Shared Ownership
One shared owner described us as ‘fairy godparents’ – we bridged the gap between between her income and what she needed to stop renting and buy a new house.
While our most recent focus has been on rental housing, the Trust in 2024 began exploring new options for shared ownership. This aligns well with the housing policies of the Coalition Government.
The shared ownership model does require some capital from prospective co-owners, usually 5% or more of the purchase price.
The Trust also needs to find funding to make the model work. If you are in a financial position to potentially assist the Trust, please contact us.
We build our houses to be energy efficient and accessible – and we are looking for households on moderate incomes interested in becoming homeowners. If you have some limited capital and want to explore shared ownership, please contact us.
What is Shared ownership?
Shared Ownership is about giving people an opportunity to buy an affordable home.

With our Shared Ownership agreement, you own 50% to 80% of the house and the Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust owns the balance.
Shared Ownership provides an opportunity to get onto the ‘home ownership ladder’ where you cannot afford a mortgage on your own. It also allows you to increase your share in the property as your financial circumstances allow.
How Shared Ownership Works
- You buy into the home at a percentage of the market price (likely to be between 50% and 80%) based on what you can afford.
- The Trust holds ownership of the remaining share of the home; the balance of the total cost.
- You raise a deposit and commit to a mortgage for your share.
- You are responsible for conveyance fees and mortgage repayments plus all the other usual costs of ownership, e.g. rates, insurances, maintenance.
- You must occupy the home.
- You have the right to buy a greater share in the property over time or to request to buy it outright.
- When you want to move on, your share is sold back to the Trust at a price based on an independent market valuation. In some cases, where the Trust agrees, the property may be sold on the open market.
- Any capital appreciation (or depreciation) is shared between the homeowner and the Trust according to their proportional ownership share of the property.
For more information go to Frequently Asked Questions