Coronavirus UK: will Covid-19 cause a surge in shared ownership?

Will there be a surge in shared ownership in the wake of coronavirus? Picture: Getty Images (Image: Archant)

One of the recent challenges with coronavirus has been for those who are wishing to get on to the property ladder, as some may find that lenders have become more stringent on loan amounts and lending criteria.

This week, we have seen high street banks start to relax the loan-to-value amounts in an attempt to salvage and kick-start the property market. However, people may still not be able to afford as much as they would have hoped for before Covid-19.

One group most likely to be affected is first-time buyers. We are likely to see an increase in requirements for affordable housing, such as shared ownership and discount market homes.

After the failure of its “starter homes” scheme, the government is consulting on a new discount scheme known as “first homes”. This is not going to be a quick fix, so shared ownership may remain a first-time solution for people otherwise locked out of the market.

What is shared ownership?

Shared ownership gives buyers the opportunity to purchase a share in a new build, or resale property. Shares in a shared ownership property can start from as little as 25pc, with the option to staircase (buy more shares) until 100pc ownership is reached. This is restricted to 80pc on some properties.

The buyer pays for the share they own and then pays rent to a landlord (usually a housing association) on the remaining share. The purchaser will only need a mortgage for the share they are purchasing, which also means the amount of money needed for the deposit is lower.

What are the benefits of shared ownership?

Shared ownership homes give a further degree of flexibility to people who wish to own their own home, but who may not have the affordability to purchase an open market home. Costs are generally lower for various reasons:

n The rent is less than the rate charged on the open market.

n You can start with as little as 25pc share in many cases.

n Your deposit will be 5-10pc of the price of your share, not of the full market value of the whole property.

n Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT or simply ‘stamp duty’) can generally be deferred until your share reaches 80pc.

A further attractive quality of a shared ownership home is that they are often on new developments, so you get a brand new home with the benefit of a new-build warranty.

What do you get with a shared ownership home?

When you purchase a shared ownership home it is important to remember you will be paying rent on top of the mortgage payments as well as insurance costs, service charge and consent fees.

You do have the option to staircase, meaning you buy more shares in the property, which in turn decreases the amount of rent payable.

All shared ownership homes are leasehold initially. If you buy a house, once you acquire all of the shares then you will usually be able to acquire the freehold for no additional cost.

Flats remain leasehold, but once you have acquired all of the shares, you will no longer have to pay rent to the landlord, although you may still be liable for other costs such as service charge, insurance, ground rent and consent fees.

You can sell your shared ownership home before you have fully staircased, but there are additional restrictions and costs involved.

You can make your shared ownership home your own by decorating it and making alterations, but any significant or structural alterations will usually require consent from your landlord.

What are the eligibility rules for shared ownership properties?

You will need to apply via your local Help to Buy agent if you want to buy a shared ownership home. The general eligibility criteria for shared ownership is as follows:

n You must be at least 18 years old.

n Outside of London, your annual household income must be less than £80,000.

n In London, your annual household income must be less than £90,000.

n Shared ownership purchasers are often first-time buyers but if you do already own another home, you must be in the process of selling it.

n You should not be able to afford to buy a home suitable for your housing needs on the open market.

n You must show you are not in mortgage or rent arrears.

n You must be able to demonstrate that you have a good credit history, and can afford the regular payments and costs involved in buying a home.

n You should have savings or be able to easily access at least £4,000 to cover the costs of buying a home (this is a guideline figure – the actual amount may vary).

n You will also need access to the deposit amount required. For shared ownership, this will usually be 5-10pc of the equity share you are buying.

If you are considering buying a shared ownership property it is important to look at the pros and cons and to take legal advice from solicitors who have experience of dealing with shared ownership.

Contact Spire Solicitors LLP on 01603 677077 for further information on shared ownership properties or for other legal needs.

This column is sponsored by Spire Solicitors.