1Eligibility
The first step in buying a home with Shared Ownership is to assess your eligibility. If you meet the criteria, you’re ready to start home hunting!
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Register your interest for Kent
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Shared Ownership in Kent
Explore affordable Shared Ownership homes in Kent, and soak up some of the best countryside the UK has to offer
Local Shared Ownership homes in Kent
Often regarded as the ‘Garden of England’, Kent is one of the most desirable places to live in the UK. The county is rife with amazing natural landscapes like the White Cliffs of Dover, as well as handy transport links to London that keep commuters connected to the capital while enjoying their own slice of heaven.
Whether you’re a single professional looking for an affordable place to live outside of London, or a growing family seeking a place to call home, Shared Ownership homes in Kent could be the perfect option.
Embrace Shared Ownership at Millwright Place
Looking for Shared Ownership homes in Kent? Look no further than our Millwright Place development in Maidstone, with brand-new 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom houses and 2-bedroom apartments to suit every kind of buyer.
Every home at Millwright Place has been built with convenience in mind, with easy access to local amenities right on your doorstep. Every Shared Ownership house at the development comes with private parking, and a turfed garden to enjoy during the warmer months.
Millwright Place is just one mile away from Maidstone, where you’ll find urban convenience and countryside charm in equal measure. Take a stroll through the characterful streets, or drop by a cosy cafe to take the weight off and watch the world idle by.
Why Kent?
- There are several schools with an ‘Outstanding’ rating in and around Maidstone, including Allington Primary School, Invicta Grammar School, and Leigh Academy Bearstead. These cater to children aged 2-18, covering the full spectrum of education in your new local area.
- Kent is home to over 7,000 creative, digital, and tech businesses, providing exciting and interesting job opportunities to locals who are looking for an alternative to London commuting
- From Maidstone East train station, you can take a direct service to London Victoria and be in the capital within an hour – perfect for city commuters who want to enjoy the tranquility of Kent alongside their existing career.
- Looking for green spaces to explore at the weekend? Residents of Kent can enjoy sprawling countryside spots like Mote Park, Shorne Woods Country Park, and Leybourne Lakes Country Park. Perfect for walking furry friends, or making memories with the kids.
How does Shared Ownership in Kent work?
The Shared Ownership scheme is simple: you buy an initial share (typically between 25% and 75%) of the property’s full value and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder.
You may purchase further shares (up to 100%) as your circumstances change, should you choose to. This is a process known as ‘staircasing’.
Is Shared Ownership cheaper than renting in Kent?
Shared Ownership homes in Kent can be cheaper than renting privately, as the mortgage cost and low rent sometimes add up to less than the equivalent rental payments to a landlord. The specific costs of your new home will be outlined prior to purchasing your share, so you’ll be aware of what’s being charged before signing.
How do I know what percentage I can purchase?
You can purchase a share, typically from 25% to 75%, of the initial purchase price. Some properties may carry specific minimum share restrictions. You will be asked to speak to a financial advisor to assess what share you can buy that is both affordable and sustainable.
Can I decorate my Shared Ownership home in Kent?
Absolutely! Contrary to some myths you may have heard, all of our homes are yours to decorate. You’ll only need permission from Legal & General Affordable Homes to carry out larger works, to ensure they don’t impact the structure of the building.
How do I view Shared Ownership homes in Kent?
Once a scheme is live, we welcome visitors to our showhome suites. However, we are unable to facilitate viewings on some developments, depending on the days available or the roll-out of a specific scheme.
In those circumstances, our sales team can provide you with help and information to enable you to make a buying decision. This can include providing photography, CGI renders or virtual tours, or talking you through the floor plans thoroughly.
Where we are able to invite you into one of our homes for sale we want to ensure your safety. As such, visits will be by appointment only. Virtual viewings are also available – please contact our sales team to book your tour when you’re ready to move forward.
How to buy a Kent Shared Ownership home: a step-by-step guide
2Find a home
Browse through our available Shared Ownership homes. Once you’ve found a home you’re interested in, you’ll need to arrange a viewing.
3Arrange a viewing
To find the ideal home that suits you, it’s best to see the property yourself. Book an appointment with us here to arrange online or in-person viewings.
4Affordability
Speak to a mortgage broker to understand your affordability and see how much of the home you can buy.
5Application
To secure the Shared Ownership property you’ve fallen in love with, complete the application paperwork and pay the reservation fee.
6Legal paperwork
With the reservation complete, you’ll need to instruct a solicitor and begin your legal paperwork to purchase the property. We make the process as smooth and seamless as possible, including breaking down technical terms with our jargon buster.
7Secure mortgage
Alongside the legal paperwork, you need to find a Shared Ownership mortgage that suits you and complete your mortgage application. You can either do this yourself or use a mortgage broker. Your lender will carry out affordability checks to ensure that you can afford the mortgage repayments. See our affordability calculator to understand what you can afford.
8Sign contract
With the mortgage in place, get ready to sign on the dotted line and pay your deposit. This is an exciting part of the process where you’re really close to your dream of homeownership.
9Exchange
It’s time to exchange contracts, which are legally binding agreements between you and us for the purchase of your property. You will also find out more about your completion and move-in date during this stage of the process.
10Move in
Congratulations! You can now move into your new Shared Ownership home and make it your own.
You’ll still need to pay rent on the remaining share of the property you don’t own. The rent is usually set at 2.75% of the share that you don’t own. You can also choose to increase your ownership share over time via staircasing.
Get in touch
We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact our dedicated Sales Team, who will be delighted to help you find your new Kent home.
Unsure how much deposit you’ll need? Want to know the best areas to view homes? Our HOME Hub answers your Shared Ownership questions, from staircasing to service charges, mortgage advice to moving day.