Shared Equity

Censeo Financial works with housing providers who offer Shared Equity schemes.

These schemes may be available on selected new build properties and are designed to help eligible purchasers buy a home with a reduced purchase price or financial support from a housing provider.

Examples of Shared Equity schemes may include:

Home Reach (heylohousing.com)

Your Home (heylohousing.com)

Pocket: Affordable New Homes in London (pocketliving.com)

Availability will vary depending on the housing provider, development and location.

First Homes

First Homes is a government-supported scheme introduced in 2021.

It is a discounted market sale housing product, where eligible purchasers can buy a new build home at a reduced price.

Properties are sold with a minimum discount of 30% from the full market value.

The discount is secured through a legal restriction on the title of the property and is passed on to future eligible purchasers when the property is sold.

After the discount has been applied, the maximum purchase price for a First Home is:

• £250,000 outside London
• £420,000 in Greater London

Local authorities may apply additional eligibility criteria depending on local housing needs.

Eligibility Criteria

General eligibility criteria for First Homes include:

• All purchasers must be first-time buyers
• Household income must usually be no more than £80,000 per year (or £90,000 in London)
• Purchasers must normally fund at least 50% of the discounted purchase price with a mortgage or home purchase plan

Additional local criteria may apply.

Local authorities may prioritise:

• key workers
• those who live or work within the local area
• or those with other defined local connections

These local eligibility requirements may apply for an initial marketing period.

Members of the Armed Forces community may be exempt from local connection criteria.

Eligibility criteria and availability will vary depending on the housing provider and local planning requirements.