Affordable housing schemes

There are several different affordable homeownership schemes which could help you to buy your own home in the Borough. Each scheme has different eligibility criteria as shown below.

If you are purchasing a new property from a developer, please contact them directly and they will check your eligibility for the various schemes. 

It is important that you seek independent financial and legal advice before proceeding with purchasing a property.

If you are selling a property that has previously been purchased under the discount for market sale scheme, contact the Strategic Housing Team for information on the steps to be followed before your sale can proceed.

If you are purchasing a property that has previously been bought under the discount for market sale scheme, contact the Strategic Housing Team to see if you are eligible under the terms of this scheme.

Contact the Strategic Housing Team on email StrategicHousing@stockton.gov.uk.

Rent to buy

This scheme allows to rent a new build property at a rate that is cheaper than normal for similar properties in the area. After 5 years in the property, you will have the options to buy the property outright if you can afford to.

To determine if this option is available, you can contact the developer directly via their website. Alternately, you can use the GOV.UK tool to find organisations that offer rent to buy in our borough.

To be eligible for a rent to buy property, you must be one of the following:

• a working household intending to buy your own home
• a first-time buyer
• returning to the market after the end of a relationship

Shared ownership

This scheme allows you to buy a home if you cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs. You buy a share of the property and pay rent to a Registered Provider on the rest.

You buy a share of between 10% and 75% of the home's full market value and pay rent to the Registered Provider for the share they own. There are sometimes ground rent and services charges to be aware of for the maintenance of community areas.

You can apply if:

• your household income is £80,000 a year or less
• you cannot afford all of the deposit and mortgage payments for a home that meets your needs

One of the following must also be true:

• you're a first-time buyer
• you used to own a home but cannot afford to buy one now
• you're forming a new household - for example, after a relationship breakdown
• you're an existing shared owner, and you want to move
• you own a home and want to move but cannot afford a new home that meets your needs

You may also need to meet local connection eligibility requirements.

See more information on Shared Ownership schemes on the GOV.UK Shared Ownership webpage.

To find opportunities for Shared Ownership, visit the websites of Registered Providers operating in our Borough. These can be found on our social housing webpage. Alternatively, you can the GOV.UK tool to find organisations that offer rent to buy in our borough.

Discounted market sale

This discounted market sale scheme helps you to buy a house at less than market value and it means that you can own 100% of your new home.

To be eligible for a discounted market sale property you must:

• be over 18
• be employed or self-employed (unless you want to buy your house with cash)
• have a household income under £80,000 per year
• have a local connection
• be a first-time buyer or discharged from ownership in any other property
• have access to enough money to pay the required deposit

Read our customer guide to the discounted market sale scheme.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council are not currently supporting the development of any new Discount for Market Sale or First Homes properties.

The Strategic Housing Team is here to help you if you are selling a property previously purchased under the Discount for Market Sale scheme or if you are purchasing a property that was previously bought under the Discount for Market Sale scheme. Please contact the Strategic Housing Team to discuss the next steps and to see if you are eligible at StrategicHousing@stockton.gov.uk.