Co-Ownership is a Do It Yourself Shared Ownership (DIYSO) scheme set up in 1978 for Northern Ireland to help people become home owners where they cannot afford to do so outright. Co-Ownership Housing is the organisation that runs the Co-Ownership scheme. To find out more, visit the Corporate Information section of our website.
So far Co-Ownership has helped 21,500 households to buy a home.
People apply to Co-Ownership Housing for a place on the Co-Ownership Scheme. Applicants take as large a share as they can afford to start with, between 50% and 90% (called the 'starter share'). Most people pay for their starter share with a mortgage. They also pay a monthly rent for the share that they do not own.
All applicants are assessed and their chosen properties are valued. Both are subject to terms and conditions which can change at short notice. To find out more about applying to Co-Ownership, visit the Home Buyers section of our website.
Once the purchase is completed, Co-Ownership applicants are known as leaseholders because they receive a 99 year equity sharing lease on their properties. The lease is a legal agreement between the leaseholder and Co-Ownership Housing.
Leaseholders can then increase that share at any time and own up to 100% (this is called 'staircasing'). To find out more about staircasing, visit the Home Owners section of our website.
