What is staircasing?
When you invest in a Shared Ownership property, you will have taken a step on the property ladder. Staircasing is the process of buying more shares in order to increase the proportion of the property you own. By buying more shares in incremental stages, most leases will allow you to staircase to 100% of the property and become the outright owner of your home.
From registering your interest in staircasing to buying more shares, once our solicitors have been instructed this process normally takes between 6-8 weeks.
Can I buy shares when I want?
Yes, there are no restrictions on when you can buy more shares in your home. You have the option to buy more shares in your home when it suits you, with each step-up set at a minimum of 10%.
Find out more about staircasing
Staircasing on your Home Reach property
Staircasing on your Your Home property
Enquire about staircasing on your property today
Want to buy more? What’s next?
Step One
Contact us
Once you’ve decided that now is the right time to purchase more shares in your property. Your first step is to have your home revalued; this will help assess whether developments in the property market have impacted the value of your property since you moved in. You will need to source a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) valuation survey. When we have your RICS valuation we can tell you how much staircasing will cost. We are unable to issue the price of the share prior to this.
Before instructing anyone, it’s important that you read the relevant section of your Shared Ownership lease, as this governs how the process will work and if there any restrictions on the maximum share you can purchase.
Once secured, send the following information to the team on [email protected] and we will confirm the cost of the share you wish to purchase and get the ball rolling.
- RICS valuation
- The share you wish to purchase
- Confirmation if this is an interim or final staircase
Step Two
Understanding the costs
Just as when you bought your first shares in the property, the cost of your new shares will be based on the current market value of your home. If you want to have an idea of what it might cost to purchase further shares, you can look at the prices of similar properties in your local area. (Please note, we are unable to issue the price of your share prior to receiving your RICS valuation.)
Increasing the equity you own in your home will reduce the rent you pay. When you own 100% of the shares in the property, you will no longer pay rent. If you pay or are due to pay a service charge, estate fee or ground rent, you will still need to pay this once you own 100% of your home.
The costs involved:
- Your solicitor’s fees
- RICS valuation
- Heylo staircasing admin fee - £200 +VAT
- Mortgage fees (if applicable)
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Step Three
Time to instruct your solicitor
Time to instruct your solicitor
If you are satisfied with the cost of staircasing, and have fully understood the process, please instruct your solicitor and send the team the following information to [email protected].
- A completed copy of the Staircasing Form stating that you understand the costs of staircasing and your wish to proceed
- Your solicitor’s details including name, email and contact number.
Step Four
Instructing our solicitor
At this stage Heylo’s solicitors will be instructed by our Resales and Staircasing team, who will liaise with your solicitors. Our solicitors will ask for copies of title documents and your lease, this will enable them to review for any restrictions on the title, begin drafting the memorandum of staircasing and transfer documents (if necessary) which will be sent to your solicitor for approval.
Costs of staircasing
The cost of increasing your share in your property is based on the present market value of your home. Before stating your interest to staircase, it will be in your best interests to understand what the cost of further shares may be. You can estimate the costs of staircasing by researching the local property market, in particular the list values for similar properties in your area.
The true costs of staircasing will be calculated by Heylo once we have received your RICS valuation. Please bear in mind, it will not be possible to provide a valuation before this point and costs provided by Heylo will exclude any other fees associated with staircasing.
Staircasing to a larger share in your property will mean you pay less rent each month, because you will own greater equity in your home. Your mortgage costs will also increase, should you fund your purchase of additional shares with mortgage borrowing.
Increasing the equity, you own in your home will reduce the rent you pay. Staircasing to 100% will mean you will no longer need to pay any rent to Heylo. Service charges and ground rents, however, still apply if you paid these charges prior to 100% staircasing.
Summary of staircasing costs:
- Survey – you will need to pay to organise a RICS valuation
- Solicitors’ fees – your solicitor will need to handle the paperwork to legally recognise your purchase. You must cover all the costs for your solicitor, while Heylo will pay for our own
- Heylo staircasing admin fee - £200 + VAT (correct as of April 2021)
- Mortgage fees – if you finance your share purchase with mortgage borrowing, you will need to pay mortgage fees to update your mortgage. Moreover, your monthly mortgage costs will rise, so it’s sensible to review your finances thoroughly before financing
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) – whether you pay SDLT will depend on the value of the shares you are purchasing. Your solicitor will be able to advise you if SDLT will apply
I would like to start the process of staircasing
I would like to start the process of staircasing
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