(Increase your ownership, shrink the rent/interest, and unlock full title sooner)
TL;DR (in 40 seconds)
- Staircasing means buying extra equity: either repaying some (or all) of a Help-to-Buy equity loan or purchasing more shares in a shared-ownership property.
- The minimum you can staircase is usually 10 % of the home’s current market value each time.
- You’ll need a RICS valuation, a solicitor and (often) a new mortgage offer before Homes England or your housing association will complete the transfer.
- From year 6, Help-to-Buy loans charge 1.75 % interest, then rise every April by CPI + 2 %, so staircasing earlier can save thousands. GOV.UKGOV.UK
1. What counts as “staircasing”?
| Scheme | What you’re doing | Typical minimum | Who you pay | Ongoing costs after 100 % ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Help-to-Buy Equity Loan | Repay the government-backed loan in chunks (or in full) | 10 % of the property’s current value | Homes England’s loan administrator | None – interest & management fees stop |
| Shared-Ownership | Buy further shares from the housing association | 10 % share (some providers allow 5 %) | Your housing association | Rent falls in proportion to shares bought; disappears at 100 % |
2. Why bother staircasing?
✓ Slash monthly outgoings – interest (HTB) or rent (shared ownership) drops or ends.
✓ Build equity faster – reap a bigger slice of any future price growth.
✓ Remove restrictions – at 100 % you can remortgage freely, make alterations, or sell on the open market.
✗ Watch the clock – HTB interest kicks in after the fee-free first 5 years, starting at 1.75 % and compounding annually. GOV.UK
3. Step-by-step process
- Check your paperwork – lease, loan agreement & provider’s guidance.
- Book a RICS valuation (valid 3 months). Typical cost £200–£400. Platform Home Ownership
- Contact the scheme administrator – confirm share/loan figure based on the valuation.
- Arrange funding – savings, gifted deposit or a remortgage/additional borrowing.
- Instruct a solicitor – they’ll:
- review legal pack,
- handle memorandum of staircasing (shared-ownership) or deed of postponement (HTB),
- register the new title with HM Land Registry.
- Pay fees & complete – once funds clear, new share is registered and rent/interest recalculated.
Typical timeline: 6–12 weeks from valuation to completion if the mortgage offer arrives promptly. HomemoveGoMortgage
4. How much will it cost?
| Item | Help-to-Buy | Shared-Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| RICS valuation | £200-£400 | £200-£400 |
| Admin / redemption fee | £200 | £150-£300 |
| Conveyancing | £300-£700 | £300-£700 |
| Mortgage arrangement fee | £0-£1,000 (lender-dependent) | £0-£1,000 |
| Land Registry fee | £45-£125 | £45-£125 |
| Typical total | £900-£2,200 | £900-£2,500 (average c. £2,250) sales.sng.org.ukPlatform Home Ownership |
Tip: build fees into the remortgage if cash is tight, but watch early-repayment charges on your current deal.
5. Worked examples
5.1 Help-to-Buy repayment
| Example | |
|---|---|
| Original purchase price | £250,000 |
| Equity-loan % | 20 % |
| Current RICS valuation | £300,000 |
| Amount owed (20 % of £300k) | £60,000 |
| Admin + legal fees (est.) | £1,100 |
| Total to clear loan | ≈ £61,100 |
5.2 Shared-ownership staircasing
| Example | |
|---|---|
| Current share owned | 40 % |
| Home value (RICS) | £280,000 |
| 10 % extra share cost (10 % × £280k) | £28,000 |
| New total share | 50 % |
| Rent now payable on | 50 % (falls proportionally) |
6. Funding your staircase
- Remortgage to a new lender at up to 95 % LTV of your post-staircase share.
- Further advance from current lender (often quicker, may have higher rate).
- Savings / gift / inheritance – no affordability checks needed.
- Combination – part cash, part remortgage.
Specialist lenders will now consider shared-ownership remortgages up to 95 % LTV and equity-loan redemptions up to 90 % LTV, provided credit and affordability stack up.
7. Stamp Duty & tax quirks
- Help-to-Buy: no extra SDLT when you repay the loan – it was paid (or deferred) at purchase.
- Shared-ownership: SDLT is only triggered when cumulative staircasing takes you above the threshold (£250k residential until March 2025). Electing to pay SDLT in full at the initial purchase avoids future charges.
(Always check the thresholds in force at the time you staircase – they move around in UK Budgets.)
8. Pros & cons at a glance
👍 Pros
- Lower monthly costs once rent/interest drops
- Bigger equity slice – more profit on sale
- Frees you from scheme restrictions at 100 %
👎 Cons
- Up-front fees every time you staircase
- Valuation risk – if property value rises, so does the price of extra shares
- Early-repayment charges on your current mortgage may apply
9. FAQs
Can I staircase more than once?
Yes. Many owners do two or three steps as their income rises.
Minimum share?
Usually 10 %, though some housing associations now permit 5 % in the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.
Do I need my partner’s signature?
All legal owners and borrowers must sign the memorandum/deed.
What if my valuation expires?
You’ll need a fresh RICS report (and to pay again). Time your mortgage offer accordingly.
10. Next-step checklist ✅
- Download your scheme’s staircasing/redemption pack
- Pull together proof of income & credit report
- Get a RICS valuation quote and book the surveyor
- Speak to a broker who places staircasing & HTB redemptions daily
- Instruct a conveyancing solicitor once funding is agreed
Need tailored advice?
We’ll match you with lenders and solicitors who handle staircasing every day — so you avoid costly mis-steps and get the share you want, fast.