How do I apply?

To join the affordable home ownership register you need to complete the two application forms, shown below. 

1. Application form for housing (PDF, 16 pages)
2. Appliation form for affordable housing (PDF, 2 pages)

Please return the completed forms with the requested documentation to the housing registrations address shown in the contact details section on this page.

If you are already on the North Yorkshire Home Choice register for rented accommodation, you only need to complete the shorter 2 page affordable housing application form.

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact the Housing Registrations team.

You can also download guidance on how to complete the main application form on this page.

Can I apply?

The scheme is aimed at promoting home ownership and therefore financial viability is the first consideration.

You must be able to show that you cannot afford to buy a house at full market price but that you can get a mortgage and have sufficient savings for a deposit and legal fees.

You can still be considered if you have money saved but only have a small income.

You will be required by the council and the housing association to provide satisfactory evidence that the combination of your savings and your income will not allow you to buy on the open market.

You will not be considered if:

• you can afford to purchase on the open market
• your annual income is under £15,000 (unless you have substantial savings)
• you currently own or have a share in another home
• you are unwilling to provide income/mortgage details
• you are a cash buyer (except in exceptional circumstances)
• you have a bad credit history - this means that you would not usually be able to get a mortgage

The current policy is targeted at first time buyers and therefore an applicant currently owning a discount sale home is not eligible for another unless their housing needs have changed so they need a smaller or larger home. Applicants who are currently in a discount for sale home and are assessed as eligible to join the register again will need to have sold their current home before the final legal completion of the sale of any future offer of a discounted for sale home.

What type of property am I eligible for?

An affordable home for sale will be allocated based on housing need and wherever possible we will seek to ensure that you are offered a property that best meets the needs of your household, in accordance with the general lettings policy.

However, because you would be making a capital investment and would usually be expected to live in the home for a considerable period of time then greater flexibility is allowed in terms of the number of bedrooms.

A household will be eligible for a property that has the required number of bedrooms and properties that have one bedroom more than their need.  Households needing two bedrooms, where the household consists of all adults, will only be considered for flats .

Applicants with a current assessed need for all the bedrooms in the property will be considered before applicants requesting one more bedroom than they need.

• single person - 1 or 2 bed home
• couple - 1 or 2 bed home
• family with one child or expecting a child - 2 or 3 bed home
• family with two children the same sex - 2 or 3 bed home
• family with two children, different sex - 3 or 4 bed home
• family with three children - 3 or 4 bed home
• family with four children - 4 or 5 bed home
• family with five or more children - 5 or 6 bed home

All homes provided for affordable home ownershp are required by planning regulations to be offered to local residents of York in the first instance. Applicants not resident in York will only be considered if the home is not sold to a York resident within the initial marketing period

Costs to consider before you apply

Mortgages

You need to speak to either an independent advisor or lending institution (ie bank or building society) about mortgages. Ensure that you tell your mortgage advisor that you are looking to buy a shared ownership/discount sale or shared/fixed equity property.

Guarantors are acceptable but the mortgage does need to be in your name.

Deposits and legal fees

The amount of deposit required varies from lender to lender and is dependent on market conditions, confirm with a lender or financial advisor. 

In the current housing market lenders are generally looking for a deposit of around 20%, meaning that the amount of deposit required will usually range from £12,000 to £20,000 depending on the type of property.

We suggest that you allow about £600 to cover legal costs, but this should be checked with your solicitor.

The stamp duty tax for first time buyers has been scrapped on homes costing up to £250,000 (from 25 March 2010), meaning no payment for the majority of discount for sale homes in York.

Other costs

If you buy an apartment, and sometimes a house, you will also be liable for a payment of service charges. These generally cover the costs of ground rent, cleaning of windows and communal areas, gardening and a contingency fund which will go towards the costs of repairs to the building. The housing association should provide a detailed breakdown of what items are covered within these costs and the total amount which can be several hundred pounds per annum.

How long you will have to wait

We cannot guarantee how long you will have to wait for a home. It could be a few months or it could be well over a year or more. It really depends on the homes that become available, whether you can match the requirements financially, how many other people are looking for a similar property and how flexible you are in terms of location.

Frequently asked questions

You can download some of our frequently asked questions about low-cost ownership housing from this page.