Help with housing

Each resident approaching housing services during office hours is given a personal housing plan which sets out needs, next steps for the resident, the council and other partners, with a record of advice and guidance provided. 

Shared ownership and rent to buy

RBWM work in partnership with Registered Providers (Housing Associations) who offer shared ownership schemes, designed to:

  • provide access to homes for people who are unable to afford the cost of buying a property outright.
  • allow buyers to purchase a share of a property, ranging from 10% to 75% of its total value, while paying a manageable rent on the remaining portion not purchased.

Shared ownership is a type of leasehold arrangement where you purchase a portion of your home while paying rent on the remaining share. 

Since you only need a deposit and mortgage for the part you buy, your monthly payments are more affordable. 

Over time, you have the right to acquire additional shares (a process called “staircasing”) until you eventually own 100% of the lease if you wish. 

Depending on the tenure of the property, this may allow you to transition to freehold ownership or continue as a leaseholder.

Eligibility and prioritisation

  • Age requirement: Applicants must be 18 years or older.
  • First time buyer or non-homeowner: You cannot own another home. Shared ownership purchasers are often first time buyers but if you do already own another property (either in the UK or abroad), you must be in the process of selling it.
  • Income threshold: Your annual household income must not exceed £80,000.
  • Inability to purchase outright: You must not currently be able to afford to buy a home suitable for your housing needs on the open market.
  • Local eligibility requirements: Some Registered Providers or local authorities may apply additional criteria, such as a connection to the area where the property is located. You will be advised if such a connection is required.
  • Payment history: You must show you are not in mortgage or rent arrears.
  • Financial standing: You must be able to demonstrate that you have a good credit history, including no bad debts or county court judgements (CCJ) and can afford the regular payments and costs involved in buying a home during your shared ownership affordability assessment checks.

Learn more about shared ownership

If you're considering shared ownership as a way to get onto the property ladder, you can explore more about the scheme on the following websites:

Find available properties

You can browse listings through the following websites:

Once you have found a property you are interested in, reach out to the Registered Provider directly for details on their application process and eligibility criteria. 

For further information, please contact us:
Phone
01628 683221
Address

Housing Service
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall
St Ives Road
Maidenhead
SL6 1RF
United Kingdom