Shared Equity

New Supply Shared Equity

From time to time we will build New Supply Shared Equity properties and as they become available they will be advertised on this website and in the Shetland Times. Shared equity properties allow first time buyers to purchase between a 60 to 80% share in the unit. The purchaser will own the property outright but the Scottish Government will retain a share in the property.

If you are interested in being considered for one of these units you should register your interest when the properties are advertised. Priority will be given to those who are existing Hjaltland tenants, then to Council tenants, disabled people or members of the armed forces, veterans or their widows/widowers/partners and to those living with family or in private rented. A financial assessment will be undertaken to ensure that you meet the criteria and to determine the maximum amount you can pay for the property. You would be expected to secure a mortgage to pay for this contribution and the Scottish Ministers will hold a share in the property for the remaining amount.

At a later date you can increase your share if you wish or if you sell the property you would keep your percentage of the proceeds of the sale price and pay the Scottish Government the percentage they hold.

Further information is contained in the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme leaflet and also here on the Scottish Government's website.

The Privacy Notice for Sharing Owners and Shared Equity Owners can be found here on our website.

Help to Buy Scheme Scotland

The Scottish Government will allocate £220 million over three years for the Help to Buy (Scotland) shared equity scheme to provide financial support to make buying a
home easier. From Monday 30 September 2013 the scheme will be open to all first time buyers and existing homeowners buying a new build home from participating home builders. The home must be a buyer’s only residence and they must not own another home. The Scottish Government will provide help to eligible buyers of up to 20% of the purchase price of a new build home from a participating home builder. An eligible buyer will be expected to contribute a minimum of 80% of the cost of the new build home. The shared equity scheme will apply to homes worth up to £400,000 in Scotland.

The scheme is backed by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and house building industry body, Homes for Scotland, who have worked closely with the Scottish Government to develop a scheme suitable for Scotland.

For more information visit the Scottish Government website at https://www.mygov.scot/help-buying-home

The LIFT (Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers) Open Market Shared Equity scheme.

If you want to buy a home that's for sale on the open market but can't afford the total cost, you might be able to get help through the Open Market Shared Equity (OMSE) scheme.

The OMSE scheme is available across Scotland and is open to all first-time buyers.

Although anyone can apply for OMSE, priority access will be given to:

• social renters (people who rent from the council or a housing association)
• Disabled people with a housing need
• members of the armed forces
• veterans who have left the armed forces within the past two years
• widows, widowers and other partners of service personnel for up to two years after their partner has lost their life while serving

Under the scheme, applicants fund the majority share of the purchase of their property and own the property outright. The Scottish Government will hold the remaining share of the property under a shared equity agreement. In most areas you can increase your share up to 100% in the future.

Link Group administers the scheme for the Scottish Government across. Please visit https://linkhousing.org.uk/lift-tenants or telephone 0330 303 0125 for further and to make an application.