Shared ownership research launched in House of Lords

Wendy Raeside

A report, examining practices of shared ownership in the UK and co-authored by a Kent housing law expert, has been launched in the House of Lords.

The report, ‘Reconciling owning and renting in shared ownership housing: Moving forward’, is co-authored by Professor Helen Carr of Kent Law School, in collaboration with Professor Dave Cowan, University of Bristol Law School and Dr Alison Wallace, Centre for Housing Policy, University of York.

The research examines how buyers, lenders and providers understand the hybrid model of shared ownership, focusing on how buyers see themselves and  their motivations for buying. The report  makes recommendations for managing and improving communications between the various parties and suggests practical changes to address leasehold problems.

The report has been funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Its launch in the House of Lords on 2 July was hosted by The Lord Best OBE.

Professor Carr said: ‘Shared ownership is a really important policy tool for delivering affordable housing. It is important that providers get it right. Our research found that shared ownership offers real promise to a significant number of households but it is experienced in complex and contradictory ways. Significant reforms to law, policy and practice are required to put the ownership where it belongs in the shared ownership product.’

For more information, contact Andrea Shieber.