Shared Ownership has specific eligibility rules, and because you only buy a share, the deposit works differently from a normal purchase. Here's who can apply and what you'll need.
You can buy a home through Shared Ownership if your household income is £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 or less in London) and you can't afford the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs.
It's generally aimed at:
You'll also need to be able to show you can afford — and sustain — the costs (mortgage, rent and service charge), and pass the provider's and lender's affordability checks.
Because you're buying a share, your deposit is usually based on the share price, not the full value of the home — which is what makes the upfront cost lower than buying outright. In practice, lenders commonly look for around 5%–10% of the share as a deposit, though this varies by lender and circumstances, so treat it as a guide rather than a fixed rule and get a mortgage adviser to confirm what applies to you.
Example (illustrative only): on a £300,000 home, a 25% share is £75,000 — a 10% deposit on that share is £7,500, rather than £30,000 on the whole property.
Alongside the deposit and mortgage on your share, remember the rent on the landlord's share (most landlords charge 2.75% of the value of their share per year), the service charge, and possibly Stamp Duty — see our guide to the cost of Shared Ownership.
Check the specific home, including whether it's in a Designated Protected Area, which affects staircasing and resale. You can check an address or postcode here, and read what Shared Ownership is for the full picture.
This is general guidance, not financial advice — confirm your eligibility with the housing provider and a mortgage adviser.
Accurate as of June 2026.
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