Global real estate advisor, CBRE, has released new regional insights from its “Future of Shared Ownership” report, highlighting sustained demand for the Shared Ownership (SO) model across the North West and Yorkshire & Humber.

While national policy changes in 2021 made entry into Shared Ownership more accessible; reducing the minimum initial share from 25% to 10%; CBRE’s analysis shows that Northern shared owners are staircasing towards full ownership in fewer, but larger steps, reflecting higher savings ratios during a period of elevated inflation and interest rates.

CBRE’s data reveals that Shared Ownership continues to play a vital role in improving access to home ownership in regions where house prices remain below the national average.

In Yorkshire & the Humber, Shared Ownership homes account for around 3% of social housing stock and just over 1% of total housing stock, while in the North West, Shared Ownership represents almost 4% of social housing stock and around 1.2% of total housing stock.

Across both regions, average monthly Shared Ownership payments are significantly lower than traditional open-market purchases and private rents. In the North West, Shared Ownership monthly payments are circa £400 lower than open-market mortgages and circa £250 lower than private rents

In Yorkshire & Humber, Shared Ownership purchasers pay circa £350 less per month than the open market and circa £200 less than private renters.

Nationally, the average rate of staircasing to full ownership has fallen to 2.2% of total Shared Ownership stock in the last five years. However, when Northern homeowners do staircase, they are purchasing larger equity shares.

CBRE’s analysis shows the average share purchased in staircasing events rising from 34% in 2022 to 43% in 2025, with the average additional equity value increasing by £15,000 during the same period.

This indicates a behavioural shift with shared owners moving to full ownership through fewer, but more substantial steps, driven by the ability to save more under high inflation conditions.

As inflation continues to cool and mortgage rates soften, CBRE expects renewed staircasing activity and deeper investor engagement across the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.

“Shared Ownership has evolved into a key pathway to ownership in regions like the North West and Yorkshire, where affordability remains a challenge. As inflation falls and confidence strengthens, we anticipate an uplift in staircasing and delivery through the new funding programme,” said Alex Cakkos, Senior Director, CBRE Affordable Valuation and Advisory Services.

Paul Hawkey, Senior Director, CBRE Residential Capital Markets, added:“Shared Ownership is entering a new phase where policy clarity, stronger consumer protections and £39 billion of Social Affordable Housing Programme funding, are converging to scale delivery and boost confidence. As inflation gradually cools and staircasing becomes more accessible, we expect renewed demand and deeper investor engagement, with Shared Ownership poised to play a pivotal role in delivery the next generation of affordable housing.”