Affordable Housing - A shared ownership guide to buying
Affordable Housing - schemes, shared ownership
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Jargon Buster


Below this text is a list of Jargon which we have provided full explanations of the common meaning.

Please click the word of phrase that you require an explanation for.

New Build HomeBuy - Shared Ownership

  • A part-buy, part-rent scheme;

  • A way to buy what you can afford now so you don't overstretch yourself financially; and:

  • A way to buy either a brand newly build home or occasionally a newly refurbished home

HomeBuy

A Homebuy is aimed at council & housing association tenants and those considered priority on the council waiting list who cannot afford to purchase a property outright on the open market.

You can buy a home - old or new - anywhere in England. You then get a mortgage for 75% of the value and the Housing Association will give you a loan for the remaining 25%.

The loan is to be repaid if the property is sold or if you purchase the remaining 25%. The 25% to be repaid is whatever the property valuation is at the time of sale.

HomeBuy Agents

HomeBuy Agents are responsible for key worker housing. If you are a key worker you should contact your HomeBuy agent to find out what housing is available to you and how you can apply for it.

Do It Yourself Shared Ownership (DIYSO)

You may hear about a scheme called DIYSO. DIYSO was replaced by Homebuy in 1999 so is no longer available. DIYSO enabled you to buy a home of your choice on the open market on a shared ownership basis.

The Intermediate Market

The Intermediate market refers to those that do not qualify for public sector rented housing (through councils and housing associations) but cannot afford to buy a home outright or pay private sector rents.

Right to Buy (RTB)

Council tenants and tenants of non-charitable Housing Associations have the right to purchase their current home at a discount price.

Right to Acquire (RTA)

Some Housing Association tenants have the right to purchase their current home but there are certain conditions

Voluntary Purchase Grant (VPG)

This is run in the same way as Right To Buy except that the Housing Association chooses which homes it will sell through the scheme.

Cash Incentive Scheme (CIS)

With this scheme council tenants are offered a cash lump sum to vacate their home and purchase a property on the open market. This scheme is aimed at tenants in larger size properties that are needed to house homeless families.

Self Build

A scheme where future tenants or shared owners build their own homes. This makes the homes more affordable as self builders do not have to pay labour costs. Not a lot of self build home are completed each year.

Build for Sale

Properties that are sold outright rather than through Shared Ownership.

Improvement for Sale

Similar to build for sale except it involves existing properties that are repaired/improved and then sold outright.