First Come First Served Policy
The First Come First Served Policy applies to new Shared Ownership homes funded through Homes England Affordable Homes Programme from 2021 to 2026 and sold by City of York Council.
This policy is published to ensure all prospective customers are aware of our policy when purchasing a Shared Ownership home. If you have any questions about this policy, email: sharedownership@york.gov.uk, or telephone: 01904 555020.
Policy statement
Often, there is high demand for our Shared Ownership properties with multiple Customers interested in those available. The First Come First Served Policy deals with how we offer and allocate our Shared Ownership homes to eligible Customers.
Our Shared Ownership homes are offered on a first come, first served basis.
This is based upon the purchaser who:
- Is first to pass their financial qualification assessment
- Submit the necessary documentation to the financial advisor
- Is formally approved (usually by letter)
- Complete a reservation agreement, with our Sales Agent or City of York Councils Shared Ownership team (for new build properties)
- Pays a plot reservation fee (where applicable)
We reserve the right to hold a property for a limited time.
Under no circumstances will City of York Council prioritise purchasers in any other manner than "first come, first served".
We may, dependent on supply and demand, operate a plot to applicant ratio to limit the number of applicants considering a plot at any one time. Where applicable, we will introduce the plot to applicant ratio at the financial qualification stage of our first come, first served policy.
Supporting documentation
The following documents are essential and must be provided by the applicant prior to approval being issued:
- City of York Council Budget Planner completed by an approved financial advisor
- Signed declaration from the applicant and financial advisor
- Signed confirmation that you have read and understood the Key Information Documents
Exclusions
Factors that may result in a customer being ineligible to purchase a property include:
- where, in our and/or our financial advisor’s opinion, the applicant would be unable to meet and sustain the outgoings of the property
- uf the applicant is purchasing with a mortgage, they are unable to secure a mortgage with an FCA registered lender
- where the property to be purchased would not be the applicant’s sole residence
- where, in our opinion, the applicant has the means to buy a comparable property on the open market
- where there is evidence of a significant breach of a previous tenancy condition
- if there are rent arrears under a tenancy or if there have been arrears within six months prior to the application
- extenuating circumstances will be considered on an exceptional basis by our suggested financial advisors in conjunction with City of York Council
Eligibility requirements for military personnel
The only exemption to the "first come, first served" policy is for military personnel.
Military personnel are defined as:
- Have completed their basic (phase 1) training
And are 1 of the following:
- Regular service personnel (including Navy, Army and Air Force)
- Clinical staff (with the exception of doctors and dentists)
- Ministry of Defence Police Officers
- Uniformed staff in the Defence Fire Service
- Ex-regular service personnel who have served in the Armed Forces for a minimum of 6 years, and can produce a Discharge Certificate (or similar documentation) as proof, where they apply within 2 years (24 months) of the date of discharge from service, or
- Are the surviving partners of regular service personnel who have died in service, where they apply within 2 years (24 months) of the date of being bereaved. Read about surviving partners in the MOD surviving partners guidance.