Shared owner services

Buying more shares

Your lease usually gives you the right to buy more shares in your home. This is known as 'staircasing'.

You can usually buy some or all the remaining shares in your home in minimum tranches of ten per cent. You are able to do this in a maximum of three steps.

Your lease will tell you how and when you can staircase. Please read it carefully.

When you staircase you buy the additional share at the current market value. As you buy further shares in your home, the rent you pay decreases in proportion to the share purchased.

If you staircase to 100 per cent ownership, you no longer pay us rent.

If you own 100 per cent of your flat, you will own it on a long lease. You’ll still have to pay service charges and ground rent.

If you own 100 per cent of a house, you’ll generally become a freeholder and will only have to pay charges if you are liable for estate costs such as gardening, external cleaning, communal repairs or ground rent. Occasionally you may own 100 per cent of your house but remain a leaseholder. Please check your lease.

It may sound daunting but it’s not!