Buying & selling London shared ownership properties

Shared ownership schemes enable purchasers to buy a new or existing home from a housing association. You purchase the maximum share in the property that you can afford (minimum 25%) and pay rent to the housing association on the remaining share which they retain. Properties can be brand new (where you are granted a new lease by the housing association) or sold by existing shared owners (where you will take an assignment or transfer of an existing lease).

“Thank you very much for providing this quote so quickly. I am phoning around a few different solicitors at the moment but this looks like a good price.” (London purchase)

Shared ownership stamp duty changes

In the Budget on 29th October 2018 the scope of “First-Time Buyer Relief” (more accurately called first-time owner relief, since prior ownership of inherited property excludes from eligibility) was extended, with retrospective effect back to 22nd November 2017.

First-Time Buyer Relief now extends to eligible buyers in all shared ownership (new-build and resale) purchase transactions with full market value £500,000 or less, for new-builds whichever of the “full market value” or “payment in stages” options is chosen.

So FTBR can now apply to purchases of new-builds where the “payment in stages” option is (or has been) taken in transactions completed on or after 22nd November 2017.

Since the last Budget, First-Time Buyer Relief could not be claimed in purchases of resale shared ownership properties (save when full market value duty had been paid on the initial purchase), but the Finance Bill just published proposes to extend FTBR to purchases of resales as well.

So first-time owners ought to check with the provider firm the numbers for SDLT on their shared ownership (new-build and resale) purchase legal costs quotations, as the SDLT payable may now have changed.

The Chancellor has fixed the anomaly created in his 2017 Budget (that many first-time new-build (and all resale) shared ownership buyers could not get First-Time Buyer Relief) by making it now available to all (subject to eligibility).

30th October 2018

Leading shared ownership exhibition at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London

If you’re a first time buyer looking for help to get on the property ladder, join us at the London Home Show Spring 2019 on Saturday 23rd March 2019. The London Home Show is the major event for first time buyers in London and attending the event is the best way to get all the latest information on the affordable home ownership market in the capital.

The London Home Show is FREE to attend. It takes place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster, from 11am-5pm.

Shared ownership schemes are provided through housing associations. You buy a share of your home (25% to 75% of the home’s value) and pay rent on the remaining share.

You’ll need to take out a mortgage to pay for your share of purchase price.

Shared ownership properties are always leasehold.

“Your service is excellent and I will recommend you to everyone I know who needs conveyancing and will definitely use your service again in the future.” (Walton-on-Thames sale + Surbiton freehold purchase)

Eligibility

You can buy a home through shared ownership if:

• your household earns £60,000 a year or less (or £71,000 a year or less in London for a 1 or 2 bedroom property, or £85,000 a year or less in London for a 3 or more bedroom property)
• you’re a first-time buyer (or you used to own a home, but can’t afford to buy one now)
• you rent a council or housing association property

Shared ownership: London properties

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