Shared ownership staircasing explained

Staircasing is the process of buying extra shares in a shared ownership home. As your share goes up, the rent you pay on the remaining share falls, according to GOV.UK guidance. The rules can vary by lease, so the detail matters before you decide how much to buy and when.

How staircasing works

In general, staircasing means increasing the share you own in your home. GOV.UK says you can usually buy more shares at any time, but the minimum amount depends on the lease. Most shared ownership homes are leasehold, which means you own the property for a fixed period rather than outright forever.

Tranche sizes and the 1% rule

GOV.UK guidance says you can usually buy shares of 10% or more, though some older leases only allow 25% or more and some newer leases allow 5% or more. Homes bought on or after 1 April 2021 may also allow 1% staircasing each year for the first 15 years. The same guidance says you cannot buy 2%, 3% or 4% shares under that route.

Valuation and costs

For shares of 5% or more, a RICS-registered surveyor valuation is required, and the landlord decides who arranges it and tells you the share price. GOV.UK says you must complete the purchase within three months of the valuation date or get a new valuation. The landlord may charge an administration fee of around £150 to £500 for shares of 5% or more, while no administration fee is charged on 1% shares; the 1% price is based on the original price adjusted by the House Price Index. You pay your own legal fees when staircasing, and if you borrow to buy more shares you will need a legal adviser. If you have made improvements, the guidance says the valuation may be based on the unimproved value if you had the landlord’s written permission; without that permission it is based on current market value, which is likely to be higher.

Maximum shares and exceptions

For most shared ownership homes, the maximum share is 100%. GOV.UK guidance says there are exceptions: in designated protected areas the maximum can be 80%, and for Older Persons Shared Ownership homes it can be 75%.

Right to Shared Ownership

In England, the Right to Shared Ownership scheme lets eligible tenants who have lived in their home for at least one year buy a share on shared ownership terms. GOV.UK says staircasing to 100% under this scheme uses the same routes as other shared ownership homes: the gradual 1% a year route where available, or the standard route for shares of 5% or more.

Key facts

Source: GOV.UK - Shared ownership: buying more shares (staircasing) — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: GOV.UK - Shared ownership: buying more shares (staircasing) — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: GOV.UK - Shared ownership: buying more shares (staircasing) — Guidance checked August 2026

Source: GOV.UK - Shared ownership: buying more shares (staircasing) — Guidance checked August 2026