Information for buyers

Browse through the available properties on our website (link to our properties). When you see a property you’re interested in, click on the Enquire button.

Our team will be in touch to discuss your enquiry and arrange a viewing for you.

When you have a viewing appointment, we ask that you attend on time as generally you will be meeting the current owner. More importantly though, if you can’t make it, or need to cancel your appointment please let us know as soon as possible.

After the viewing we’ll email you to find out your feedback. If you would like to go ahead with applying for the property, we will take you through the next steps..

If we receive more than application, we will ask the housing association to confirm which buyer they would like to proceed with first. We don’t always have control over how long this takes, or who is chosen so we are grateful for your patience.
There is no hard and fast rule about prioritisation and it can favour applicants living or working in the same Borough Council as the property, or could be the first person to apply, or even the owner may get to decide. We will let you know as soon as possible as we understand its hard to wait!

Any application for Shared Ownership normally requires you to undertake a detailed financial assessment with a nominated financial assessor. This is a mandatory assessment but it won’t be a ‘hard search’ so it won’t show up on your credit file. It’s a really important part of the application because the housing association won’t approve your application unless you can demonstrate that the property is affordable to you on a long term basis and that you are likely to obtain the necessary mortgage.

TIP: You can save yourself a lot of time here by making sure you are properly prepared. The financial assessor will want to see your full credit report, passport or driving licence, your last three months bank statements and payslips and proof of your deposit (including gifted deposits), so make sure you have as much of this as possible, ready to send by email.

When the financial assessment is complete, we’ll send your application to the housing association for approval. This can sometimes take a few days while they check through all the paperwork, so please be patient – we will let you know the moment we hear back.

While you wait for the housing association to approve your application, it’s a good time to think about which solicitor and mortgage broker to use. We’ll ask you to provide us with the contact details of your intended solicitor and mortgage broker.

We can recommend a solicitor and mortgage advisor if you would like – there is no obligation to use them but we have a good relationship with them and we know that they know shared ownership too!

TIP: We recommend that you choose a solicitor who is experience in shared ownership because shared ownership conveyancing requires specialist knowledge and can be a complex area.

Once you have given us your solicitor’s and mortgage broker’s details, your Sales Memo can be prepared. This is an important document that introduces your solicitor to the seller’s and housing association’s solicitors. The memorandum will usually be issued by PE Homes but in some cases the housing association will issue their own. Please be sure to send us a copy if so!

You’ll need to apply for your mortgage as soon as the memorandum of sale has been issued. Your mortgage broker will help you find the right mortgage for you. The bank or lender will arrange for a surveyor to inspect and value the property.

You should instruct you solicitor as soon as you receive your memorandum of sale. Conveyancing is often a long and complicated process so it’s really important not to delay this stage.

When your solicitor has completed their conveyancing, they will ‘report’ to you with their conclusions and you can then agree dates for Exchange of Contracts and Completion of Sale.

To allow your solicitor to exchange contracts with the seller’s solicitor, you’ll first need to transfer your deposit money to them. This will usually be 10% of the purchase price but you solicitor will advise you of the exact amount.

When your solicitor has agreed a completion date, you’ll need to make sure they also agree on handover arrangements with the seller. Whilst the completion date can be agreed in advance, the exact time of completion cannot but your solicitor will inform you when completion has taken place.

TIP: On the day of completion, you will normally meet the seller at the property so that they can give you the keys to your new home. Be sure to take meter readings to avoid any unexpected bills!