Update following responses to discussion paper on shared ownership

In 2022 Peter Williams, Departmental Fellow in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge agreed to chair an expert group to look at the opportunities around the expansion and improvement of shared ownership.

In April 2023, the expert group – funded by Lloyds Banking Group and with secretariat and research support from Social Finance – set out proposals which in their view would lead to a better experience of shared ownership and through that generate further momentum for an expanded shared ownership market. 

The resulting discussion paper entitled ​‘A more consumer-focused shared ownership model’, was shared widely with cross-industry participants, inviting their feedback.

Between May and July 2023, we received 31 written responses – many of which ran to multiple pages.

In addition we delivered presentations at eight industry forums with wide attendance, where we gathered verbal feedback.

We also continued to engage with and provide updates to key government and regulatory stakeholders, including:

• Homes England
• Greater London Authority (GLA)
• The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government)
• Regulator of Social Housing (RSH)

The purpose of this update, published in August 2023, was to share progress with respondents and interested parties, including on:

• The level of agreement on the need for reform within shared ownership. 
• The emerging shape of an industry-led framework. 
• The key points raised in qualitative responses and how they underpinned our thinking.