Valuing a Shared Ownership Property

Shared ownership valuations come up at two very different moments — buying more of your home (staircasing), and eventually selling — and each works slightly differently.

What shared ownership is

A buyer purchases a percentage share of a property (commonly starting between 10% and 75%, though this varies by scheme) via a mortgage on that share, and pays rent to a housing association on the remaining share they do not yet own.

Staircasing requires a fresh valuation every time

Buying a further share ("staircasing") requires a new, formal valuation of the property's current full market value — usually a RICS valuation, typically paid for by the buyer — to set the price for the next tranche. This means the price paid per percentage point can rise or fall between staircasing events as the local market moves, unlike a fixed price agreed once at initial purchase.

Why value and share percentage are not always a straight line

A resale of a shared ownership property is not simply "share percentage times current full value" in every case — the remaining lease length, ongoing rent terms on the unowned share, and service charge obligations all factor into what a buyer of that specific share is actually willing to pay, similar in principle to how lease length affects a standard leasehold flat (see our short lease value guide).

The resale process

Selling a shared ownership property usually involves a nomination period, during which the housing association has the right to find a buyer for the share (often from their own waiting list) before the seller can market it on the open market, which can affect timing more than valuation itself.

How this compares to Right to Buy

Shared ownership is structurally different from Right to Buy, which grants full outright ownership (at a discount) from day one rather than a partial share with ongoing rent — see that guide for the comparison, and our leasehold vs freehold guide for the underlying lease mechanics that apply to most shared ownership flats.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a new valuation every time I staircase?

Yes. Staircasing to buy a further share requires a fresh, usually RICS, valuation of the property's current full market value, typically paid for by the buyer, to set the price for that tranche.

Does owning 50% of a shared ownership property mean it is worth 50% of the full value on resale?

Not necessarily exactly. Remaining lease length, rent terms on the unowned share, and service charge obligations all factor into what a buyer of that specific share is actually willing to pay.

What happens when I sell a shared ownership property?

Usually a nomination period applies first, during which the housing association has the right to find a buyer for the share (often from their own waiting list) before it can be marketed on the open market.

How does shared ownership differ from Right to Buy?

Shared ownership involves buying a percentage share and paying rent on the rest, with the option to staircase to full ownership over time. Right to Buy grants full outright (discounted) ownership immediately.