We work with other registered providers to deliver affordable homes to people who cannot afford to buy a property at the market rate.
We collect data to understand the demand for different types, sizes and tenures of affordable housing throughout North Yorkshire. Monitoring local need helps us to make sure we are building the right types of homes in the right places.
To find out how we are delivering housing visit our housing policies and strategies page.
Check which scheme can help you buy a home
There are several government initiatives to help people with buying their own home in the area they want to live and work in.
Check which scheme is right for you on the government website.
If you are purchasing a new property from a developer, please contact them directly and they will check your eligibility for the various schemes.
We've provided a summary of some of the schemes that are available below:
Shared ownership
Shared ownership is aimed at households who cannot afford to buy a property on the open market. It allows you to buy a share in a home (between 10% and 75% of its full market value) and pay subsidised rent to the housing provider – either the council or a housing association – on the remaining share.
The scheme is available on new-build properties, but also on second-hand homes. For second-hand homes (this is known as resale shared ownership), you can buy the previous resident’s share of the property and pay subsidised rent on the share you don’t own.
You can buy more shares in your home over time, with the possibility of eventually owning the property outright. This is known as ‘staircasing’. The greater the percentage of the property you own, the less rent you will pay.
Check if you are eligible for shared ownership on the government website.
You can also use the government’s website to find organisations that offer shared ownership in North Yorkshire and contact them directly.
First Homes scheme
The First Homes scheme offers a discount on certain newly built homes for eligible first-time buyers. Buyers can get a percentage discount off the property’s full market value. If you sell the property in the future, this discount must also apply to any future sales so that the property remains affordable for others.
For more information, visit the government’s First Homes scheme guide.
If you are selling a property previously purchased under First Homes, or you are buying a property that was previously bought under the scheme, please contact us to discuss the next steps and to see if you are eligible.
First Homes sale initial process
These are the steps involved in the First Homes sale process:
- The developer informs the council of its intention to sell a property under First Homes.
- The council provides the developer with the application pack.
- The buyer contacts the developer to reserve a property on the First Homes scheme and selects a conveyancer.
- The developer checks that the buyer meets the eligibility criteria.
- The developer completes the application form with the applicant and returns it to the council.
- The council checks the application is fully completed and appropriate supported evidence is provided.
- The council reviews the evidence provided to confirm the buyer's eligibility and issues authority to proceed and the conveyancer pack.
- The buyer obtains a mortgage and completes legal declarations with the conveyancer.
- The council receives the conveyancer's legal confirmation that the transaction is compliant and issues authority to exchange.
- Exchange of contracts and completion.
- The buyer's conveyancer informs the council of the purchase of the property and confirms they have registered the covenant with the Land Registry.
Discount Market Sale scheme
Discount Market Sale properties are sold by developers with an agreed percentage discount off the full market value. That percentage discount is then passed on in future sales, along with the scheme’s eligibility criteria.
You may be able to find a Discount Market Sale property on a new housing development, or as a resale property. For more information, visit the Share to Buy’s Discount Market Sale web page.
If you are selling a property previously purchased under the Discount for Market Sale scheme, or you are buying a property that was previously bought under the scheme, please contact us to discuss the next steps and to see if you are eligible.
Discount Market Sale initial sale process
These are the steps involved in the Discount Market Sale process:
- The developer informs the council of its intention to sell a property under Discount Market Sale.
- The council provides the developer with the application pack.
- The buyer contacts the developer to reserve a property on the Discount Market Sale scheme and selects a conveyancer.
- The developer checks that the buyer meets the eligibility criteria.
- The developer completes the application form with the applicant and returns it to the council.
- The council checks the application is fully completed and appropriate supported evidence is provided.
- The council reviews the evidence provided to confirm the buyer's eligibility as set out in the planning obligations.
- The buyer obtains a mortgage and pays the deposit.
- Exchange of contracts and completion.
- The buyer's conveyancer informs the council of the purchase of the property and confirms they have registered the covenant with the Land Registry.
Rent to Buy scheme
The Rent to Buy scheme allows eligible buyers to rent a new build property at a discounted rate compared to market rents in the area. The renter is then expected to use the savings made on the rent to save towards a deposit. After staying in the property for five years, you can buy the property outright if you can afford to.
You can contact developers directly via their websites to find out if they are offering properties under the scheme. Alternatively, use the government’s online tool to find organisations that offer Rent to Buy in North Yorkshire.