Lifestyle

Shared Ownership is 36% cheaper than traditional homebuying

5 March 2026

One of the biggest benefits of Shared Ownership is that it is often a much more affordable way for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. And new research from Connells Group, proves it! But what does this mean in practice?

According to Connells Group, a property services group in the UK, the national average monthly payment for a 25% Shared Ownership share is £691. For a traditional mortgage payment, the national average is £1,080 – meaning that it is 36% cheaper to live in a Shared Ownership home than buying privately.

“Affordability remains one of the toughest challenges facing first-time buyers, and research underlines the important role Shared Ownership can play in addressing that,” says Shuan Holdcroft, Head of Affordable Housing at L&G. “By significantly reducing monthly housing costs, the scheme offers a practical and proven route into homeownership – one that supports people to buy at a pace that works for them.”

Demand is higher than ever

First-time buyers are looking to move into their own homes in greater numbers than ever before, but affordability is a constant struggle. Over two-thirds of buyers claim that their biggest hurdle to homeownership is financial affordability, with costs around deposits, surveying fees, and a mortgage seeming almost impossible to younger buyers. 

Despite, or maybe because of, these challenges, demand is rising. Connells Group states that they’ve seen a 39% rise in first-time buyer registrations between 2024 and 2025, even in the face of financial difficulties. 

“Our data shows the demand to step onto the property ladder is clearly there, but as we well know, affordability has become a major blocker for first-time buyers wanting to purchase their first home,” says Roy Hind, Affordable Housing Director at Connells Group. 

“That’s why Shared Ownership is a vital solution for aspiring homeowners in today’s market, and one which needs to be prioritised across the housing sector if we really want to help buyers overcome cost barriers and access homeownership.”

Affordability varies across the UK

While Shared Ownership is often cheaper in the Shared Ownership vs traditional homebuying debate, the levels of affordability differ depending on where in the UK you’re looking to buy.

Based on the research by Connells Group, the most affordable regions of the UK are located in the North East, whereas the least affordable are entirely based in London.

Based on the percentage of an individual’s salary that is spent on a monthly mortgage payment, the top five most and least affordable regions are:

Most Affordable	Least Affordable
Harlepool | 16%	Kensington & Chelsea | 74%
Darlington | 17%	Westminster | 56%
County Durham | 17%	Wandsworth | 54%
Redcar and Cleveland | 18%	Camden | 52%
Northumberland | 18%	Hammersmith & Fulham | 51%