Shared Ownership and Right to Buy in 2027
How shared ownership, Right to Buy and Right to Acquire work, what lenders look for, and the rule changes to watch in 2027.
- What these schemes are and who they suit
- How shared ownership works in England
- Staircasing: buying more of your home
- How Right to Buy works, and what is changing
- Right to Acquire and other schemes
- How lenders assess shared ownership and Right to Buy
- Stamp duty on shared ownership
- Costs and timeline
- Selling, staircasing out and remortgaging
- Tips and tricks, common mistakes and a checklist
- How OMB can support you
The short version
Shared ownership and Right to Buy both help people own a home with a smaller upfront cost, but they work in very different ways. This guide explains each scheme, how lenders assess them, what they cost and which rules may change.
- Under the current shared ownership model lease in England, the minimum first share is 10%, and you pay rent on the share you do not own.
- Staircasing lets you buy more shares over time, and newer leases allow 1% purchases for the first 15 years.
- Right to Buy discounts in England were cut from 21 November 2024, and the government has confirmed further reforms that still need legislation.
- Right to Buy has ended in Scotland and Wales, and only some tenants can use Right to Acquire.
- Fewer lenders accept these schemes, so the lender and the lease matter as much as the rate.
Read the lease before you reserve
ask for the Key Information document, the summary of costs and the lease, and check the minimum share, staircasing terms, rent increases and repair responsibilities.
What the full guide covers
- What these schemes are and who they suit
- How shared ownership works in England
- Staircasing: buying more of your home
- How Right to Buy works, and what is changing
- Right to Acquire and other schemes
- How lenders assess shared ownership and Right to Buy
- Stamp duty on shared ownership
- Costs and timeline
- Selling, staircasing out and remortgaging
- Tips and tricks (8), common mistakes (6) and a 12 point checklist
- How OMB can support you, with a fictional worked example
A shared owner plans for staircasing
Illustrative example only, not a real client. Priya, a single first-time buyer working in healthcare, is offered a new build shared ownership flat on the current model lease. She compares a 25% share with a 40% share and finds the larger share costs more each month in mortgage but saves rent, which suits her income as she expects a pay rise. We check lenders that accept the lease, confirm the deposit rules and agree a mortgage in principle. Her solicitor explains the stamp duty options, and she keeps a note of the 1% staircasing option for the first 15 years. Three years later, with a higher salary, she remortgages to a new lender and buys a further share, with advice from us on timing and costs.
Names, figures and circumstances are fictional and illustrative only. They do not represent an actual client of Our Mortgage Broker Limited.
Shared Ownership and Right to Buy in 2027
How shared ownership, Right to Buy and Right to Acquire work, what lenders look for, and the rule changes to watch in 2027.
Want to talk it through?
These schemes have narrower lender choice and more paperwork than a standard purchase. We help you find a lender that suits the lease and your circumstances, and keep the provider, solicitor and lender moving together.
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Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Most buy-to-let and commercial mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our Mortgage Broker Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 944663). Registered in England and Wales, company no. 11358646. Registered office: 23 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1J 6HE. There may be a fee for mortgage advice: we may charge up to 1% of the loan amount, and our typical fee is £500. Your fee agreement sets out the exact fee and when it is payable (at decision in principle, application or mortgage offer); fees are not refundable once due. We usually also receive commission from the lender. Protection and insurance products are subject to underwriting and the policy terms and conditions. This guide is general information only and is not personal advice. Case studies are fictional, illustrative examples and do not represent real clients. Rates, tax and regulatory information are correct as at October 2026 and may change, including at the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.