When the Government announced the new Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) in 2021, it brought with it a £12 billion investment into the housing sector with the aim of creating up to 180,000 new homes across the UK.
As part of this new programme, changes to the Shared Ownership scheme have been introduced, most of which are designed to help people get onto the property ladder. While these changes won’t apply to all of Platform’s schemes, they may impact some homebuyers that buy with us.
Below we explore the changes to Shared Ownership, what New Model Shared Ownership looks like and how it may affect you.
What is New Model Shared Ownership?
The government's changes have been consolidated under the new scheme, New Model Shared Ownership (NMSO). This information is for buyers who purchase via the new scheme or those on a Rent to Buy or Right to Shared Ownership scheme that convert to Shared Ownership.
Changes to the scheme include the following:
- The minimum initial share for purchase has been reduced from 25% to 10%.
- A 10-year repair warranty has been introduced, during which the shared owner receives support from the housing provider or landlord to pay for essential repairs.
- Shared owners can take control of the resales process from the landlord at an earlier point, which gives them more control over the sale of the property.
- Any new leases on a new-build Shared Ownership property will have a minimum length of 990 years.
- Staircasing has been made more accessible, with a new 1% gradual model that enables buyers to buy more shares in smaller instalments, with heavily reduced fees.
- Buyers can now staircase in tranches of 5% rather than 10% if they wish.
In general, these changes have not only made Shared Ownership more accessible but also improved the flexibility buyers have when it comes to staircasing.
Which properties will be impacted by changes to Shared Ownership?
The new rules apply to all new-build Shared Ownership properties that are delivered through the Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) between 2021 and 2026.
It’s important to remember that the Government is also continuing to fund the original Shared Ownership scheme through the AHP until 2023. This means there’s currently a transitional period in which both the old and the new Shared Ownership models are available.
While the NMSO doesn’t apply to all of Platform’s developments, you can always get in touch with us to see what your options are.
Finding your new home via Shared Ownership
If you’re ready to get started with Shared Ownership, you can start your search right here. Take a look at the properties we have available around the country and register your interest directly.
We’ll be able to support you through the whole process and following an initial eligibility assessment by Platform, you’ll be on your way to owning your dream home.
