Shared Ownership homes are leasehold, so the length of the lease matters — for your mortgage, for selling, and for the value of your home. The rules changed in 2021, so newer and older homes can be very different. Here's what to know.
Under the new model of Shared Ownership introduced in April 2021 (alongside the Affordable Homes Programme 2021–2026), new grant-funded new-build Shared Ownership homes are issued with a minimum lease term of 990 years — a big increase from the previous norm of 99 years (GOV.UK). (One exception: homes under the Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) scheme have a minimum 125-year term.)
A 990-year lease effectively removes the "short lease" problem for the life of the home.
Many existing Shared Ownership homes were granted on shorter leases — commonly 99 to 125 years. Over time a lease gets shorter, and once it drops toward ~80–85 years it can become harder to mortgage or sell and more expensive to extend. If you're buying a resale Shared Ownership home, check the remaining lease length as part of your due diligence.
If you have an older, shorter lease, you may be able to extend it — usually by agreement with your landlord (housing association). Shared Ownership leases have particular features, and the routes available can differ from a standard leasehold flat, so this is an area to take specific legal advice on rather than rely on general rules. Your conveyancer or a leasehold specialist can advise on the options and cost for your lease.
Check the lease length, the costs, and whether the home is in a Designated Protected Area (which affects staircasing and resale). You can check an address or postcode here.
This is general guidance, not legal advice — take advice from a conveyancer or leasehold specialist about your specific lease.
Accurate as of June 2026.
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