Home Ownership for people with a long-term disability (HOLD)
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-03)

People with a long-term disability looking to buy a suitable home on the open market may be able to do so using the HOLD shared ownership scheme.

The Home Ownership for people with a Long-term Disability (HOLD) scheme follows the same rules as the shared ownership scheme (https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme).

The scheme involves a provider of shared ownership homes (https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/finding-shared-ownership-home) purchasing a home that meets your needs and selling this to you on a shared ownership basis.

Who can apply

You may be able to buy a home under the HOLD scheme if all of the following apply:
- you have a long-term disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010 (https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010)
- you cannot find a suitable shared ownership property — this may be because available homes don’t meet your needs or are not within a reasonable distance of your support networks
- 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
- there is a provider of homes under the HOLD scheme operating in the area you wish to buy in
One or more of the following statements must also apply. You:
- are a first-time buyer
- used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now
- are forming a new household — for example, after a relationship breakdown
- are an existing shared owner and want to move
- own a home and want to move but cannot afford to buy a new home that meets your needs
Homes that can be purchased

Once you have found a provider of homes under the HOLD scheme, you can search for a suitable home on the open market. Homes can be second-hand or new build.

The home must:
- be in good condition
- be a permanent residence and not a mobile home, caravan or houseboat
- not be for sale by auction
- be covered by a build guarantee or similar warranty provided by a reputable organisation (if new build)
- have a remaining lease length of at least 990 years (if leasehold), unless there are no available homes with this lease length (in which case, a minimum lease length of 125 years applies)
Your HOLD provider may have additional criteria for homes they will buy. They will tell you if this is the case.

Buying your share

The share you can buy is based on your individual financial circumstances and will be between 10% and 75% of the home’s full market value.

You can take out a mortgage to buy your share or pay for it with savings.

You will need to pay a deposit — usually between 5% and 10% of the share you are buying.

You can buy more shares in your home in future — this is known as ‘staircasing’. If you buy more shares, you will pay less rent. The amount of rent you pay will be based on the landlord’s share.

Repairing a home purchased under the HOLD scheme

You may be able to get help with some repairs.

For the first 10 years from the date the home was built (the ‘initial repair period’) the landlord is responsible for the cost of some repairs.

Example

A home built 4 years ago would have an initial repair period of 6 years left to run.

After the initial repair period ends, or if you buy a home that is more than 10 years old, you are responsible for all repairs and the cost of these repairs.

You will still need to pay the service charge while your home is in the initial repair period.

Finding a home under the HOLD scheme

Search for a shared ownership home (https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/finding-shared-ownership-home) that is suitable for your needs.

If you cannot find a shared ownership home suitable for your needs, find a shared ownership provider (https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/finding-shared-ownership-home) who may be able to help under the HOLD scheme.

Discuss your situation with your chosen shared ownership provider.

When the shared ownership provider has confirmed you can proceed, search for a home suitable for your needs on the open market.

The shared ownership provider will check you can afford the home and that they are happy with the property you have found.

When you have found a suitable home, find a legal professional to handle the process of transferring ownership of the property from the seller to you (called ‘conveyancing’).

You can use a solicitor or licenced conveyancer. They will explain the terms of the shared ownership lease to you and check the conditions of your mortgage offer, if you have one.

Find out more about how to buy a home including ‘instructing a legal representative’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-buy-a-home) (conveyancing).

Help and advice

You can get advice on buying, improving and selling shared ownership homes (https://www.gov.uk/shared-ownership-scheme/help-advice).