Shared ownership, simplified.

Yes. Buying a bigger share is called staircasing, and most shared owners can build up their share over time. Your lease sets the rules: the smallest share you can buy at once, how often you can buy, and whether you can reach full ownership. Upload your lease and we will tell you what yours allows.

You pay rent on the share of your home you do not own. Your lease sets out how that rent is reviewed and when, and most are reviewed once a year using a formula written into the lease. Your landlord should tell you before it changes and show you how the new figure was worked out.

It covers running the building and any shared areas, such as repairs, maintenance, insurance, cleaning and grounds. It is separate from your rent and it can change from year to year. You are entitled to ask your landlord for a breakdown of what you are being charged for.

Your lease is what decides whether you can make changes, sublet, keep a pet or sell, and which of those need your landlord's permission first. It varies a lot between leases, so a general answer is rarely the right one. Upload yours and we will answer from your document.

The share is priced from a valuation of your home at the time you buy it, not from what you originally paid. On top of the share itself, budget for the valuation, legal fees and any mortgage costs. Our calculator gives you a rough figure before you commit to anything.

You tell your landlord first. They usually get a set period to find a buyer before you can go to the open market, and a valuation sets the price. The length of that period is written into your lease, so check yours or ask us to read it for you.