Why shared ownership?

As a shared owner, you have the same rights and responsibilities as any homeowner, paying your mortgage on between 10% and 75% of your home and a discounted rent on the rest.   

Because your shared ownership rent starts off lower than the equivalent rent in the private market, you save money. It also increases at a slower rate than the private rental market, thanks to strictly regulated annual increases overseen by the Regulator of Social Housing. This all means you have long-term security and no uncontrolled increase in your rent or service charge.

Leeds Building Society report
An independent report commissioned by the Leeds Building Society found that it was more affordable to be a shared owner than privately rent in 77% of all 294 local authorities in the country within the first year of living there - and this rose to 93% after 10 years. This shows the power of shared ownership's controlled increases against the unregulated private market.

• Download a copy of the report here

We want to help you own your home outright, and with Sage Homes you can buy more shares of your home (called ‘staircasing’), up to 100% ownership. 

Staircasing is a great next step in your homeownership journey as you’ll reduce the amount of rent you pay. This means if you decide to sell up, you’ll benefit even more from any increase in your home’s value. If there's is a drop in your home’s value, this will also be reflected in your share’s value, however by staircasing to a larger share, you’ll get a correspondingly larger percentage of the sale.

If you staircase to 100%, you won’t pay any rent and can sell your home on the open market, giving you more money to reach the next rung on the property ladder. You can download our Shared Ownership Guide here.

• Learn more about staircasing

You’ll benefit from any growth in your home’s value, as your share’s value increases in line with your home’s value. For example, if you bought 25% of your home when the total value was £400,000, your 25% share was worth £100,000. If you sell your property later for £500,000, your 25% share will be worth £125,000.

This means you could end up with more money for the next rung on your journey up the property ladder. (Of course, if there is a drop in your home’s value, this will also be reflected in your share’s value). 

This scheme means the home that meets your needs is affordable and you can increase how much you own over time, right up to 100% ownership. This isn’t just a place to live, it’s your home – thanks to shared ownership.