Right to Shared Ownership: buying a share of your rented home
Repairs and home improvements
When you buy a home with Right to Shared Ownership, your lease will have an ‘initial repair period’.
During the initial repair period, the landlord is responsible for the cost of some repairs and cannot:
- use the reserve fund (‘sinking fund’) to pay for repairs that are their responsibility
- use the service charge to pay for external and structural repairs
The initial repair period usually lasts for 10 years after the home is first built - check with your landlord how long is left on your home’s initial repair period.
An initial repair period only applies if you own less than a 100% share of your home. After the period ends, all repairs are your responsibility. Some repair costs may be covered by the building warranty or another guarantee.
You’ll still need to pay the service charge if your home has an initial repair period.
What repairs are included during the initial repair period
During the initial repair period, the landlord is responsible for the cost of:
- essential repairs to the outside of the building
- essential structural repairs to walls, floors, ceiling and stairs inside your home
During this period you can also claim up to £500 a year from the landlord to cover repairing, replacing (if faulty) and maintaining fixtures and fittings that:
- supply water, gas or electricity - for example sinks, baths or pipes
- heat your home, for example a boiler or radiator
You must get your boiler serviced every year by an engineer on the Gas Safe Register - both during and after the initial repair period.
It does not include:
- installing other fixtures (such as kitchen cabinets) and fittings (such as a bed or sofa)
- installing appliances that use your gas, electricity or water supplies, such as ovens or washing machines
- repairs covered by the building warranty or any other guarantee
If you break the terms of your lease, your landlord will not need to pay for repairs they’re normally responsible for. For example, if you:
- cause damage on purpose
- do not arrange routine servicing and maintenance, such as regular boiler servicing
If the repairs are covered by the building warranty or another guarantee, check the warranty or guarantee documents to find out how to claim for the repairs.
If your home needs essential repairs during the initial repair period
You must tell the landlord that the repairs are needed. The landlord will decide if they are essential. They have the right to inspect the home when making a decision.
You’ll need to arrange the repairs yourself and claim a repairs allowance from your landlord to cover the cost. You can claim up to a certain amount a year (usually £500). You’ll need to pay for costs above this amount yourself.
You must use a Trustmark-approved tradesperson or professionals approved by your landlord. You can find a local tradesperson on the Trustmark website.
If you do not claim the full repairs allowance in one year, a maximum of one year’s allowance will roll over to the following year.
Example of how the repairs allowance works if you claim in years 2 and 3
| Repairs allowance | Allowance claimed for repairs | Amount rolled over to next year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £500 | £0 | £500 |
| Year 2 | £1,000 (£500 + £500) | £750 | £250 |
| Year 3 | £750 (£500 + £250) | £0 | £500 |
If you sell the home, the repairs allowance will usually transfer to the new owner. If the new owner buys a 100% share, they do not get the repairs allowance.
If the landlord rejects your claim
If the landlord rejects your claim for the cost of essential repairs, they must:
-
tell you why in writing within 7 days of receiving the information that supports your claim
-
tell you that you have the right to challenge the decision
-
explain how you can challenge it
Home improvements and decoration
You can paint, decorate and refurbish a shared ownership home, for example replace a kitchen or bathroom. Your landlord is not responsible for this.
You might need written permission from your landlord to make structural changes. Check with your landlord what you need permission for.
Changes to your home may increase or decrease its market value. This can affect the price if you buy more shares in your home in the future.