Exploring shared ownership mortgages in the UK

A shared ownership mortgage might be the route onto the ladder if a full deposit is out of reach.

Shared ownership lets you buy a share of a property — typically between 25% and 75% — and pay rent on the remainder to a housing association.

Because you only need a deposit on the share you are buying, the cash required up front is far lower than a standard purchase. Over time you can buy further shares, a process known as staircasing, until you own the property outright.

There are trade-offs: rent on the unowned share, service charges, and a smaller pool of lenders. We compare the lenders active in this space and model the total monthly cost against a standard purchase so the comparison is honest.