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Specialist Shared Ownership Conveyancing

Shared Ownership
Conveyancing Solicitors

Shared ownership conveyancing involves additional legal complexity — leasehold titles, housing association requirements, and specific stamp duty rules. We handle initial purchases, staircasing, and resales.

  • Initial shared ownership purchases
  • Staircasing — buying additional shares
  • Shared ownership resales
  • Solicitor-led throughout — one point of contact
  • Clear, VAT-inclusive pricing confirmed in writing
Speak to a Conveyancing Solicitor

The Scheme

What is shared ownership?

Shared ownership is a government-backed scheme that allows you to buy a share of a property — typically between 10% and 75% — and pay rent on the remaining share to a housing association. It is designed to help people who cannot afford to buy on the open market get onto the property ladder.

Buy a share

Purchase between 10% and 75% of the property value. Pay rent on the remaining share to the housing association.

Staircase

Buy additional shares over time — in tranches of at least 10% — until you own the property outright.

Sell or resell

Sell your share at any time. The housing association has a nomination period to find a buyer before you can sell on the open market.

Eligibility

To be eligible for shared ownership, your household income must be £80,000 or less per year (£90,000 or less in London). You must be a first-time buyer or a previous homeowner who can no longer afford to buy. You must not currently own a home.

Some schemes have additional local eligibility criteria. Your housing association will confirm what applies to you.

Our Services

What we handle

Initial shared ownership purchase

We handle the conveyancing for your initial purchase — reviewing the lease, dealing with the housing association, and managing the specific requirements of the shared ownership scheme. We explain the lease terms before you commit.

Staircasing

When you are ready to buy additional shares, we handle the staircasing transaction — obtaining a new valuation, reviewing the updated lease, and registering the increased share at Land Registry. We advise on any SDLT implications.

Shared ownership resale

Selling a shared ownership property involves specific requirements — including the housing association's nomination period. We manage the process and ensure compliance with your lease obligations.

New build shared ownership

Many shared ownership properties are new builds. We combine our new build conveyancing expertise with our shared ownership knowledge to handle these transactions — including developer deadlines and incentive arrangements.

Stamp Duty

Stamp duty on shared ownership

Stamp Duty Land Tax on shared ownership purchases works differently from a standard purchase. You have two options, and the right choice depends on your circumstances.

Option 1: Pay on the full market value

Pay SDLT on the full market value of the property at the outset. No further SDLT is payable until you staircase above 80%.

Best if: you plan to staircase quickly or the property value is likely to rise significantly.

Option 2: Pay on your share only

Pay SDLT only on the share you are buying initially. Further SDLT is payable each time you staircase.

Best if: you plan to stay at your initial share for some time and the property value is modest.

Use our Stamp Duty Calculator

Common Questions

Shared Ownership FAQs

What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership is a government-backed scheme that allows you to buy a share of a property (between 10% and 75%) and pay rent on the remaining share to a housing association. You can buy additional shares over time — a process known as staircasing — until you own the property outright. Shared ownership properties are always leasehold.
Who is eligible for shared ownership?
To be eligible for shared ownership, your household income must be £80,000 or less per year (£90,000 or less in London). You must be a first-time buyer, or a previous homeowner who can no longer afford to buy. You must not currently own a home. Some schemes have additional eligibility criteria — your housing association will confirm what applies to you.
How does stamp duty work on shared ownership?
On a shared ownership purchase, you have two options for paying Stamp Duty Land Tax. You can either pay SDLT on the full market value of the property at the outset (which means no further SDLT is payable until you staircase above 80%), or you can pay SDLT only on the share you are buying initially (and then pay further SDLT each time you staircase). Your solicitor will advise on which approach is more cost-effective for your situation.
What is staircasing?
Staircasing is the process of buying additional shares in your shared ownership property. You can staircase in tranches (typically a minimum of 10% at a time) until you own 100% of the property. Each staircasing transaction requires a solicitor and involves legal fees, a new valuation, and potentially additional SDLT. We handle staircasing transactions as well as initial purchases.
Can I sell a shared ownership property?
Yes. If you own less than 100%, you must first offer the housing association the right to find a buyer (known as the nomination period — typically 8 weeks). If they cannot find a buyer, you can sell on the open market. If you own 100%, you can sell in the same way as any other property. We handle shared ownership resales and can advise on the process.
What are the additional legal costs for shared ownership?
Shared ownership conveyancing involves additional legal work compared to a standard purchase — reviewing the lease, dealing with the housing association, and handling the specific requirements of the scheme. We charge a supplement on top of our standard legal fee for shared ownership transactions. Your exact quote will be confirmed in writing before any work begins.
Can I make improvements to a shared ownership property?
You can make improvements to a shared ownership property, but you will usually need the housing association's written consent first. Some improvements may increase the value of the property, which could affect future staircasing valuations. Check your lease carefully and seek advice before carrying out significant works.

Related Guides

You may also find these helpful

Stamp Duty Calculator

Calculate your SDLT on a shared ownership purchase — including first-time buyer relief.

Leasehold vs Freehold

Shared ownership properties are always leasehold. Understand what that means for you.

First-Time Buyer Guide

The complete conveyancing process for first-time buyers — step by step in plain English.

Get a Free Quote

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