Glossary

A system by which the occupier of a dwelling buys a proportion of the property and pays rent on the remainder, typically to a local authority or housing association, or in this scenario, to Mission Housing.

You need to get a specific shared ownership mortgage when buying a shared ownership property, which forms part of your capital going towards your percentage ownership of the whole property.

A Second Charge Mortgage is an additional loan on top of your existing mortgage. Mission Housing will take a 2nd charge on the property for the size of the loans that are gathered.

A deposit is an upfront payment you make towards the cost of your home using money you already have. The rest of the property’s cost is typically covered by a mortgage, which you'll repay monthly. The larger your deposit, the less you’ll need to borrow, which can result in lower monthly repayments. At Mission Housing, your deposit, along with your mortgage and any loans you've secured, will be combined to purchase your property.

Staircasing is where those who are on a shared ownership mortgage have the opportunity to purchase a bigger share of their property when they can afford it.

Capital is another word for your money and finances.

A survey to identify any problems with a residential property that would require immediate or future repairs. It could reveal structural issues in the home, saving you from an expensive mistake or meaning you're well informed about the cost of repairs if you go ahead.

A UK tax that you pay when you buy a house, apartment, etc.

Exchange, refers to the formal exchange of contracts between the buyer’s and seller’s solicitors. Once this exchange occurs, it forms a legally binding agreement, committing both the buyer and seller to complete the transaction on the agreed completion date.

Completion is the final step in the property purchase process, where you officially become the legal owner. On the day of completion, the funds are transferred to the seller's solicitors, and ownership of the property is handed over to you.

At Mission Housing, ownership of the property goes to Mission Housing, and once you staircase to 100%, we transfer ownership to you.

Your service charge is what you pay, as a homeowner, to cover the cost of looking after communal areas like hallways, staircases, and the garden or land surrounding the building.

A report required by the mortgagee lender, to prove the valuation of the property before lending.

The professional name for the person selling a property.