ARTICLES

Sept 2025

By Sebastian Paulo, Director & Head of Staircasing

As seen in the Aug/Sept 2025 edition of the First Time Buyer Magazine

Staircasing is a process of increasing ownership in your property. Many people don’t even realise it is an option for them, or what benefits they can see from it.

Is Staircasing Worth it?

This is a question a lot of people are asking. The main selling point of Staircasing is that the more you own of the property the less rent is payable, in the long term this makes ownership more affordable, as any rent/service charge increases implemented by the housing association are not felt as strongly. When staircasing to 100% the property is then owned outright and the housing association (generally speaking) has no involvement.

How to start the process?

Your financial advisor will need to carry out an assessment as this will help you come to a decision on whether Staircasing is affordable for you & what share will be affordable. It is important that you discuss your options with a specialist Shared Ownership broker, some housing associations operate a panel of experienced mortgage brokers for you to approach.

You will also need to contact your housing association and serve formal notice of your intention to Staircase and a valuation of the property must also be arranged, as the price of your additional share is based on the market value at that time.

Time to instruct a Solicitor:

Once you have done the above, you will then need to instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. As with specialist brokers, your housing association will usually have a panel of recommended solicitors that you can pick from. Due to the niche type of conveyancing, it is vital that you chose a solicitor who has experience with staircasing!

Once a solicitor is instructed, they will liaise with your housing associations appointed solicitor, approve the draft staircasing documents, review your mortgage offer to ensure your lender requirements are met, raise any enquiries that there may be, order any searches needed and finally, register the Memorandum of Staircasing at the Land Registry which evidences your staircasing transaction.

It may also involve acquiring freehold title/superior leases, if you are staircasing to 100%, and this may require further work (more in-depth enquiries may be raised for example).

Stamp Duty:

The current stamp duty rules around Staircasing are that stamp duty is payable for a Staircasing transaction only if the transaction makes your total share above 80%, and on any Staircasing thereafter. However, no stamp duty is payable if you have paid stamp duty on the 100% full market value at the time of the initial purchase.

It is worth noting that the option on what percentage you pay stamp duty is only given to the original purchaser of the property when it was newly built. When purchasing as a resale, you can only pay stamp duty on the percentage you are buying at that time.

In Conclusion -

Staircasing and eventually owning 100%, or the maximum share permitted in the lease, is a logical conclusion of owning a shared ownership property, subject to who wants to and can, but it is a choice only the leaseholder can make. However, it is important to note that leases can vary, and the process can be complex, this is why it is always advised to instruct a solicitor that is knowledgeable in Shared Ownership, particularly in Staircasing to ensure a smooth process.

Owen Paulo specialises in Resales and Staircasing and are happy to advise on the above. Please email enquiries@owenpaulo.co.uk or call us on 0808 196 7020  to obtain a quote, or advice.

Alternatively click on 'Get a Quote' at the top of the page.