The Intermediary – July 2026 - Flipbook - Page 19
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
In focus
waiting until they can afford to
buy outright.
The National Audit Office found
that the annual delivery of Shared
Ownership homes has increased by
83% over a decade. It has become
the largest Government-supported
homeownership scheme for new
buyers, highlighting the growing role
it plays in addressing affordability.
Shared Ownership is not the right
solution for everyone, but it does
present a different way of tackling
affordability, and is likely to remain
an important part of the wider
homeownership landscape.
For example, the strengthening
of leaseholders’ rights through the
Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act,
together with further protections
expected through the Renters’
Rights Act, should help improve the
experience of Shared Ownership
customers over time.
The hope is that we continue to
see reforms that build confidence in
the scheme and make it even more
accessible.
Brokers and lenders
Much of the criticism surrounding
Shared Ownership stems from a lack
of understanding rather than the
scheme itself.
As a more complex route into
homeownership, brokers play a vital
role in helping customers understand
how it works, from staircasing to
the ongoing costs involved, and
whether it is the right option for their
circumstances.
There is also an opportunity to
build greater confidence across the
intermediary market. While specialist
brokers have developed strong
expertise in Shared Ownership, wider
education will help ensure more
advisers recognise its potential, not
As affordability
pressures have intensified,
more buyers are becoming
willing to consider
alternative routes into
homeownership rather
than waiting”
LOUISE APOLLONIO
is sales and distribution
director, retail mortgages
at Shawbrook
only for first-time buyers, but also for
home movers and second-time buyers
facing affordability challenges.
By continuing to work closely
with brokers and investing in
education, lenders can help ensure
Shared Ownership is considered
alongside more traditional routes to
homeownership.
While it is not a solution to every
affordability challenge, it has an
increasingly important role to play
in helping more people achieve
sustainable homeownership. ●
July 2026 | The Intermediary
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