The Rise of the “forever Renter” – How Shared Ownership Can Help Create a Path to Homeownership
For many people in Britain, the dream of home ownership is starting to feel increasingly out of reach. The latest findings from the English Housing Survey highlights a big shift in the housing market – first-time buyers are older, and a growing number of renters now believe that home ownership is unachievable *(English Housing Survey, 2025).
Why more people feel locked into renting
First-time buyers in England are now, on average, 34 years old, often relying on 30-year mortgages to make home ownership affordable. At the same time, the average deposit has risen to £78,131, forcing buyers to take on higher levels of debt, leading to more debt vulnerability *(English Housing Survey, 2025).
Only 42% of renters now believe they will ever own a home, down from 45% in 2019/20 *(English Housing Survey, 2025). Renting is no longer seen as a short-term solution:
- 18% of private renters are now aged 45–54, up from 15% the year before *(English Housing Survey, 2025).
- Long‑term renting is becoming a financial and lifestyle reality for many.
This is where shared ownership can offer a practical pathway to enter the property ladder.
How can Shared ownership help buyers?
Shared ownership can make buying a home more accessible. You can buy a share of your home and pay a subsidised rent to Hyde on the remaining portion. You can buy more shares at any time convenient to you through a process called staircasing and even go on to own your home outright and become a Hyde leaseholder.
Lower deposits and a realistic way onto the property ladder
One of the biggest benefits is the much lower deposit requirement. Your deposit is calculated based on the share you’re buying, not the full market value of the home. For example, if you were to buy a 25% share of a home at £65,000 with a full market value of £260,000, the minimum deposit needed would be £6,500.
More affordable than renting privately
Another key benefit is that in many cases, the combined cost of your mortgage and the subsidised rent you pay, is less than renting.
Hear from Gregg and Lizzy, who bought a home at Whitstable Heights, on how Shared ownership worked for them:
“We sometimes pinch ourselves that we’ve managed to achieve what we have. Two years ago, we never thought we’d be able to say we live in a four-bedroom detached house. Shared ownership has worked out really well for us – it enables you to get so much more than you think you can. We have used shared ownership to create a brilliant life for our children” says Lizzy.
Understanding Service Charges
For any home you may buy or rent, service charges are a key part to ensure homes remain well maintained and protect your investment in the long term by spreading maintenance over time, making budgeting easier and protecting the long‑term value of your home.
They cover communal maintenance and safety services which are essential for well-managed homes, including gardening, cleaning, repairs, insurance, and energy for shared spaces. These charges have risen substantially due to inflation, safety legislation, rising energy costs, increased amenities in modern developments such as large, landscaped areas, lifts, gym access and concierge services. Service charges also cover major works.
These costs impact all leaseholders, including shared owners. Outright homeowners also face many of these costs but must meet them individually rather than sharing them collectively.
Shared ownership service charges cover shared areas and structural upkeep with regulated oversight and more predictable budgeting, whereas outright owners bear full responsibility for private repairs which can be less predictable and more costly. Shared ownership thus offers financial stability and shared responsibility for major building maintenance.
Discover your new shared ownership home
Hyde New Homes has a range of beautiful developments that are available to buy through shared ownership
You can find more information and resources about Shared ownership here
*English Housing Survey Headline Report 2024-25: demographics and household resilience
