Questions to ask when viewing a Shared Ownership home

When viewing a Shared Ownership house or apartment, it’s easy to get distracted by stylish aesthetics and miss something important that could affect your future enjoyment of the property. That’s why it’s crucial to go to the viewing prepared with a list of questions that will give you a clearer picture of your potential home.

So, if you’ve started your property search and booked some viewings in your calendar, you’ll want to know what to ask to get the most out of the experience. Below, we’ve compiled a list of things to ask when viewing a Shared Ownership house or apartment, so you can get all the information you need before deciding whether to buy the property.

General questions to ask at a Shared Ownership property viewing

Every Shared Ownership home is different, but there are some questions you’ll want to know the answers to, regardless of the size or condition of the property.

• How long is the lease?

Almost all Shared Ownership homes are offered as leaseholds, but the lease term varies between housing providers. Usually, leases start from 99 or 125 years but may go as high as 999 years.

• Does the property become a freehold after staircasing to 100%?

Some housing providers offer the freehold of the property once you’ve staircased to 100%, meaning you’ll own the property and the land it’s built on. Usually, this is only available on houses, not apartments.

• What type of power supply is it?

You’ll want to know how the property is powered, as this can affect its energy efficiency and how much you’ll pay for utilities each month.

• Are pets allowed?

If you have a pet or plan to get one, it’s important to check whether they’re permitted. This is because some properties, such as apartments, may have restrictions in the lease regarding pets.

• How much is the service charge, and when is it payable?

As a budding buyer, it’s crucial to note that service charges or estate management fees can fluctuate depending on the cost of the services provided. It’s also worth finding out if the management bills the charges annually, biannually or monthly, so you can budget accordingly.

• Will the rent increase each year?

Housing associations review their rent prices annually, which can make your rent go up. However, there are limits on how much they can increase it by. They can either raise it by the rate of the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus up to 0.5%, or the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus 1%.

• What is the council tax band of the property?

You’ll want to know this key piece of information as it determines how much council tax you’ll pay each month.

• What direction does the property (or garden) face?

This will affect the amount of natural light the property receives throughout the day. North-facing gets the most shade, while south-facing gets the most sun.

• What repairs would I be responsible for as a shared owner?

As a shared owner, you’ll be responsible for the general maintenance of the property. There may be some repairs the housing association is responsible for, which the lease will detail.

Questions to ask when viewing a new-build home

• Are there any plans to extend the development?

House builders often build developments in phases. You may want to check if further phases are planned, as there could be building work going on after you move in that could impact your quality of life.

• Which new home warranty does it come with?

New-builds come with a warranty, such as the 10-year National House Building Council (NHBC) Buildmark Warranty, which provides a guarantee against structural defects. Other warranty providers are available, so you may wish to check which policy covers the property.

• Do I need to book a snagging survey?

There’s no legal obligation to obtain a professional property survey, but you may wish to get one for your peace of mind. A snagging survey can highlight any ‘snags’ in a new-build home that the developer should fix to prevent future problems, such as scratched windows or poorly fitted fixtures.

Questions to ask when viewing off-plan

Sometimes, new-build homes are available to buy off-plan. This means that you can purchase the property before the developer has finished building it. Depending on the stage of the development, you may view the property when it’s partially built or be shown a combination of floor plans, drawings and CGIs.

• What’s the timeline for completion?

You’ll want to know when the build will be finished, but also when the property will be ready to move into, as these dates will be different.

• When will all the access roads be complete?

If the housing development is on the larger side, access roads and cycle paths may be part of the plan. Ask when these are due for completion and if access to the property will be compromised in the meantime.

• Is flooring included in the specification?

New-build homes are often sold without flooring “as standard” and include sub-flooring only (i.e. the structural base, like concrete or wood). This isn’t always the case and depends on the developer, so it’s worth checking if you’ll need to pay extra for floor coverings.

• Are there any incentives for buying off-plan?

Sometimes, developers offer incentives to encourage early sales, such as a discounted price or upgrades to the design specification.

Questions to ask when viewing a resale

• Why is the current shared owner selling?

While the housing association isn’t obliged to share this information, you may be intrigued to know why the current shared owner has decided to sell.

• How old are the electrics and plumbing? When were they last inspected?

You’ll want to know the condition of the electrics and plumbing in case they need upgrading, which could be costly.

• Is the seller offering to leave any furniture?

Depending on the seller’s circumstances, they may be willing to leave some of the furniture or agree to sell it to you.

Having the right questions in mind can make every viewing more productive and help you feel confident when it’s time to make an offer. Whether you’re looking for a new-build or a resale property, Shared Ownership can open the door to affordable homeownership. Your perfect home could be just one viewing away.

At Share to Buy, we make your choice easier with a selection of new-build homes across England, available through alternative homeownership schemes such as Shared Ownership. Get your home-buying journey underway using our property portal.