You can increase the number of shares you own in a Shared Ownership home through a process known as ‘staircasing’. The process for staircasing can differ depending on the Affordable Homes Programme your property was purchased under. Your management provider can guide you on this if you are unsure.

There are several benefits to staircasing, including: 

• Cost savings: Your rent will decrease as you incrementally increase the number of shares that you own, saving you lots of money in the long-term
• Valuation benefits: The more shares of your home that you own, the more you’ll benefit from property price rises when it comes time to sell 
• Flexibility: If you’re able to staircase your property to 100%, you’ll be able to sell it privately rather than going through the usual Shared Ownership sales process (though this can vary by development, so always check with your provider first) 

Not all properties can be staircased to 100% ownership, and we’d recommend that you review the staircasing options before purchasing your initial share in a home.