Shared ownership houses for sale | What is shared ownership?

How does it work?

Eligibility

Staircasing

Considerations

Shared ownership houses

Shared ownership

Horlicks Quarter

by SOWN Shared Ownership

Slough, Berkshire, SL1 3GX

1 & 2 bedroom apartments

£28,750 - £41,000 for a 10% share
(£287,500 - £410,000 Full Market Value)

Discover Aquifer House at Horlicks Quarter A stunning collection of brand-new 1 & 2-bedroom shared ownership apartments, thoughtfully designed to a high specification. These homes offer residents unparalleled access to an exceptional range of on-site facilities, ensuring your lifestyle is as comfortable and vibrant as your new home. Enjoy exclusive amenities including: A 12-hour concierge service Private cinema room Residents-only gym Dedicated home-working hub Rooftop garden with scenic views A stylish residents’ lounge featuring a cozy seating area, pool table, kitchen, and coffee bar Premium Quality Apartments Crafted by Berkeley Homes, these apartments are designed with meticulous attention to detail. Highlights include: Bosch integrated kitchen appliances Karndean timber-effect flooring in living areas Recessed LED lighting for a modern ambiance Audio/video door entry system for added security A 10-year Premier Guarantee for peace of mind A 990-year lease for long-term value A Historic Landmark Reimagined Set in the heart of Slough, Horlicks Quarter breathes new life into the iconic Horlicks Factory. Blending heritage and innovation, the development features beautifully refurbished historic buildings, modern homes, and carefully curated landscaped gardens with tranquil water features. The iconic Clocktower and chimney remain centrepieces of this vibrant new community. Unmatched Connectivity Perfect for commuters, Horlicks Quarter is just a 7-minute walk to Slough Mainline Station, offering: Elizabeth Line access and direct trains for fast, direct journeys to London Paddington in under 15 minutes and Bond Street in 30 minutes Easy access to the M4 (6-minute drive to Junction 6) Heathrow Airport reachable in under 20 minutes For leisure, Windsor Castle is a mere 5 miles away, along with the historic Windsor town centre and the Royal Windsor Racecourse. Horlicks Quarter – The Best of Modern Urban Living Combining high-quality homes, excellent facilities, beautiful gardens, and a prime location, this development offers a perfect balance of comfort, convenience, and style.

Shared ownership

Beaulieu Park

by Sage Homes

Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 6GR

1 bedroom apartments

£61,250 for a 25% share
£245,000 Full Market Value

Located in a popular area offering easy access to nature, you're just a short drive from Chelmsford’s vibrant city centre. Built by developers Countryside and perfect for first-time buyers and growing families, you’ll find lots to do close to home as well as great connections getting you to London in under an hour. Close by is Beaulieu Park Recreation Ground offering sports facilities, while bustling Chelmsford has restaurants, cafés, shops and more, meeting your every need. There are also two new primary schools and a secondary school as part of the development. Plus, the brand-new Beaulieu Park railway station will make commuting even easier, providing direct links to London and beyond right on your doorstep.

Shared ownership

Herons Lake

by Abri Homes

Theale, Berkshire, RG7 5JQ

2 bedroom apartments

£123,000 - £124,000 for a 40% share
£307,500 - £310,000 Full Market Value

Herons Lake is a new collection of two, three and four bedroom homes offering Shared Ownership in Reading. Nestled in the charming village of Theale, these homes put everyday conveniences close at hand, from local shops and cafés to friendly pubs along the high street. Need a quick trip into town? Reading is just 15 minutes by car, with plenty to see and do. Surrounded by parks and waterside walks, Herons Lake brings a perfect balance of village calm and city connections for anyone looking to settle in the area. Tenure: Leasehold. Length of lease: 990 years. Reservation fee: £500. Predicted council tax band: New build properties, band to be determined. Service charge is reviewed once a year.

Shared ownership

How does Shared ownership work?

Shared ownership allows you to buy a share of a new house and pay rent on the remaining part. It is a government-backed incentive scheme, primarily aimed at helping first time buyers onto the property ladder. You can also use it to buy a bigger home than you can afford on the open market.

The percentage you can purchase may be different depending on where you buy the home:

In England, you can buy shares of between 10% and 75% of the full market value
In Scotland, you can buy a 25%, 50% or 75% share
In Wales, you can buy shares of between 25 and 75% of what the home is worth

Shared ownership is also known as ‘part-buy, part-rent’.

You will purchase your shared ownership property via a housing association or council. The home will be a new build or a re-sale of an existing shared ownership property, of which you’ll need to purchase the same percentage of shares as the existing owner, or more.

You will need a deposit and a mortgage on your share of the property that you are buying. The remaining share is owned by the housing association or council, and you will pay rent comprising up to 3% of this amount.

Although the housing association may have shares of up to 90% in your home, you will become the owner of the lease. As the leaseholder, you will be responsible for repairs inside the property and the housing association will take care of the outside.

To cover any costs that might be necessary for outside work, you will need to pay a service charge, usually paid monthly. It is a good idea to find out how much the service charge is and factor that into all monthly outgoings before you agree to buy.

Shared ownership eligibility

In England, this scheme is available to those in a household with a combined income of less than £80,000 a year (or £90,000 in London), and you are unable to afford a deposit and mortgage payments on a suitable property for you and your family. In Wales, you must have a combined income of less than £60,000.

There are other criteria you must meet, such as:

being a first time buyer, or
if you used to own a home but can no longer afford to buy outright, or
you want to move from one shared ownership property to another, or
you're setting up a new household, for example after a relationship breakdown, or
you currently own a home, and wish to move but cannot afford to buy outright.

You will also need to have no outstanding credit issues, so make sure you get your finances in order before you apply.

Criteria varies by country, so be sure to check before applying.

A development of Shared Ownership homes in England

What is Staircasing in Shared ownership?

You can buy additional shares of your home, usually in increments of 10%, until you own the majority or all of your home. Some older leases set the minimum amount at 25%, and newer ones may allow you to buy as little as 5% at a time. There are some instances where you may be able to buy 1% shares.

This process is called staircasing and allows you to own more of your home as you earn more money or can afford a bigger mortgage. Each time you wish to purchase more shares, these will be based on the value of the home at the time of buying the shares, and not the value of your home when you first bought it.

You will need to pay for a professional valuation of your property to determine the value of the shares before you can buy them. Buying more shares in your home will also mean paying less rent.

Things to consider before buying a Shared ownership home

There are other factors which may impact your decision on whether shared ownership is right for you:

You will still need a deposit for the mortgage portion of your home, usually between 5% and 10% of the value of the mortgage.
All usual moving fees apply including surveys, stamp duty and legal costs.
If you’re aged 55 or over, you may be eligible for Older People’s Shared ownership (OPSO) but bear in mind, you will only be able to own up to 75% of your home.
If you are a key worker, then a percentage of properties through housing associations will be allocated to those who work for the NHS, police, local authorities, Ministry of Defence and many more. Ask the housing association for more information.

Useful links

Find out more about shared ownership in England

Find out more about shared ownership in Scotland

Find out more about shared ownership in Wales

Shared ownership providers

The following housing associations and developers have shared ownership properties available throughout the UK which you can enquire via this website: