How to apply for Shared Ownership

If you believe you meet the Shared Ownership eligibility criteria, you’ll need to register your interest on our website for the property you like and wait for a call from our Sales team, who will discuss the next steps with you. 

They will: 

• Be in touch to discuss your eligibility for Shared Ownership 
• If eligible, your details will be passed to one of our panel Mortgage Advisors for a free affordability assessment 
• Once your assessment is complete, we'll let you know if you can proceed, and the share you can buy. 

However, depending on the type of home you choose, there may be a different buying processes. This is because the process for Shared Ownership on a new build is slightly different to the one for a resale home. 

For example:

• For resales homes, we operate a two-stage assessment process 
• For newbuild homes, we operate a one-stage assessment process 
• If you're referred for a mortgage affordability assessment, this is not mortgage advice and does not guarantee you can get a mortgage. 

If you're looking to sell your Shared Ownership home, you can do this at any time. We’d love to help someone else benefit from Shared Ownership, too.  

So, when you choose to sell, we’ll have a set nomination period to look for a Shared Ownership buyer for your home. Its length can be found in your lease.  

Please take some time to read the following documents about selling your home: 

• After You've Purchased Guide 
• Sellers Guide 
• Resales Fees 

You'll need to provide some documents to us to support your application. The exact documents may vary depending on your circumstances, but you'll usually need to provide as a minimum: 

• Proof of ID (passport or driving licence) 
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement). 

When you complete your financial assessment, a Mortgage Advisor will also ask for: 

• at least three months of payslips 
• at least three months of bank statements 
• Evidence of any savings and deposit funds (including gift letters where appropriate) 
• Evidence of any existing financial commitments (e.g. loans, credit cards). 

Some local authorities will also request a local connection. This means that you must currently live in, near or have a connection with the area the home is located. We highlight on our property pages when this is needed, but you can also find out more about it on our dedicated page to local area connections. 

It’s also important to know that if you're self-employed or have other sources of income, you might need to provide some extra paperwork. 

However, if you're ever unsure what you need, the appointed Mortgage Advisor will be there to guide you through it all. You can also find out more by reading our Shared Ownership guide. 

For new build homes, we'll ensure the KID is shared with you during the buying process, whereas for resales homes, we include download links to the KID on our property listings.  

Please read your KID carefully as it contains important details about the home you're interested in.

If you'd like to contact us via phone, you can call us on 0800 145 6663. 

If you're not eligible for Shared Ownership (this could be because of the results of your affordability assessment, or in relation to one of our policies), we might not be able to proceed with your purchase. 

However, if you'd like to buy a different share than is outlined in your assessment, you'll need to let us know the reason. We may either offer a different share or decline your application. 

You could buy more shares in your home over time, but an additional mortgage assessment will need to be carried out. Find out more on our Staircasing & FAQ's page. 

While there is no set credit score needed to buy a Shared Ownership home, there are certain financial and personal criteria that need to be met. 

This is where a mortgage advisors comes in to make sure everything’s in order. To find out more, check out our policy on buying a home with adverse credit.