The shared ownership sector has gained some real traction recently, with more and more lenders offering raised LTV criteria on newly built homes. Several big-name lenders now offer 95% LTV shared ownership mortgages on new builds as the market continues to make homes as accessible as possible to prospective first-time buyers. With industry giants recently following suit in the shared ownership space – we explore the options available when it comes to getting a shared ownership mortgage.
What is shared ownership?
Shared ownership is a scheme utilised if a buyer can’t afford all of a deposit and monthly mortgage payments for a home. It involves buying a share of a property while paying rent to a landlord for the remaining share. As long as the share being purchased is between 25% and 75% of a home’s full market value, shared ownership could be a viable option for first-time buyers looking to purchase a new build home. Proportionate amounts of rent and mortgage repayments relating to the split of the ownership are paid to make the monthly payments manageable. Further shares of the home can be bought later down the line (known as staircasing) which would see the rent decrease as the landlord owns less of the overall property.
Who buys shared ownership homes?
Shared ownership is classed as affordable housing and so it comes as no surprise that around 80% of shared ownership properties were bought as first homes in both 2020 and 2021. Over half (52%) of shared ownership homes were purchased by households consisting of one adult, as the scheme is one of the few affordable methods for buying a first home on a single income. 29% of homes were bought by households of two adults and 13% by households with children. With such a high percentage of new builds being purchased by first-time buyers coupled with the Help to Buy scheme coming to an end, it makes sense for shared ownership to grow in popularity. With the recent increase of the cost of borrowing following the mini budget announcement, shared ownership could be one of the most affordable ways prospective buyers can get their foot in the door of the property market.
Crunching the numbers
Recent data from the department of levelling up shows that the average price of a shared ownership home was £275,100 in 2021, with an initial equity stake of £109,800 (41%) and an average deposit of £17,700. In terms of rising prices, the average for shared ownership homes have risen by 67% over the last 12 years – at a similar rate as the wider market.
The shared ownership space continues to grow in popularity, with various big-name lenders offering 95% LTV mortgages as more and more buyers look to affordable housing. As house prices remain high and the cost-of-living crisis continues to tighten the purse strings for millions of households up and down the country, it may be time for shared ownership to hold more weight in the affordable first home conversation.
