet those before you can proceed.
What Are the Advantages and Limitations of Shared Ownership?
Shared Ownership can make buying a home possible where purchasing a suitable property outright isn’t currently affordable, but there are extra costs and rules to understand before deciding whether it’s right for you.
Potential Advantages
A smaller deposit may be needed
Your deposit is normally based on the value of the share you’re buying rather than the full property value, which can make the upfront amount more achievable.
You may need a smaller mortgage
Because you’re only financing the share you purchase, the mortgage required can be considerably lower than if you were buying the property outright.
You can buy more of the property later
Most Shared Ownership leases allow you to purchase additional shares in the future, known as staircasing. As your ownership share increases, the rent you pay on the remaining share reduces.
It can give you access to a home you couldn’t otherwise afford
Shared Ownership may allow you to buy a suitable property in an area where buying outright would currently be beyond your budget.
You still benefit if the value of your share increases
If the property rises in value, the value of the share you own will generally rise too. Of course, property values can also fall.
Things to Consider
You’ll pay rent as well as a mortgage
Until you own 100% of the property, you’ll normally pay rent to the housing provider on the share you don’t own. You may also have service charges, estate charges, management fees or payments into a reserve fund.
The monthly costs can change
Rent and service charges can increase over time, so don’t base your decision on the mortgage payment alone.
You’re usually responsible for repairs and maintenance
Even though you only own a share, you’ll generally be responsible for maintaining the inside of your home. For some newer Shared Ownership leases, an initial repair period may provide limited help with certain repair costs.
There may be restrictions in the lease
You may need the housing provider’s permission for certain alterations, and there can be rules around subletting, keeping pets or making structural changes. Your solicitor should explain the terms that apply to the particular property you’re buying.
Buying more shares comes with costs
Staircasing can involve a valuation, administration charges, legal costs and potentially changes to your mortgage. The price of the extra share will normally be based on the property’s value at that time.
Selling can involve an extra step
Depending on the terms of your lease, you may need to give the housing provider an opportunity to find a buyer before you can market the property more widely.
Not Sure How the Figures Stack Up?
The percentage of the property you buy is only one part of the decision. The mortgage, rent, service charge and other ongoing costs all need to work comfortably within your budget.
Use our Shared Ownership Calculator to see how the figures could come together, or speak to our dedicated Shared Ownership team on 01202 084945 and we can work through them with you.
What Do Mortgage Lenders Look at for Shared Ownership?
A Shared Ownership mortgage is assessed in much the same way as any other residential mortgage, but the lender also needs to take the rent and other property charges into account.
Your Income
The lender will check that your income is acceptable and can be evidenced. How it is assessed can vary depending on whether you’re employed, self-employed, contracting or have more than one source of income.
Read more about mortgages for the Self-Employed and Contractors.
Your Credit History
Lenders will look at how you’ve managed credit in the past, including loans, credit cards, overdrafts and any missed payments. Previous credit problems don’t automatically rule out Shared Ownership, but they can affect which lenders may be available.
Your Deposit
Your deposit is normally calculated against the share you’re buying, rather than the full property value.
Different lenders have different minimum deposit requirements, and having a larger deposit can sometimes give you access to a wider choice of mortgage products.
Your Monthly Commitments
Loans, credit cards, childcare, maintenance payments and other regular commitments can all affect how much a lender is prepared to lend.
For Shared Ownership, the lender will also take account of the rent and service charge attached to the property.
The Property and Shared Ownership Scheme
Not every lender offers mortgages on Shared Ownership properties. Those that do may have a specific product range, separate lending criteria, or both.
The lender may look at things such as the percentage share you’re buying, the housing provider, remaining lease term, service charges and any unusual restrictions in the lease.
If you already have an Agreement in Principle (AIP), check that it can be used for Shared Ownership — not just a standard residential purchase.
Let Us Check the Mortgage Side Before You Commit
If you’ve found a Shared Ownership home, speak to our dedicated Shared Ownership team before you reserve it.
We can check your borrowing position, the lender criteria and the property details, and arrange a Decision in Principle where appropriate.
Buying More of Your Shared Ownership Home (Staircasing)
Staircasing simply means buying a bigger share of your Shared Ownership home.
For example, if you originally bought a 25% share, you might later increase this to 50%, 75% or, in many cases, 100%.
As your share increases, the amount of rent you pay to the housing provider reduces because they own less of the property.
How Much Can I Buy?
This depends on the terms of your lease.
Many Shared Ownership leases allow you to buy additional shares of 10% or more, while some newer leases allow increases of 5% or more. Certain newer Shared Ownership homes may also allow you to buy an extra 1% each year for the first 15 years. Older leases can have different rules, so always check what applies to your particular property.
For most Shared Ownership homes, you can eventually staircase to 100% ownership, although there are exceptions. Some homes in designated protected areas may be restricted to 80%, and Older Persons Shared Ownership normally has a maximum share of 75%.
How Is the Cost of Staircasing Worked Out?
For most standard staircasing, the housing provider will require an up-to-date valuation of the property from a RICS-registered surveyor, at your own cost. You can find a local surveyor on the RICS website.
The price you pay for the additional share is then based on the property’s reported value at that time — not what you originally paid for the home.
So, if your home has increased in value, the additional share will usually cost more. If its value has fallen, it could cost less.
How Do I Pay for the Extra Share?
Some people use savings, but many need to increase their mortgage.
That might mean:
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borrowing more from your existing lender
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remortgaging to a different lender
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using a combination of savings and mortgage borrowing.
If you’re using a mortgage, the lender will normally reassess your income, outgoings and affordability before agreeing the additional borrowing.
Your Delta Shared Ownership mortgage adviser can compare whether it makes more sense to stay with your current lender or remortgage when you staircase.
What Does It Cost To Staircase?
As well as paying for the additional share itself, you may need to budget for:
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a RICS valuation
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housing provider administration fees
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solicitor or conveyancing fees
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mortgage or lender fees where applicable
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possible Stamp Duty Land Tax.
For standard staircasing of 5% or more, housing provider administration fees can vary, and the valuation will usually only be valid for a limited period. GOV.UK currently states that the purchase will generally need to complete within three months of the valuation date or a new valuation may be required.
What Happens to My Rent?
As you buy more of the property, your rent reduces because it is recalculated on the smaller share still owned by the housing provider.
If you eventually staircase to 100%, you will normally stop paying Shared Ownership rent altogether, although service charges, estate charges or other property-related costs may continue.
Thinking About Staircasing?
Before deciding how much more to buy, it’s worth looking at the whole cost, not just whether the extra borrowing is affordable each month.
Use our Shared Ownership Calculator to model how buying a larger share could change your mortgage, rent and overall monthly housing cost.
You can also speak to our dedicated Shared Ownership team on 01202 084945 so we can look at your existing mortgage, the cost of the additional share, your new borrowing options, and whether remortgaging could make sense.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shared Ownership Mortgages
Still have questions? These are some of the things our Shared Ownership team is asked most often.
Your deposit is normally based on the share you’re buying, not the full value of the property.
For example, if you buy a 25% share of a £300,000 property, your share is worth £75,000. A 5% deposit on that share would be £3,750.
By comparison, if you were buying the full £300,000 property, a 5% deposit would be £15,000.
This lower upfront deposit requirement is one of the reasons Shared Ownership can make buying a home more achievable if saving a larger deposit is proving difficult.
The minimum deposit you’ll need will depend on the lender, the property and your circumstances, so it’s worth checking your options before assuming how much you’ll need.
Yes. Being self-employed or working as a contractor doesn’t prevent you from buying through Shared Ownership.
The important part is being able to evidence your income in a way that both the mortgage lender and housing provider are happy with. Different lenders assess self-employed and contractor income in different ways, so choosing the right lender can make a real difference.
Read more about Self-Employed Mortgages or Mortgages for Contractors.
Possibly. There isn’t one universal credit score that determines whether you can get a mortgage.
Lenders will look at your wider credit history, including what happened, how much was involved and how recently it occurred. Missed payments, defaults or CCJs don’t automatically mean Shared Ownership is unavailable, but they may reduce the choice of lenders.
If you’re concerned about your credit history, speak to our Shared Ownership team before making multiple mortgage applications.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) works a little differently with Shared Ownership because you’re buying a share of the property rather than the whole home at once.
When you first buy, there are usually two ways SDLT can be dealt with:
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Pay SDLT based on the full market value of the property. This is known as a market value election. If you choose this option, you normally won’t pay any further SDLT if you buy more shares later.
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Pay SDLT in stages. This means any SDLT due initially is based on the first transaction and, where relevant, the rent under the lease. You normally won’t pay further SDLT on staircasing until your ownership goes above 80%.
For example, if you initially buy a 25% share, you do not automatically have to pay SDLT as though you were buying 100% of the property.
If you later staircase from 25% to 75%, there would normally be no further SDLT under the staged-payment route. If you staircase above 80%, SDLT may then become payable on that transaction and on further staircasing.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you may also be able to claim First-Time Buyers’ Relief when you first buy your Shared Ownership home, provided you meet the qualifying conditions. This can apply whether you make a market value election or choose to pay SDLT in stages.
Which option is most appropriate will depend on your circumstances, the property value and whether you expect to buy more shares in the future.
Your solicitor should calculate the SDLT due and explain the options before you complete.
You can also use the HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator to get an indication of the tax that may be payable.
For more information about current SDLT rates and First-Time Buyers’ Relief, see our Stamp Duty Explained guide.
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Yes. You may want to remortgage because your current mortgage deal is ending, you want to change lender, or you’re planning to buy a larger share of the property.
Shared Ownership remortgages can involve additional requirements from the housing provider, particularly if you’re staircasing at the same time, so it’s worth checking the process before making changes to your mortgage.
See our Remortgaging guide or speak to our dedicated Shared Ownership team.
Usually, no. You don’t normally have to staircase simply because you’ve owned the property for a certain length of time.
You can continue owning your existing share and paying rent on the housing provider’s share if that continues to suit you.
If you do decide to staircase, check your lease carefully. The minimum amount you can buy and how often you can do it can vary depending on when the property was built and the terms of your particular Shared Ownership lease.
It depends on the type of property and the terms of your lease - particularly if you own a house or a flat.
Freehold generally means you own the property and the land it stands on outright.
Leasehold means you own the right to live in the property for the length of the lease, but the land and/or building is owned by someone else. Leasehold properties can also have ongoing charges for things such as maintaining communal areas, buildings insurance, or estate management.
If you own a Shared Ownership house, the freehold will usually transfer to you once you staircase to 100%. This means you would then own the property outright rather than continuing as a Shared Ownership leaseholder.
If you own a Shared Ownership flat, you will normally remain a leaseholder even after reaching 100% ownership. You would own the full value of your flat, but the wider building and communal areas would still be managed under a leasehold structure.
Once you reach 100%, you would normally stop paying Shared Ownership rent, although service charges, estate charges or other building-related costs may still apply.
There are some exceptions. Certain Shared Ownership schemes restrict how far you can staircase, so you may not always be able to reach 100%.
Your solicitor should explain exactly what happens to the freehold or leasehold title before you buy, so you know what will apply to that particular property.
Shared Ownership is intended to provide you with a home to live in yourself, rather than a property to buy as an investment.
You generally cannot rent out the whole property while you only own a share unless the housing provider gives permission, which is normally reserved for exceptional circumstances.
You may be able to have a lodger while you continue living in the property yourself, but check your lease, housing provider requirements and mortgage conditions first.
If your intention is to buy a property specifically to let to tenants, see our Buy-to-Let Mortgages guide instead.
You can normally decorate and make everyday improvements to your home, but you may need permission from the housing provider for structural changes or larger alterations.
If you’re planning substantial work, check before starting. Improvements can also affect how the property is valued if you later staircase or sell, and having written permission can be important.
If you’re worried that you may struggle to make your mortgage, rent or service charge payments, try to speak to your mortgage lender and housing provider before you miss a payment, if you can.
The earlier they know there is a problem, the more chance there is to discuss possible support or an affordable way forward.
If you’ve already missed a payment, don’t ignore letters or calls. Contact both organisations and explain what is happening, particularly if you’re struggling with more than one part of the monthly cost.
You can also get free, independent help from:
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Shelter — for housing advice, including specific guidance for Shared Ownership homeowners who are struggling with mortgage or rent payments.
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Citizens Advice — for help with mortgage arrears, budgeting and wider debt problems.
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MoneyHelper — for guidance on mortgage and rent arrears and the support that may be available.
If you’re facing court action, repossession proceedings, or you’ve received legal papers, get independent advice as soon as possible rather than trying to deal with it alone.
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Possibly. This is known as ‘porting’ your mortgage to a new property, although not all lenders allow it.
People usually consider porting because they want to keep an existing interest rate or avoid paying an early repayment charge.
Porting isn’t automatic. The lender will still need to approve your application, the new Shared Ownership property and the housing provider. You’ll also need to meet the eligibility requirements for the new Shared Ownership home.
The share you buy in the new property doesn’t have to be the same as the share you currently own.
For example:
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if you’re buying a larger share, you may need additional borrowing alongside the mortgage you’re porting. Any top-up borrowing would normally be on one of the lender’s current mortgage products, rather than the rate on your existing mortgage.
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if you’re buying a smaller share, you may need a smaller mortgage and repay part of your existing loan when you move.
The lender will carry out a new affordability assessment using your circumstances at the time, including your income, financial commitments, the mortgage required and the rent and service charges on the new property.
We would normally compare the cost of porting your existing mortgage with taking a completely new mortgage, because keeping the old deal isn’t always the most suitable or cost-effective option.
If you’re thinking about moving from one Shared Ownership property to another, speak to our Shared Ownership team before committing to the new property. We can check the lender, the new share and the mortgage options together.
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Selling a Shared Ownership home isn’t quite as simple as putting up a “For Sale” sign and waiting for offers, but the process is usually straightforward once you know what needs to happen.
Here’s how it generally works:
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Tell your housing provider – If you don’t own 100% of the property, you’ll normally need to tell the housing provider that you want to sell. Your lease may give them a nomination period to find an eligible buyer for your share. This can be 4, 8 or 12 weeks depending on the terms of your lease.
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Get the property valued – You’ll usually need a valuation from a surveyor registered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The valuation is used to establish the market value of your home and the value of the share you’re selling. You’ll normally need to pay for this valuation.
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Market the property – If the housing provider doesn’t find a buyer within the nomination period, you may then be able to market the property more widely, for example through an estate agent. The exact rules will depend on your lease.
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Deal with the legal work – You’ll need a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the sale, liaise with the housing provider and buyer’s solicitor, and deal with the lease and completion paperwork. You should also budget for any housing provider administration fees and your legal costs.
If you own 100% of your Shared Ownership home, you can usually sell it on the open market in much the same way as any other property, although it’s still worth checking whether your lease contains any restrictions that continue to apply.
If you’re selling your Shared Ownership home and buying somewhere else with a mortgage (another Shared Ownership property or on the open market), get in touch with us to discuss what happens to your current mortgage, whether porting is possible, and the mortgage options for your next home. You can also take a look at our Moving Home Mortgages guide.
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How Delta Mortgages Can Help You Secure a Shared Ownership Mortgage
Shared Ownership applications can involve a few more moving parts than a standard mortgage. As well as finding a suitable lender, the mortgage needs to fit the property, housing provider and Shared Ownership scheme.
Our dedicated Shared Ownership team of mortgage advisers can help you with the whole process.
Check What You Can Afford
We’ll look at your income, deposit and financial commitments alongside the rent, service charge and other costs attached to the property, so you have a realistic idea of what may be affordable before you commit.
Find a Suitable Shared Ownership Mortgage
Not every lender accepts Shared Ownership, and those that do can have different criteria.
We’ll research the market and check the lender’s requirements against both your circumstances and the property you’re buying.
Arrange Your Decision in Principle
If your housing provider needs a Decision in Principle as part of its affordability assessment, we can arrange this with a lender that accepts Shared Ownership applications.
Manage the Mortgage Application
Once you’re ready to proceed, we’ll submit the application, deal with the lender’s underwriting queries and keep you updated as it progresses.
We can also liaise with the housing provider, estate agent and solicitor where needed to help keep everything moving.
Stay With You Through to Completion
We don’t disappear once the mortgage offer is issued.
We’ll continue to support you through to completion and, where the lender allows, keep an eye on the mortgage products available in case a more suitable rate becomes available before you complete.
And when you need us again (whether you’re remortgaging, staircasing or moving to another home), your Delta mortgage adviser can help with the next stage too.
Ready to Take the Next Step With Shared Ownership?
Whether you’re just starting to explore Shared Ownership or you’ve already found a property, our dedicated Shared Ownership team can help you understand the mortgage options and what you’ll need to do next.
We can check your affordability, arrange an Agreement in Principle with a lender where appropriate, and guide you through the mortgage process from application to completion.
Meet the Team That’s Got Your Back
Shared Ownership can involve a few more checks than a standard mortgage, so it helps to speak to someone who understands how the mortgage, housing provider and affordability assessment all fit together.
Our dedicated Shared Ownership team can help whether you’re buying your first share, remortgaging, staircasing, or moving from one Shared Ownership home to another.
You’ll deal with an adviser who can explain the process clearly, check lender criteria, and support you from your first questions through to completion.
Related Services
Shared Ownership can overlap with other parts of the mortgage journey. These guides may be useful if you’re buying for the first time, reviewing your mortgage, staircasing or planning to move.
Your property could be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage, or any debt secured on it.
Written and reviewed by: Lauren Drake
Credentials: Mortgage, Protection & Equity Release Adviser – CertCII (MP & ER)
Date last reviewed: 01 October 2026
This page has been reviewed for accuracy and relevance. Mortgage criteria, product availability and legislation can change. Delta Mortgages is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within the linked site(s) accessible from this page.
