Shared Ownership: What You Are Responsible For
Buying through shared ownership means you own a percentage of your home while a housing association owns the rest. This arrangement comes with a specific set of responsibilities that differ from both full ownership and renting.
Your housing association will not handle every repair that crops up, but you will not be entirely on your own either. The split of responsibilities follows a general pattern, though it is crucial to thoroughly review your lease agreement for precise delineation, as these can vary extensively between properties and providers.
Your Responsibilities as a Shared Owner
As a shared owner, you take on responsibility for the internal maintenance of your property. This covers most of the repairs and upkeep that keep your home in good condition.
You will typically need to handle:
- Internal decorating such as painting and wallpapering
- Plastering and repairs to internal walls
- Flooring, including carpets, tiles and laminate
- Kitchen units, worktops and appliances
- Bathroom fixtures such as baths, toilets and sinks
- Internal doors and their fittings
- Boiler servicing and repairs, though some leases or maintenance service charges may cover this
- Window repairs or replacements, depending on whether your lease treats them as part of the external structure
Generally, owners are responsible for any maintenance issues that arise within the interior of the property. Your lease may also require you to keep the property in reasonable condition. Neglecting repairs could put you in breach of the terms, so it pays to stay on top of maintenance.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What the Housing Association Covers
The housing association typically takes responsibility for the structure and exterior of the building. This means they handle repairs to elements that affect the building as a whole. However, there can be exceptions, particularly where the share you own is high or for certain property types as outlined in your lease.
Their responsibilities usually include:
- The roof and any structural timbers
- External walls and foundations
- Shared hallways, stairwells and lifts in flats
- Communal gardens and parking areas
- External drainage systems
- The building's overall structural integrity
If you live in a flat, the housing association will also manage the common parts of the building. This includes shared entrance areas, corridors and any communal facilities.
For houses, the arrangement can differ. Some housing associations still cover structural repairs, while others may pass more responsibility to the shared owner. Your lease will set out exactly what applies to your property.
Service Charges, Insurance and Other Costs
Many shared owners pay a service charge alongside their rent and mortgage, though this varies and is not universal for all property types, such as certain detached houses. This charge covers the housing association's costs for maintaining the building and any communal areas.
Service charges typically pay for:
- Building insurance for the structure
- Repairs to communal areas
- Grounds maintenance
- Management and administration fees
- Contributions to a sinking fund for major future repairs
These charges are usually broken down into monthly payments to make budgeting easier. The amount can vary each year depending on what work is needed.
You will need to arrange your own contents insurance separately. Building insurance included in your service charge covers the structure but does not extend to your personal belongings or internal fixtures you have installed.
Some housing associations provide an estimate of service charges before you buy. Ask for a breakdown so you understand what you will be paying for and can factor this into your monthly budget.
If you increase your ownership share over time through staircasing, be aware that your responsibilities may change as your stake grows. Check how this affects maintenance obligations before purchasing additional shares.
Before you buy, read through the lease carefully or have a solicitor explain the key terms. Pay attention to sections covering repairs, maintenance obligations and what happens if either party fails to meet their responsibilities.
If you already own a shared ownership property and are unsure about something, contact your housing association directly. They can clarify what falls under your responsibility. If you disagree with your housing association about who is responsible for a repair, you can raise a formal complaint or seek mediation. The Leasehold Advisory Service offers free advice on lease terms and disputes.
Do we have any chance of getting some form of recompense? It doesn't seem fair that people in affordable housing ,who are paying rent ,have to put up with this.
We owned a first floor flat for nearly 8 years. Over £100 service charge a month (block of 4-us and a block of 6)
The communal areas were poorly kept and our kitchen STANK and was yellowing from downstairs cigarette smoke. When we investigated there were gaps in the walls behind the kitchen cupboards. They would do absolutely nothing (not even buy it from us when we wanted to move to a house with them)
We could only afford a shared ownership in our area, 2 weeks after moving in, all the garden fencing fell down from the storm (completely rotten), and they won't help towards the cost at all! Even though they own 50%. The rent cost is crazy and is more expensive than a 100% mortgage, but because we didn't have enough deposit, we were stuck. The deeds don't even say who the fence belongs to (us or neighbour).
We are saving as hard as we can now to move out again in a few years.
My flat not only suffers from cladding defects but the fire safety requirements already in force were not completed and yet the building was signed off as safe. Now I cannot sell and am being told that remedial works for the cladding alone will cost £5.8m (SOME of which MAY be covered by the governement if we are very very lucky!). This does not include the cost of fixing missing/defective fire safety requirements or any other costs (e.g surveys, waking watch, new fire alarm system)! The housing association are refusing to accept their share of the cost leaving me to pay 100% of (over £48,000 and rising daily) on a 25% share of a flat worth just £55,000. The "not-for profit" housing association is extremely happy to profit from leaseholders paying 100% of costs despite the housing association having a clear stake in the property. Works haven't even begun and the value of my share has almost been entirely wiped out.
I'm currently looking at how to relinquish all rights and claim to the flat as there is no way I can afford the required works and cannot sell so my only option is to literally throw it away. It's either that or end up homeless!
Someone pointed out to me some damage to the cladding at the entrance, where a vehicle too high as obviously driven through.
There isn't any structural damage from what I can see. I am in a shared ownership property. Who would be liable to repair this?
Thank you for any advise
Now I would like to exchange for house, wonder what are the chances or should I have to sell?
Thank you
What rights do we have in 1) insisting on accounts being available to us for inspection and 2) getting rid of this company and forming our own management company?
Many thanks
The properties share a common driveway and services, eg., sewage treatment plant, the energy supply to it, and its maintenance. Is it necessary to form a limited company to manage the payment for the 'joint' services. If not what is the alternative to manage payments etc, without having to engage accountant etc, as would be the case with a limited company.
I have a shared ownership end terraced house. My neighbour who is also shared owner, has planted 6 ft trees on my boundary line to the front of the house at their front door. Is this allowed? I’m concerned about the roots going under my house. Would this have an impact on my foundations since it’s a new build? Should my HA be involved?
I currently have a leak in my roof (just discovered). I believe I am right in saying repairs to the roof will be down to the Housing Association, but what about any internaal damage (such as walls/ceiling that may need replastering once the leak is repaired) that happened as a result of the leaking roof? Would they have to cover it as the damage happened due to an area of the house they are responsible for? Or as that damage isn't "structural" would that be down to me?
The outer window pane has developed a crack. I don't know how this happened but it is not the internal pane, definitely the outer pane of the double glazed window. Who is responsible to fix this please? Thank you
Who would be responsible for water damage to a ceiling when the water seems to be coming from a concrete joist that holds up the floor above, me or my landlords? I own 50%.
Would really appreciate some advice. I own a 35% share in a shared ownership scheme in Lambeth, London. They recently undertook some repairs on the roof of the property, (despite the building only being 12 years old) and then we were each handed with a bill for £4K. Is this our responsibility to cover the costs? The association made the decision to make the repairs and then went ahead and did them- we weren't given any say in the matter. Would appreciate any advice on this
As i would own only 50% of the house and rent 50% would anybody come inspect the house regulary same as landlords or letting agents do.thank you
Many thanks
Thanks in advanced.
4 years ago I had to put an RSJ in the ceiling as the survey we had done 20 years ago when we bought the property was negligent by saying that an internal that had been removed in the front room was non load bearing. 4 years ago the house was falling down so I contacted moat housing who said it had nothing to do with them and that under the terms of my lease I was responsible for all repairs and maintenance. My wife and I therefore had to pay for the structural alteration and install an RSJ. It doesn't say anywhere on the lease that Moat housing are responsible for anything. All it says is that we are responsible for keeping the property clean and tidy, all substantial repairs and maintenance and to keep it decorated. Any help would be appreciated.
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