Shared ownership schemes

The New Build HomeBuy scheme allows the purchaser to buy a percentage of the property and rent the remainder. Currently there are 47 properties in a number of schemes.

Some shared ownership schemes are for keyworkers and some have no such qualifying criteria, although all applicants have to be first-time buyers, preferably on a local authority housing list and unable to afford to buy a property on the open market.

Prospective purchasers have to pass an affordability test. For rural schemes they have to have a local connection to the area. Each shared owner takes on the same responsibilities for maintaining the property as a normal house holder.

A shared owner would usually purchase 50 per cent, however after a year they do have the option of buying further portions as defined in their lease. This is called 'staircasing'.

When the property is sold at a market price, the sale price is divided between the shared owner and the housing association according to the percentage split.

If you wish to sell, you should contact us to find a new purchaser. We keep a register of interested people and these schemes are very popular as they allow first-time buyers to purchase their own homes in areas like Bath, where properties prices are very high.

You'll find more information for people who already own a shared ownership property on this page:

» Shared ownership page

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