People who own a portion of their residential property through a Shared Ownership Scheme – be it either a Government backed Help to Buy Shared Ownership scheme or a similar scheme provided by a local housing association – may wish to increase their share of ownership in the property by purchasing additional equity. This is known as “staircasing”.

How does Staircasing work?

Most leases of Shared Ownership homes allow a property owner/occupier to buy extra shares after you have made your initial purchase. You can choose to go up another step on the home ownership ladder by buying further shares, or in most cases you can purchase all the remaining shares (but not all; some will only allow you to purchase up to 80% of shares). Staircasing will also have the effect of reducing the rent that is payable on a property.

Shares in the property will be sold at the current market value, disregarding any improvements to your home that your landlord has consented to. As such, an up to date impartial Valuation is required in the form of a Property Valuation Report. As the other equity in the property is owned by a public body, it is a requirement for the Valuation Report to be produced by an independent RICS Registered Valuer. A report from an estate agent or one carried out on behalf of a mortgage lender will not be accepted.

For all of the Valuations we conduct, including those for staircasing of shared ownership properties, follow a thorough process and the resulting Valuation Report is both professional and impartial.

Contact us for a Valuation Quote

Lea Hough have acted for many applicants wanting to increase their equity share in a property by staircasing. All of our work in this area is conducted by Chartered Surveyors and RICS Registered Valuers and as such, our reports are fully compliant with requirements.

For more information on our services in relation to staircasing or to obtain a quote for a Valuation Report, please get in touch.

Key Contact:
Matthew Parkinson
Partner - Chartered Building Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer
01524 899850 / 01772 458866
Matthew Parkinsont

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Preston Office
Telephone: 01772 458866
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Telephone: 01254 260196
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Telephone: 01200 320040
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Telephone: 01524 899850
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Lea Hough is a trading name of Lea Hough & Co LLP, which is a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales under partnership number OC306054.
Registered Office: Oakshaw House, 2 Capricorn Park, Blakewater Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5QR