Homes for Londoners FAQs

On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can find homes available through affordable housing schemes, including London Living Rent, Shared Ownership, Older Persons Shared Ownership and Discount Market Sale.

The Shared Ownership scheme is recognised and funded by the government, designed to help people buy a home by purchasing a share and paying rent on the rest. On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can learn about the scheme and search for Shared Ownership homes in the capital.

Discount Market Sale is a housing scheme designed to make homeownership more accessible for middle-income Londoners, offering new-build homes for at least 20 per cent below local market prices. On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can learn about the scheme and search for Discount Market Sale homes in the capital.

London Living Rent is a scheme recognised and funded by the government, offering an affordable way for middle-income Londoners to rent and save to buy a share of the home they’re renting, or another Shared Ownership home. On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can learn about the scheme and search for London Living Rent homes in the capital.

The Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO) scheme is recognised and funded by the government, designed to help people aged 55 and over buy share of a home that suits their needs, rather than purchasing a home on the open market. On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can learn about the scheme and search for Older Persons Shared Ownership homes in the capital.

If you have made a property enquiry but haven’t heard back, you can follow up on your application with the relevant housing provider, agent or developer for further information. You can find the contact details for the organisation on their property listing.

Eligibility requirements for Shared Ownership, Older Persons Shared Ownership, Discount Market Sale, and London Living Rent can all be found on the Homes for Londoners portal. The linked pages set out the standard eligibility criteria for different types of homes, but as they note, there may be additional criteria for some homes. These may be time-limited.

If you are unclear why the relevant housing provider, agent or developer has advised you are not eligible, you may contact them to ask. You can find the contact details for the organisation on their property listing.

Shared Ownership is aimed at middle-income buyers who cannot afford to buy a property on the open market. Buyers do not pay the full market value of the home, because they buy a share and pay subsidised rent on the remaining share. This is more affordable than buying the home outright.

The minimum share is usually between 10 and 25 per cent, but this can vary across developments. Most Shared Ownership buyers will need to secure a mortgage. This means that will need to have a deposit, often between 5 and 20 per cent of the value of the share they are buying. As they are buying a share of a property, it often makes the mortgage amount and repayments lower than buying on the open market.

Some households may not be able to afford Shared Ownership. The portal provides information on other types of affordable homes that may suit them better.

On the Homes for Londoners portal, buyers can learn about the scheme and search for Shared Ownership homes in the capital.

Applicants shouldn’t assume they’ll be able to move into a home in which they express an interest quickly. The provider will need to check whether they are eligible and whether they can afford the home.

In some cases, the applicant will need to secure a mortgage. Often, more than one household is interested in and eligible for a home, and the housing provider, agent or developer will need to establish which applicant has the highest priority. And finally, some of the homes advertised haven’t yet been completed, as housing providers may list homes as they’re nearing completion.

If you need to leave your current home by a fixed date, consider seeking advice – for example, from your local authority – so that you understand your rights and your options.

Applicants shouldn’t assume they’ll be able to move into a home in which they express an interest quickly. The provider will need to check whether they are eligible and whether they can afford the home.

In some cases, the applicant will need to secure a mortgage. Often, more than one household is interested in and eligible for a home, and the housing provider, agent or developer will need to establish which applicant has the highest priority. And finally, some of the homes advertised haven’t yet been completed, as housing providers may list homes as they’re nearing completion.

If you need to leave your current home by a fixed date, consider seeking advice – for example, from your local authority – so that you understand your rights and your options.

The Homes for Londoners portal isn’t intended to help existing social rented tenants move to an alternative social rented home. However, social tenants are eligible to move to homes listed on the portal, for example, those available through London Living Rent, Discount Market Sale, Shared Ownership and Older Persons Shared Ownership.

The Mayor also operates two mobility schemes to help tenants of London boroughs or housing associations move homes.

Housing Moves is open to social tenants who are victims/survivors of domestic abuse, enabling them to move to a home in another London borough. Housing Moves is a choice-based lettings scheme, with housing providers contributing homes to the scheme throughout the year. Homes are advertised on the Housing Moves website, and applicants can ‘bid’ for those that they are interested in.

Seaside & Country Homes offers older tenants of London’s councils and housing associations the opportunity to move to rural and coastal locations. It is open to households where at least one member is age 55 or above. The scheme helps around 150 households to move from London each year to bungalows or flats in seaside and countryside locations.

Housing Moves and Seaside & Country Homes are two schemes that are only relevant to certain tenants. However, there is a range of options that social tenants who want to move to an alternative social rented home can pursue. Local authority and housing association tenants wishing to move homes within their borough should contact their landlord.

On the Homes for Londoners property portal, you can find homes available through schemes such as Shared Ownership, Older Persons Shared Ownership, Discount Market Sale, and London Living Rent. Social housing isn’t listed on the Homes for Londoners property search tool. These homes are allocated by local authorities. See ‘apply for council housing’ for more information.

To register on the Homes for Londoners portal and access affordable homes across the capital, you can create a free account.

If you have a Homes for Londoners account and have forgotten your password, you can reset it by clicking the ‘reset password’ button here.

The Mayor’s Homes for Londoners platform is built in partnership with Share to Buy, the country’s leading property portal dedicated to affordable homeownership and buying schemes. On Homes for Londoners, buyers across the capital can create a free account, search for homes, learn about their housing options and more.

The London Home Show is a free property exhibition hosted by Share to Buy Live in Westminster every year. It brings together housing providers, mortgage advisors, and legal experts to offer information on housing schemes like Shared Ownership and London Living Rent, along with free financial and legal advice. Keep up to date with future events in London here.