Affordable housing schemes
Properties on the affordable housing register may be available through different rent and home ownership schemes.
The affordable housing register does not include social housing such as council or housing association homes. You can be registered for both social housing and affordable housing. The affordable housing register does not affect your place on the social housing waiting list (the housing allocations scheme).
Affordable rent schemes
Intermediate or private rent
This option is provided by private landlords, with the maximum monthly rent being capped at 80% of local market rents.
Rent to Buy
Delivered by an approved provider Rent to Buy helps a tenant to save toward a deposit through a period of discounted rent.
Once the deposit is saved, there will be an option for the tenant to buy the property.
Affordable home ownership schemes
Shared ownership
Through this scheme, a tenant purchases a portion of the home and rents the remainder of the home.
This provides a less expensive option to buying a property outright. As the portion the tenant owns increases, rent on the remainder goes down.
Shared ownership schemes are available only to those with a household income below £80,000.
Shared equity
With a shared equity scheme, the buyer can secure 100% ownership of the property with a mortagage and a small deposit. The initial deposit is typically 5% of the property price, and the purchaser must top this up to around 20% with a low-cost or no-cost equity loan. The remaining cost of the property is covered by a mortgage.
Low-cost home ownership
Low-cost home ownership allows single people with a maximum annual salary of £40,000, or a couple or household with a maximum annual salary of £60,000, to buy at a discount when they have a minimum 20% deposit.
First Homes
For first-time buyers with a maximum household annual salary of £80,000, the First Homes scheme provides an option to buy with a minimum 30% deposit on homes priced £250,000 or below.
Page last updated: 4 June 2026
