Types of Home Ownership

Thames Valley Housing manages two types of scheme; New Build Homebuy and Openmarket Homebuy.

New Build Homebuy

New Build Homebuy, formerly known as Shared Ownership, is a government-funded scheme making home ownership affordable for first time property buyers.

It is a part-buy, part-rent scheme where you buy a share in a property - normally between 25% and 75%, depending on what you can afford - and pay a subsidised rent on the share you don't own. The rent you pay on the share you don't own is less than a mortgage so the overall cost per month is lower. You are responsible for all internal fixtures, fittings and repairs.

Purchasing more shares in your home (staircasing)

You can purchase more shares in your home once you have been in your home for 1 year. For more information about this. This is known as staircasing. The rent you pay is reduced by the corresponding percentage as you buy more equity.

To find out more about staircasing click here or you can download our information leaflets at the foot of the page.

Selling your percentage

You can sell your percentage of your home at any time. Initially we nominate the buyer. If we do not find a buyer within 3 months, you can advertise your percentage on the open market.

Keyworkers

Some New Build Homebuy schemes are specifically targeted at Key Workers, such as nurses, teachers, policemen and other public sector workers. For more information about this go to our page Homes for Key Workers.

Types of Properties: New Build and Resales

We have newly built schemes available for purchase, known as 'New Build' where you can purchase as much as you can afford. We also have individual homes that have already been purchased on a shared ownership basis, where the buyer wishes to sell their share. These are known as 'Resales' and there is a fixed share and fixed rent available for purchase.

Download a copy of the Guide to Home Ownership by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page, or email homebuy@tvha.co.uk to request a brochure be sent to you. Please include you full postal address.

Open Market Homebuy

This is an equity loan scheme designed to help people buy their own home on the open market. If the property you choose is approved by Thames Valley Housing, you then pay a percentage of the purchase price with a mortgage plus any contributing funds of your own. Thames Valley Housing provides a loan for the balance. The purchase price of the property you can buy is determined by local market conditions, meeting affordability criteria and the availability of funding.

Download a copy of the Guide to Home Ownership and a Step-byStep Guide to Open Market Homebuy by clicking on the links at the bottom of the page, or email homebuy@tvha.co.uk to request a brochure be sent to you. Please include you full postal address.