Shared Ownership Calculator
Estimate your monthly mortgage, rent on the unowned share, and service charges when buying a home through a UK shared ownership scheme.
Estimate Your Monthly Costs
Enter the property value, the share you wish to purchase, and your mortgage details to instantly see your total monthly housing costs.
Cost Estimator
Calculate your mortgage, rent, and service charges in one place.
How it Works
Understanding shared ownership costs
Calculate Share Value
We multiply the full property value by your chosen purchase percentage to find the value of the share you are buying.
Determine Mortgage
Your deposit is subtracted from the share value to determine the mortgage amount you need to borrow.
Calculate Monthly Rent
Rent is charged on the unowned share, typically at 2.75% to 3% per annum of that remaining value, divided by 12 months.
Add Service Charges
Any monthly service charge for communal maintenance is added to your mortgage and rent to give your total monthly housing cost.
Typical Shared Ownership Costs
A general overview of the costs and fees associated with buying and maintaining a shared ownership property in the UK.
| Cost Type | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 5% – 10% of the share value | Based on the share you buy, not the full property value. |
| Rent on Unowned Share | 2.75% – 3.0% per annum | Set by the housing association, usually reviewed annually. |
| Service Charge | £50 – £300+ per month | Covers communal cleaning, gardening, and building maintenance. |
| Staircasing Valuation Fee | £200 – £400 | Required each time you buy an additional share in the property. |
| Legal Fees | £800 – £1,500 | Solicitor costs for handling the shared ownership lease purchase. |
Shared Ownership FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the UK shared ownership scheme, costs, and staircasing.
Shared ownership is a UK government-backed scheme that helps people get onto the property ladder. You buy a share of a property (usually between 25% and 75%) and pay rent to a housing association on the remaining share. It requires a much smaller deposit than buying a home outright.
Rent is typically calculated as 2.75% to 3% per annum of the value of the share you do not own. This annual amount is then divided by 12 to give your monthly rent payment. For example, if you don’t own 75% of a £200,000 property (£150,000), a 2.75% rent rate would be £4,125 per year, or £343.75 per month.
Yes, this process is called ‘staircasing’. You can buy additional shares in your property over time, usually in increments of 10% or more. Each time you staircase, your monthly rent decreases because you are renting a smaller portion of the property. You can eventually own 100% of the property in most cases.
Yes, most shared ownership properties are leasehold flats or houses that come with a monthly service charge. This covers the maintenance of communal areas, buildings insurance, and estate management. This charge is payable in full, regardless of the percentage share you own.