Shared Ownership Kent

Known as the garden of England, Kent has one of the most beautiful countryside and rural villages. Famous landmarks include the cascading white cliffs of Dover and the decadent Canterbury Cathedral, and with many more notable places like this, the southern county of Kent is decorated with historical sites known for their astounding beauty making it a brilliant place to set down roots, less than an hour from Central London.

Southern Housing New Homes prides itself offering homes in Kent available with Shared Ownership. If you’re looking for a slower pace of life without compromising on the convenience of being close to London, Shared Ownership homes in Kent may be perfect for you. 

Shared Ownership opportunities for first-time buyers   

Shared Ownership scheme is a government scheme allowing you to buy a share of your home and pay rent to the housing association for the remaining share. For example, you may buy a 25% share in a new home and pay subsidised rent on the remaining 75% (plus service charge). Staircasing gives you the option to increase your shares until you own the property outright.

This approach to home ownership in the South East helps millions of people to enjoy the chance to live in this sought-after area, even with a lower household income, which would typically make owning a home in such a desirable location tricky to afford.

Living in Kent

Sevenoaks Tonbridge & Malling and Royal Tunbridge Wells are perfectly situated in the leafy green pastures of Kent's hillsides for those who prefer a gentle way of life while Canterbury ticks all the boxes for tranquil family living with farmers markets, traditional English pubs and the Kent Downs.

With leafy streets and quirky cottages, Kent, is known as the Garden of England, and is home to an abundance of fruit growing and hop gardens that put it at the heart of the UK's wine-growing industry. Laying claim to some of the country's most successful and award-winning vineyards and breweries, the agricultural background is a part of the charming village lifestyle. 

With plenty of Shared Ownership opportunities available in Kent, the area is the perfect place for London commuters or young families to settle down and raise children. As your children get older, Kent comes into its own with four universities and the biggest education department in Britain, making it a leading area for schools and colleges. With Kent boasting almost a quarter of all grammar schools in England, the county puts its next generation first, having 81% of students attend schools with an Ofsted rating of good or outstanding.

For weekend explorers, the area is home to a whole host of grand castles that watch over Kent’s breathtaking rolling hills while also boasting two Cathedrals and St Augustine’s Abbey. 

Things to do in Kent

There is always something to do in this historic county, from exploring castles and stately homes to visiting one of the many vineyards for a tour and tasting. With so much natural beauty on the doorstep, there are plenty of walks and hikes to be enjoyed as well as cycle routes for those who want to take in the scenery at a gentler pace.

If you’re a fan of the great outdoors, you can explore the North Downs Way National Trail which weaves its way through picturesque landscapes and quaint villages or take a trip to one of the many Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as Romney Marsh or White Cliffs Countryside.

For those who prefer a more urban environment, Kent is also home to many towns and cities including the county town of Maidstone, Rochester, Folkestone, Dover and Margate. Each with their own individual character, these towns are perfect for a day or night out with an abundance of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs to keep you entertained.

Transport links 

While you can spend hours rambling in the scenic natural surroundings, the county's direct transport links to London's Victoria station from Maidstone, make it the perfect balance for the busy commuter looking for unbeatable transport links to everywhere from London Bridge to Paris, Dartford and Ebbsfleet Garden City. Being just an hour from England’s buzzing urban hub while allowing you to go home to quiet blissful countryside makes Kent one of the most sought-after areas to live in the UK. For professionals working in London, towns including Ashford, Gillingham and Maidstone offer a well serviced train station with high-speed rail connections that can get you into Central London in under an hour.

For those wishing to travel further, Kent is the closest county to mainland Europe. As the fastest Channel crossing provider, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, situated in Folkestone takes you across to Calais in under 40 minutes. For those who like to travel by boat you can step onboard P&O

Get on the property ladder with Shared Ownership

Shared Ownership in Kent is the perfect way to take your first step on the property ladder in this sought-after area. With a wide range of properties available, you’re sure to find the perfect home for you and your family and for shared ownership you can get a smaller mortgage and therefore only need to find a smaller deposit than usual for the share of the property that you purchase.

Our properties available through shared ownership in Kent benefit from being in close proximity to one of Europe’s biggest shopping centres, Bluewater and 20 minutes from Ebbsfleet international. These leisure and transport hubs make it a well-connected county to everywhere from Paris to St Pancras.

What are the costs involved? 

The minimum share you can buy is usually 25% but you can buy up to 75% of the property. You will need a mortgage for the share that you own and pay rent on the remaining share. A service charge may also apply to cover the costs of maintaining communal areas, buildings insurance and sometimes water rates.

You should also factor in costs for mortgage broker advice, mortgage arrangement fees from lenders and building survey's on your new home for peace of mind.

To qualify for Shared Ownership you must, have a household income of less than £80,000 per year (outside London) or £90,000 (inside London), be a first-time buyer or previously owned a home, and be unable to purchase a suitable property to meet your housing needs on the open market.

How to find a Shared Ownership home in Kent

Whether you're first time buyers looking to take your first step onto the property ladder, want to buy additional shares, or are looking to sell up and move into a new home for a growing family, then Southern Housing New Homes can help.