- Smallest share you can buy
- 10%
- Largest share you can buy at first
- 75%
- Deposit needed, on the share you're buying
- 5% to 10%
What it is
Buy as little as a 10% share of a home, pay a mortgage on that share and rent on the rest, then buy more of it later as you can afford to (known as “staircasing”). The deposit is a percentage of the share, not the whole property, which is the whole appeal: a 10% deposit on a 25% share is a much smaller number than a 10% deposit on the full price.
Source, and a plain disclaimer
These figures are GOV.UK, Shared ownership scheme’s own published terms, last checked on 5 September 2026, and may have changed since. Check the official page before relying on any of them, and speak to a whole-of-market broker or your local authority about whether you’re actually eligible. This is not financial advice.
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