The Shared Ownership Code (the Code) aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and improved support for shared owners in marketing, purchasing, and management of homes.
The Code seeks to:
- Raise standards to improve protections for current and future shared owners.
- Improve customer experience of shared ownership through a clear and fair understanding prior to purchase and support during ownership and at sale.
- Ensure best practice and drive consistency in the information available to customers, including ensuring transparency, fairness and awareness of what service levels to expect.
Click here to download the Code.
From 3 November 2025, organisations will be able make their application to become a Code Adopter via our website. We will be in touch with all organisations who have previously registered their interest in becoming a Code Adopter. Organisations who have not yet registered their interest in being a Code Adopter, can complete the form here.
The benefits of being a Code Adopter
The Code supports the relationships housing providers build with their customers, through structured and measured communications and processes to help them improve their customers’ experience.
Benefits for customers:
• Improved experience – a smoother journey from purchase to living in your home, with better support along the way.
• Clarity and confidence – transparent information on costs, responsibilities, and processes, so you always know what to expect and when.
• Stronger protection – enhanced rights and safeguards that go beyond the current minimum standards.
Benefits for housing providers:
• Builds trust with customers – clear, transparent communication reduces misunderstandings and boosts customer confidence and satisfaction.
• Enhances reputation – demonstrates commitment to delivering quality shared ownership homes and excellent customer service, valued by customers, lenders, and partners.
• Saves time and resources – streamlined processes free up your team while still improving the customer experience.
• Sets clear standards – provides a benchmark for “what good looks like” in delivering high-quality shared ownership services.
• Supports your teams – practical tools, templates, and training help staff meet Code standards.
Benefits for shared ownership as a tenure to meet housing needs:
• Strengthens shared ownership’s role – positions it as an essential tenure to help meet critical housing needs across the nation.
• Enhances reputation and credibility – builds trust and recognition with consumers, the wider housing sector, lenders, and policymakers.
Background
The Code was set-up by the Shared Ownership Council – a cross-sector industry initiative set-up to drive improvements to the shared ownership experience and unlock a stronger and fairer shared ownership market.
The Code was developed through extensive consultation, a consumer survey and a pilot. The current version, Shared Ownership Code (October, 2025), incorporates learnings from the pilot with housing providers.
On 7 October 2025, the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) was appointed by the Shared Ownership Council to take on the role of operating the Code. For more information about the NHQB click here.
