Shared ownership is a great way to get on the housing ladder. It's a government-backed scheme that helps you buy a home you might not be able to afford on the open market.
You buy a share of a home (usually between 10% and 75%) and pay rent to Oxford City Council on the rest. You can usually buy more shares over time until you own your home outright. This is known as staircasing.
There are 2 types of shared ownership used by Oxford City Council. Which one you have determines how we manage costs, share purchases, repairs and other responsibilities.
Original model shared ownership
Our original shared ownership model applies to homes built and sold to us before March 2025
This model:
- applies to properties at The Oval / Desborough Crescent, 40 Harefields, Plough House / Between Towns Road, and Bridges Cross
- requires you to pay for most repairs and maintenance in your home
- allows you to buy additional shares in 10% increments when staircasing
New model shared ownership
The new model shared ownership lease was introduced by the government to make the scheme more flexible and affordable. It applies to homes built and sold after March 2025.
This model:
- applies to any new build shared ownership properties that were handed over after March 2025
- requires you to pay for most repairs and maintenance in your home
- allows you to buy additional shares in smaller 1% or 5% increments when purchasing
- includes support with essential repairs for up to 10 years (up to £500 a year)
Buying a shared ownership home
OX Place is the housing company set up by Oxford City Council to build and sell new homes, including shared ownership properties. Once you buy a shared ownership home from OX Place, Oxford City Council becomes your landlord and manages your lease and ongoing services.
For more detailed guidance, including eligibility, costs and available homes, refer to OX Place shared ownership.
