What is HOLD?
HOLD is a type of shared ownership designed to help people with long term disabilities buy a home that suits their need which are not available through a standard shared ownership scheme.
A share can be bought (options can range from 10% and 75%) with rent paid on the part which is not owned.
It is intended to give people more choice, more stability and more control over where they live. HOLD can be different from other home ownership routes because it is designed around the needs of people with long-term disabilities, and it can support the purchase of a suitable home on the open market rather than being limited to buying homes at specific developments
Benefits: what HOLD offers
Open market access
Unlike standard shared ownership options which are restricted to specific new build developments, HOLD allows you to search for a properties on the open market which. This means you can choose a property which meets your specific needs which aren’t available through standard shared ownership schemes. For example, you may want to live closer to your existing support or you may have a need for a bungalow which aren’t available through a standard shared ownership.
Help with repairs and maintenance
Southdown will take responsibility for the majority of the repairs and maintenance on properties purchased through the HOLD scheme, the costs of these works is managed through your service charges which may be eligible to be covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit.
Hold offers you a real choice of where you want to live while meeting your specific requirements. For example, this could be a bunglow, a property near existing support or maybe a property in a more rural area due to noise sensitivity
Eligibility: who can apply
You may be able to buy a home under the HOLD scheme if all of the following apply:
- you have a long-term disability as defined under the Equality Act 2010
- you cannot find a suitable shared ownership property — this may be because available homes don’t meet your needs or are not within a reasonable distance of your support networks
- your household income is £80,000 a year or less (£90,000 a year or less in London)
- you cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs
- there is a provider of homes under the HOLD scheme operating in the area you wish to buy in
One or more of the following statements must also apply. You:
- are a first-time buyer
- used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now
- are forming a new household — for example, after a relationship breakdown
- are an existing shared owner and want to move
- own a home and want to move but cannot afford to buy a new home that meets your needs
Who may want to register
This might be for you if you are a person with a long-term disability, a family member or supporter,
or a professional or partner organisation exploring future housing options.
Registering your interest is not an application, and the scheme is not yet open.
It simply means we can keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Partner with us
We’re keen to work with local authorities, Disabled People’s Organisations and other partners who support people with long-term disabilities in Sussex.
If your organisation would like to get involved, and know more about Southdown’s HOLD scheme, please get in touch with our Shared Ownership Manager (HOLD Manager) at sharedownership@southdown.org
What happens next?
We are in the early stages of preparing to relaunch HOLD. We are not yet able to take applications or advise individuals on their eligibility.
When we have more to share, we will be in touch with everyone who has registered. Over time we will publish information about:
- how HOLD works in practice
- what the process looks like for applicants
- how partner organisations can refer people
- when the pilot moves to the next stage
For now, the best step is to register your interest if you are a buyer, or email us if you are a professional.