Staircasing is the process of buying additional shares in a shared ownership property from your housing association. When you staircase (whether 5%, 25% or up to 100%), you usually need to remortgage. A specialist lender panel handles this — most high-street lenders won't remortgage a partial staircase.
How Staircasing Works (2026 Rules)
Under the 2021+ shared-ownership model, you can staircase in 1% instalments for the first 15 years without a fresh valuation on newer leases. For older leases (pre-2021) the minimum staircase is usually 10% and each step requires a RICS valuation.
Every staircase changes your legal share — so the mortgage must be re-executed. That's why a remortgage (rather than a further advance) is the normal route.
Full 2026 Staircasing Remortgage Lender Panel
| Lender | Max LTV | Partial staircase? |
|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | 95% | Yes |
| Halifax | 95% | Yes |
| Leeds Building Society | 95% | Yes (min 10%) |
| Barclays | 90% | Yes |
| Newbury BS | 95% | Yes (1% steps) |
| Kent Reliance | 90% | Yes |
| Skipton | 95% | Final only |
| Coventry BS | 90% | Yes |
The Staircasing Remortgage Process — Step by Step
- Contact your housing association for a Memorandum of Staircasing pack
- Instruct a RICS surveyor to value the property (association usually provides a shortlist)
- Get an Agreement in Principle with a staircasing-friendly lender
- Apply — lender assesses affordability on the new post-staircase share
- Solicitor handles simultaneous transfer of shares and remortgage completion
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Which lenders remortgage for staircasing in 2026?
- Nationwide, Halifax, Leeds Building Society, Newbury Building Society, Barclays, Kent Reliance, Precise, Skipton, Coventry, Chorley BS and several regional building societies. Not all offer partial staircasing.
- How much deposit do I need to staircase?
- Usually 5–10% of the additional share — some lenders will lend to 95% LTV on the full property value once staircased.
- Can I staircase to 100% and remove the rent?
- Yes — this is called 'final staircasing'. Once you own 100%, the rent stops and the property becomes fully owned. Some leases restrict resale though — check first.
- How long does a staircasing remortgage take?
- 8–12 weeks typically: RICS valuation (2–3 weeks), housing association memorandum of staircasing (2–4 weeks), then a standard remortgage completion (4–6 weeks).
Sources & References
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