Some types of shared ownership property have an upper limit on the percentage share that you can own, so you cannot staircase to 100%.
Rural shared ownership homes
Some rural shared ownership schemes only allow up to 80% staircasing. These are in areas with a shortage of affordable housing and this rule prevents homes being sold on the open market.
You can check if there’s a limit on staircasing by looking at the:
- lease
- Key Information Document (KID)
There are strict rules on selling rural shared ownership homes. The housing association usually has a nomination period of 4, 8 or 12 weeks to find a buyer. Priority goes to buyers who:
- live or work locally
- meet affordability criteria
Older persons shared ownership
Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO) is for people aged 55 or over who cannot afford to buy a home on the open market.
The maximum share you can buy in an OPSO property is 75%.
Once you reach 75% ownership, you do not need to pay rent.
You still need to pay service charges, even at 75% ownership.
For more information see GOV.UK guidance on Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO).
- Last updated:
- 15 June 2026
- Next review:
- 15 June 2028
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