- Affordable: a cost-effective way to buy a retirement property.
- Accessible: enjoy the McCarthy & Stone lifestyle without paying full price.
- Manageable: it's easy to manage your finances and cater for your future needs.
- No rent to pay: if you buy 75% of the value of the property, there is no rent to pay on the outstanding share
- Affordable rent option: buy from 10% of the value of your property and pay an affordable monthly rent on the remaining share.*
- Peace of mind: up to £500 a year to help with essential repairs for 10 years.**
Shared Ownership: enjoy retirement living to the full, without paying in full
Purchase from 10% up to a 75% share of your new home*
Join retirees who are reaping the rewards of Shared Ownership with McCarthy & Stone. It’s an affordable way to enjoy retirement living to the full and many people are surprised to learn they’re eligible.
See Moya and Norman’s Shared Ownership story
What is Shared Ownership?
For people aged 55 and over, Shared Ownership is a government backed scheme and allows you to reduce the costs of buying a McCarthy & Stone retirement property, so you can enjoy a safe, secure and independent lifestyle for less.
Moya and Norman moved into Elderton Place, Whitley Bay in their late 80s and say, “Had it not been for Shared Ownership and McCarthy & Stone, our options would have been significantly less as we didn’t have the equity in our property... It’s allowed us to retain home ownership as well as providing access to a range of services we didn’t have previously.
How Shared Ownership with McCarthy & Stone Works
If you buy a 75% share of your retirement property, then there’s nothing to pay on the remaining 25%. If you buy 50% or even 10%, you pay affordable rent on the outstanding share. It means a £300,000 home would cost £225,000 based on 75% ownership* or £150,000 based on 50% ownership* or £30,000 based on 10% ownership* with an affordable monthly rent.
The benefits of Shared Ownership
I'm interested! Do I qualify for the Shared Ownership scheme?
You can buy a home through shared ownership if both of the following are true:
- Your household income is £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 a year or less in London)
- You cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs
One of the following must also be true:
- You’re a first-time buyer
- You used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now
- You’re forming a new household - for example, after a relationship breakdown
- You’re an existing shared owner, and you want to move
- You own a home and want to move but cannot afford a new home that meets your needs
For some homes you may have to show that you live in, work in, or have a connection to the area where you want to buy the home.
How to buy a Shared Ownership property with McCarthy & Stone
We aim to make every move as straightforward as possible, so you can enjoy independent retirement living sooner. If one of our Shared Ownership properties has caught your eye, there are four simple steps you’ll need to follow to make the home your own.
- Eligibility check: our friendly sales team will explain the process and check you’re eligible for the Shared Ownership scheme.
- Full financial assessment: if you meet the initial criteria for Shared Ownership, you’ll be referred to an Independent Advisor for a full financial assessment.
- Property reservation: when everything is approved, we’ll confirm your reservation and help you purchase your property.
- Move-in: you’ll be relaxing in your new McCarthy & Stone home before you know it.
How to calculate Shared Ownership
How much you pay for a McCarthy & Stone Shared Ownership property will vary depending on the share and the price of your chosen home.
As mentioned, if you buy a 75% share of your retirement property, there’s nothing to pay on the rest. But how much do you pay on a 50% share? Your consultant will help you with this, but you can calculate your annual rental payments by working out 2.75% of the outstanding balance on the property. Divide this number by 12 for the amount you will pay every month. Note: a service charge is paid separately in addition to the rent.
We've put together an example based on a one-bedroom apartment priced at £255,000 in Exmouth, Devon.
10% Shared Ownership
For a retirement home worth £255,000, you’ll pay £25,500 for a 10% share. You’ll then pay £525.94 in monthly rent to contribute towards the remaining balance of the property.
50% Shared Ownership
If you buy a 50% share of a retirement property valued at £255,000, you’ll pay £127,500 for a 50% share. You’ll then pay £292.19 in monthly rent to contribute towards the remaining balance of the property.
75% Shared Ownership
If you buy a 75% share of a retirement property valued at £255,000, you’ll pay £191,250 for your home. Your monthly rent will be £0.
A fair rent for the long term
The Shared Ownership scheme is designed to make retirement properties more attainable for all. That’s why your rent will be reviewed annually using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous 12 months plus 1%. This ensures that rent remains affordable, despite external costs rising.
The Housing Ombudsman Service
The Housing Ombudsman’s Complaint Handling Code sets out requirements for McCarthy & Stone which detail how we must handle complaints.
Transparency Reporting
The listings in this area show the payments we have made of over £500 on items such as property acquisitions costs, overheads and fees which enable us to deliver quality homes to senior people within vibrant and lively communities. The payments shown do not reflect the full cost of delivering our affordable housing homes and communities.
| Time | Report |
| Q4 2021/22 | Full report here |
| Q1 2022/23 | Full report here |
| Q2 2022/23 | Full report here |
| Q3 2022/23 | Full report here |
| Q4 2022/23 | Full report here |
| Q1 2023/24 | Full report here |
| Q2 2023/24 | Full report here |
| Q3 2023/24 | Full report here |
| Q4 2023/24 | Full report here |
| Q1 2024/25 | Full report here |
| Q2 2024/25 | |
| Q3 2024/25 | Full report here |
| Q4 2024/25 | Full report here |
| Q1 2025/26 | Full report here |
| Q2 2025/26 | Full report here |
| Q3 2025/26 | Full report here |
*Other shares available, with monthly rent. Qualifying criteria apply. Shared Ownership is available on selected apartments at participating developments only. Not available with Part Exchange.
**This covers items in the home that supply water and electricity such as basins, baths, toilets and also cables, but not fixtures, or appliances such as ovens or washing machines. Pipes and drainage items for heating and hot water are also included.