How to Staircase in Shared Ownership
14 July 2025
Buying your own home is a big milestone, and with Shared Ownership, it’s an exciting step onto the property ladder. But did you know you can increase your ownership over time? This process, called staircasing, allows you to buy more shares in your home as and when you can afford to, reducing your rent and bringing you closer to owning your home outright.
In this guide, we'll walk you through:
What is Staircasing?
Staircasing is simply the process of buying more of your home over time. When you first buy through Shared Ownership, you start by purchasing a percentage of the property—usually between 10% and 75%—and pay rent on the rest. With staircasing, you can buy more shares when it suits you, eventually working towards owning your home outright if your lease allows.
If you’re new to Shared Ownership or want to understand more about staircasing, check out our complete guide to Shared Ownership.
How does Staircasing work?
The good news is that staircasing is flexible and straightforward. Here’s what you need to do:
- Check your lease – Your lease will outline the rules around staircasing, including how much you can buy at a time and how often. Some leases granted since 2021, allow you to buy 1% extra each year with a simpler process.
- Understand the valuation method – For standard staircasing, a RICS-accredited surveyor will assess your home's market value, which will determine the cost of your additional share. For 1% tranches, there’s no need for a full valuation - the price is calculated using the official House Price Index (HPI).
- Secure financing – Whether you’re buying a larger share or a 1% tranche, you can use savings, remortgage, or a combination to fund your purchase.
- Complete the legal steps – For standard staircasing, a solicitor will help with the legal process and updating your lease. But for 1% annual staircasing, you won’t need a solicitor - the process is much more straightforward.
- Enjoy the benefits – Once everything is complete, your rent will be adjusted based on the share still owned by your housing provider. That means more of your money goes toward your home, not rent!
If you need guidance on the legal steps, our Shared Ownership Conveyancing Guide breaks down what to expect.
Can I own my home outright with Staircasing?
Absolutely! If your lease allows full staircasing, you can eventually own 100% of your home. Once you reach full ownership, you’ll no longer need to pay rent - just your mortgage payments (if applicable) and standard homeowner costs like council tax and maintenance. Ground rent may be payable at full ownership – you should seek clarification if you are unsure on this.
However, some homes may have restrictions that limit how much you can staircase, so be sure to check your lease or ask your housing provider.
Why should you consider Staircasing?
There are some great benefits to staircasing, including:
- Pay less rent – The more you own, the less rent you’ll need to pay.
- Build equity – Owning more of your home means you benefit more if property prices increase.
- Better mortgage options – As you own more of your home, you may qualify for better mortgage deals.
- Long-term security – Shared Ownership gives you the security of tenure and stability that comes with owning a home. Even with partial ownership, Shared Ownership offers far greater security than private renting.
Still wondering if Shared Ownership is right for you? Our guide to understanding Shared Ownership explains everything you need to know.
Do I have to Staircase?
No, not at all! Staircasing is completely optional, and there’s no pressure to buy more shares if it’s not the right time for you. Some homeowners choose to staircase when their finances allow, while others stay on their original share for the long term.
If you plan to sell your Shared Ownership home in the future, increasing your share before selling could mean a bigger return on your investment.
How much does it cost to Staircase?
The cost of staircasing depends on a few things:
- Your home’s current market value – The price of additional shares is based on a professional valuation at the time you staircase. The valuation is adjusted in line with the lease, including to disregard added value as a result of improvements you’ve made.
- Legal fees – You’ll need a solicitor to handle the paperwork (except for 1% staircasing)
- Surveyor fees – A RICS valuation is required and usually costs between £200-£500.
- Stamp duty – This may apply depending on how much of your home you own.
- Mortgage costs – If you’re remortgaging to staircase, there may be arrangement fees.
Is Staircasing worth it?
Staircasing can be a fantastic way to reduce your rent and build long-term financial security, but whether it’s the right choice for you depends on your financial situation.
If house prices have increased, additional shares may be more expensive than when you first bought. However, staircasing still offers a valuable opportunity to increase your equity and work towards full homeownership.
Not sure if now is the right time? A staircasing calculator can help you see the financial impact before making a decision.
How Places for People (PfP) can help?
At PfP we’re here to help you at every step of your homeownership journey. Whether you’re just starting to think about staircasing or you’re ready to take the next step, our team can provide expert advice and guidance. Depending on your lease, you may be able to buy additional shares in your home in different ways - for example, under the Affordable Housing Programme 2016–2021, staircasing is typically in 5% or larger tranches, while the 2021–2026 programme allows you to buy as little as 1% extra each year. We’ll help you understand your options and what works best for you.
We can also support you with the following:
- The Staircasing process and associated paperwork
- We will instruct the valuation to calculate the staircasing purchase price
- We have lots of useful information on staircasing on our website: Selling your Shared Ownership home and Staircasing
Thinking about staircasing? Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.
Final thoughts
Staircasing is a flexible way to move towards owning more of your home at a pace that suits you. With some newer leases, you can even buy as little as 1% extra each year through a simple, hassle-free process. Staircasing isn’t something you have to do, but it can help lower your rent, build up your equity, and give you greater security for the future.
If you’d like to explore what’s possible for you, we’re here to help with friendly advice and clear information whenever you need it.