Help with buying your own home

   Shared Ownership  

 We manage a number of shared ownership properties throughout Essex. Where existing shared owners wish to sell their properties, they are marketed and sold to people who are currently on Estuary’s mailing list or a nomination is sought from Moat Housing.

 You can purchase between 25% and 75% of the property and pay us rent on the remaining share. You can then `stair-case’ your ownership by buying further shares until you own the whole property, if you wish

 If you wish to apply to go onto our mailing list for resales contact our sales team on 0845 2728727 or e-mail us at sales@estuary.co.uk

 Click here to see details of all the properties currently available on shared ownership.



  Affordable Home Ownership Products

  From April 2006, the Government appointed a number of Housing Associations to act as Zone Agents (known as Homebuy Agents) to offer a “one-stop shop” for affordable home ownership products to help people who wish to buy a property but cannot afford to. 

There are a number of Homebuy Products available for first time buyers, however on some, social tenants and public sector key workers will take priority. 


Most people who apply for Homebuy are first time buyers, but the programme can also help you if you need to buy a property in situations where your household has outgrown existing arrangements or where you need to buy a property because of a relationship breakdown.

In Summary, Homebuy offers:

MyChoiceHomebuy – anequity loan to enable first time buyers (earning between £20,000-£60,000) to purchase between 50% and 85% of a property of their own choice using a normal mortgage. The remaining percentage of between 15% & 50% of the property value, is funded through the equity loan provided by the Homebuy Agent.  There is a low monthly charge on the loan of 1.75% per annum; which will increase in line with inflation.   

New Build Shared Equity – offers first time buyers earning between £20,000 and £60,000 a chance to purchase a brand new home with up to a limit of £250,000, through a developer with MyChoiceHomebuy shared equity loan as outlined above. This is a client based product and is not linked to individual new build developers. Therefore it is recommended you look through the adverts in local newpapers in the area where you need to live, or search through property websites such as www.rightmove.co.uk

New Build Homebuy (shared ownership) – new homes on a part buy/part rent basis where you purchase a share in the property, typically 50% (this can vary between 25%-75%) and pay a discounted rent on the remaining share.

Social Homebuy - offers some housing association tenants the opportunity to buy their home outright or on a shared ownership basis.   You will need to contact your own landlord to establish if they are operating this scheme, if you are interested in buying your housing association rented home.

How do I apply for MyChoiceHomebuy, New Build Shared Equity and New Build Homebuy?

You will need to apply direct to your appointed Homebuy Agent (who offer an online application service) in the area you live in.

If you live in: