New shared ownership model – consultation response

We’ve responded to the MHCLG consultation on a proposed new model of shared ownership. We’re calling for the government to work with the housing sector to develop the proposals so they have the support of shared owners and housing associations, as well as meeting their own objective of increasing home ownership.

While welcoming the clarity that the consultation provides around the detail of this new model of shared ownership, we are concerned about its introduction at a time of significant market and economic uncertainty.

Our response sets out how the costs and complexity of the proposed new arrangements risk impacting negatively on housing associations’ appetite and ability to build new affordable homes. The response of lenders to the consultation will also be critical to determining whether the new model of shared ownership is viable.

We’re calling on the government to pause the introduction of the new model, and to work with the sector to develop proposals which both meet the government’s objective of increasing home ownership and deliver a shared ownership model which has the support of both shared owners and housing associations.