If the open market has priced you out of the home you want, shared ownership can get you there sooner. You buy a share of the property, typically 10% to 75%, and pay subsidised rent on the rest, so you need a smaller deposit and a smaller mortgage. Our shared ownership solicitors handle the legal side from reservation through to completion, including the parts of the process that catch buyers out: the lease terms, staircasing rights and stamp duty.
Shared ownership is a government-backed scheme that lets you buy a share of a home, usually 10% to 75%, and pay rent on the rest to a housing association. It’s aimed at buyers who can’t quite afford to buy outright but don’t want to keep renting: first-time buyers, previous homeowners priced out of the market, and existing shared owners looking to move.
Your deposit is based on the share you’re buying, not the full property price, which is why it appeals to buyers being squeezed out of the market in Manchester, Sale and Chester. You can buy further shares over time, known as staircasing, until you own all or most of the property.
Shared ownership properties are leasehold, and the lease sets the rules on staircasing, selling and rent. Getting the right advice on these terms early matters, as the details vary between housing associations and can be costly to get wrong.
Shared ownership services we offer
Whether you’re buying your first shared ownership home, increasing your share, or selling on, our conveyancing team handles the legal side so you don’t have to untangle housing association paperwork on your own.
Buying a shared ownership home
Buying a shared ownership property follows a similar path to a standard purchase, but with extra steps: eligibility checks, lease review and liaising with the housing association alongside your mortgage lender. Our shared ownership solicitors review the lease in detail before you exchange, checking staircasing rights, rent review clauses, service charge provisions and any restrictions on subletting or alterations.
We also handle the stamp duty decision at this stage, whether to pay on your initial share or elect to pay on the full market value, since getting this wrong can mean an unexpected tax bill years down the line. If you’re buying in Manchester, Sale, Chester or elsewhere in the North West, we’ll also flag any local connection requirements some housing associations attach to their properties.
Staircasing your shared ownership property
Staircasing is the process of buying further shares in your home, reducing your rent and increasing what you own. Our solicitors for shared ownership handle the legal work for staircasing transactions of any size, from a single 1% increase to staircasing all the way to full ownership.
This includes reviewing your RICS valuation, checking whether stamp duty is due on your purchase, and, where you staircase to 100%, arranging removal of the housing association’s restrictions from the title. Many of our clients staircase more than once over the years they own their home, and we’re on hand each time.
Selling a shared ownership home
Selling isn’t quite the same as a standard house sale. Your lease will set out a nomination period, typically four to twelve weeks, during which the housing association has the right to find a buyer before you can go to the open market. We manage this process for you, including the notice to your housing association, the valuation requirements and, where relevant, arranging a back-to-back staircasing sale so your buyer can purchase 100% of the property in one transaction.
We’ll also check whether you’re liable for the housing association’s legal costs as well as your own, as many leases require this and it’s easily missed until late in the process.
Our shared ownership conveyancing process
Buying through shared ownership involves a few extra steps compared with a standard purchase. Our shared ownership conveyancing process is built around them, so nothing catches you out partway through.
Reservation and initial checks
Once you’ve reserved your property, we request the lease, the Key Information Document and your eligibility assessment, so we’re not waiting on the housing association later.
Lease review
We review staircasing rights, rent review terms, service charges and any restrictions on the property, flagging anything unusual in plain English.
Mortgage and stamp duty decision
We liaise with your lender’s solicitors and help you decide, with your broker, whether to pay stamp duty on your initial share or elect for the full market value. This is hard to unwind later, so we take the time to get it right.
Searches and enquiries
Alongside standard property searches, we raise shared ownership-specific enquiries covering rent arrears history, planned service charge increases and any pending staircasing applications.
Exchange and completion
We exchange contracts, agree completion with all parties including the housing association, then register your lease and share percentage with HM Land Registry.
From reservation to completion typically takes 8–12 weeks, depending on the housing association’s response times and whether you’re in a chain.
Why choose Slater Heelis as your solicitors for shared ownership
Straight-talking advice on a scheme that’s often poorly explained
Shared ownership comes with more moving parts than a standard purchase, and too many buyers only find out about staircasing costs, rent reviews or nomination periods once they’re already stuck with them. We explain what’s in your lease in plain English from the outset, not legal shorthand, so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to and what it’ll cost you later.
Rooted in the North West, not just passing through
We’ve supported buyers, staircasers and sellers across Greater Manchester and Cheshire for years, with offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester for anyone who’d rather talk face to face. We know the housing associations operating shared ownership schemes across the region and how each one tends to handle valuations, nomination periods and staircasing requests.
Experience with every stage of shared ownership, not just the purchase
Many conveyancing solicitors only see shared ownership at the point of purchase. We act for clients staircasing their share, selling on, and dealing with older leases that run on the pre-2021 model, so whichever stage you’re at, we’ve handled it before.
Regulated, accredited and rated by our clients
We’re CQS accredited and recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2026. We’re rated 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors from over 1,900 reviews, and we set out our costs clearly from the outset so there are no surprises on your final bill.
Now you understand how shared ownership works and what’s involved, take the next step with a firm that will explain it properly.
Our offices in Manchester, Sale, and Chester are open for face-to-face meetings, and we regularly work with clients across the UK, with meetings at other locations available by appointment.
Staircasing is the process of buying further shares in your shared ownership home, up to and including full ownership. Each time you staircase, your rent reduces in proportion to the extra share you buy. You’ll need a RICS valuation, and a solicitor to handle the legal transfer of the additional share.
How does shared ownership work?
Shared ownership lets you buy a share of a home, usually 10% to 75%, and pay subsidised rent to a housing association on the rest. Your deposit and mortgage are based on the value of your share, not the full property price, making it more accessible than buying outright.
Do I qualify for shared ownership?
You’ll usually qualify if your household income is below £80,000 a year (£90,000 in London), and you can’t afford a home that meets your needs with a standard mortgage and deposit. Priority is often given to first-time buyers, though previous homeowners and existing shared owners can also apply.
Do I need a solicitor for shared ownership?
Yes. Shared ownership leases include terms that don’t appear in standard leasehold purchases, such as staircasing rights, rent review clauses and nomination periods on sale. Solicitors for shared ownership who understand these terms can flag issues before you exchange, rather than after you’ve moved in.
Do I pay stamp duty on shared ownership?
It depends on how you structure your purchase. You can pay stamp duty on your initial share only, which is cheaper upfront but may lead to further stamp duty if you staircase above 80% ownership. Alternatively, you can elect to pay stamp duty on the full market value upfront, which means no further stamp duty is due regardless of future staircasing.
How much does a shared ownership solicitor cost?
Legal fees for shared ownership purchases are typically similar to a standard leasehold purchase, though they can run slightly higher due to the additional lease checks and housing association liaison involved. Contact us for a tailored quote based on your specific transaction.
How long does buying a shared ownership home take?
Buying a shared ownership home typically takes 8 to 12 weeks from reservation to completion, depending on the housing association’s response times, your mortgage offer, and whether you’re part of a chain. Staircasing transactions are usually quicker, often completing within 4 to 6 weeks.
What are the pros and cons of shared ownership?
Shared ownership lowers the deposit and mortgage needed to buy, since both are based on your share rather than the full property value. The trade-offs include ongoing rent on the unowned share, service charges, restrictions on subletting, and added complexity when staircasing or selling.
What's the difference between shared ownership and Help to Buy?
Shared ownership involves buying a share of a property and paying rent on the rest to a housing association, with the option to staircase to full ownership. Help to Buy Equity Loans, now discontinued for new applicants, involved the government lending a percentage of the purchase price on a full-ownership property.
Can I sell my shared ownership home before I own it outright?
Yes. You can sell your share at any point, even before staircasing to 100%. Your housing association typically has a nomination period, often 4 to 12 weeks, to find a buyer before you can market the property on the open market yourself.
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