Shared ownership

With Shared Ownership, homes are mainly brand new flats or houses for sale on a part buy/part rent basis through different housing associations. It is possible to purchase shares of between 25% to 75% of the home's value and you pay a low rent on the remaining share. Please note that if you buy a flat you will also have to pay service charges to cover the cost of maintenance of communal areas. All applicants are expected to purchase the maximum share that is assessed as affordable.

For more information on all of the options via Help to Buy schemes click - https://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/

To find Help to Buy properties currently available click - https://www.helptobuyese.org.uk/

Shared Ownership - Resales

Resales are homes offered for sale by existing shared owners where you can purchase the existing share (or more) and own the home on a shared ownership basis. A low rent is payable on the remaining share. Resale properties vary in age, size, property type and location and are available through different housing associations.

Shared Ownership - Over 55's

Some Shared Ownership schemes (new and resale) are for people over the age of 55 only. The scheme works in the same way as Shared Ownership does, so you will still need to demonstrate that you can afford to purchase a share in the home, as well as being able to pay the rent and service charges on the remaining share. Some of these properties are within sheltered schemes and a service charge will be payable for the maintenance of the common areas, the garden and the services of the scheme manager.

Shared Ownership - Home Ownership for people with long term disabilities (HOLD)

HOLD is a variant form of Help to Buy Shared Ownership. Designed to assist people with a long term disability to purchase a suitable home, where there are no such properties being offered where they need to live.
If you have a particular disability linked housing need then HOLD may provide an opportunity to buy your home and live independently. This may only be an option where there are no other Help to Buy properties that are suitable due to the nature of your disability, and you will need to be able to afford to buy the initial share and pay rent on the remaining share.

Please be aware that HOLD may not be available through all housing associations and participation of providers to make HOLD available is at their discretion.
If there are no suitable Help to Buy Shared Ownership properties in the area you need to live, you may wish to contact Advance who specialise in Shared Ownership for people with long-term disabilities, mental health issues and learning disabilities.

For more information or to make an application with Advance, please call 0333 012 4307.

Other help to buy options

There are other local and regional schemes and some information is below. If you are looking for more options to get a step on the property ladder, please contact your Local Authority for information on any schemes they may offer.

Help to Buy ISA

If you are saving to buy your first home, save money into a Help to Buy: ISA and the government will boost your savings by 25%. So, for every £200 you save receive a government bonus of £50. The maximum government bonus you can receive is £3,000. This scheme is not administered via Help to Buy Agents, and you must contact participating lenders directly for full, click here to view the full list of lenders - https://www.helptobuy.gov.uk/help-to-buy-isa/providers-in-the-scheme/

Starter Homes

The Government has announced a new Starter Homes Initiative in England that aims to help young first-time buyers (below 40 years) purchase a home with a minimum 20% discount off the market price.

Developer Schemes

Some developers are providing alternative affordable housing schemes. These are not developed using Government funding, so they do not carry the Help to Buy branding but still offer an affordable option to becoming a home owner.

Forces Help to Buy Scheme

For more information please contact the Joint Service Housing Advice Office (JSHAO) on 01252 787574 or e-mail: RC-AWS-JSHAO-0mailbox@mod.gov.uk
Please note: This scheme is not being administered by England's Government appointed Help to Buy Agents.

Discount Market Sale

Discount Market Sale properties are sold with a discount of between 20-50%.
Local Authorities have confirmed that there will be a restriction on these properties to ensure that there is affordable housing available for people who are struggling to get on the housing ladder and therefore a discount is available to help.
Generally the restriction on the property requires the purchasers to have a local connection to the area the property is in.
If you are interested in purchasing a Discount Market Sale property, please seek advice from the Local Authority in regards to any restrictions on the property.

Catalyst Equity Loan Scheme

Regional Equity Loans involve Catalyst Housing working with certain boroughs to create bespoke open market equity loan products aimed at mainly first time buyers who live in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire areas. Depending on your circumstances you could have access up to £50,000 to buy your new home.

Click here to find out more
www.homesbycatalyst.co.uk