If you have a new model shared ownership lease, you can claim up to £500 each year towards the cost of certain essential repairs during the first 10 years of your lease.
The allowance is designed to help keep key parts of your home in good working order. It does not cover all repairs or home improvements.
What you can claim for
You may be able to claim for repairs to:
- water, gas and electricity systems, such as sinks, baths or pipes
- heating systems, such as a boiler or radiators
- the structure of the building, such as windows, doors or walls
- administration fees or insurance excess linked to a warranty
What you cannot claim for
You can’t claim for:
- new fixtures and fittings, such as kitchen cabinets
- installing appliances that use gas, electricity or water, such as ovens or washing machines
- repairs or maintenance work covered by a warranty, insurance policy or guarantee
Repairs covered by a warranty, insurance policy or guarantee are usually covered by the developer during your defects period (normally the first 12 months after the property is built).
Rules for using the allowance
Before you submit a claim, you should be aware that:
- you must have a new model shared ownership home
- you must get our approval before any repair work starts
- we will only consider claims after work has started if it was an emergency
- the work must be carried out by a contractor approved by us or a TrustMark registered tradesperson
- you can make more than one claim each year, but the maximum you can claim is £500 a year, plus any unused allowance carried forward from a previous year
- if a repair costs more than your available allowance, you must pay the difference
How to claim your repairs allowance
There are 2 steps to claim the housing repairs allowance.
Step 1: Request pre-approval for repairs
Use our online form to request pre-approval for repairs to your new model shared ownership home.
You will need:
- details about the repair
- supporting evidence that the repair is needed, e.g. photos or a report
- the name and licence number of the TrustMark registered tradesperson
- a quote from a TrustMark registered tradesperson
Request pre-approval for repairs
We aim to respond with a decision within 10 working days.
Do not start work until your request for approval has been accepted.
If your request is refused
We may refuse your request if:
- the repair is not covered by the scheme (it may still be covered by a warranty or guarantee from the developer)
- the contractor is not an approved tradesperson
- there is no evidence that the item has been routinely serviced or maintained
- the damage was caused deliberately or through misuse
- you do not provide the required information
If your request is refused, you can ask us to review the decision.
Step 2: Claim housing repairs allowance
Use the online form to claim your housing repairs allowance.
If you did not receive approval from us to do the work, you cannot claim.
You will need:
- proof the work has been completed, such as an invoice from the approved tradesperson
- receipts for the work
Claim housing repairs allowance
We will review your claim and contact you if we need more information.
If your claim is accepted, we will arrange payment by BACS. We will ask for your bank details at this stage.
After the first 10 years
Once the 10-year repairs allowance period ends, and any relevant guarantees or warranties have expired, you will be responsible for all repairs and costs.
This applies regardless of the share you own in the property.
If you sell your home
If you sell your home through the shared ownership scheme within the 10-year period, any unused repairs allowance will be transferred to the new leaseholder.
