Buying more shares
You can buy more shares in your home over time – it's called staircasing. The more you own, the less rent you pay, and at 100% its all yours. So, here's how it works, what it costs, and when it makes sense.
So, tell me about staircasing
You can staircase in stages or in one go. Interim staircasing means buying more shares, but less than 100% - your rent reduces in line with your new share. Final staircasing means buying the rest and owning your home outright.
An honest note before you start: the fixed costs (valuation, admin fee, legal fees) are broadly the same whether you're buying small share or a big one. So, if you're thinking about a smaller interim purchase, do the sums first - it could be better value to wait and buy a bigger share later. Your lease sets the minimum share you can buy.
How long does it take? Staircasing can take anywhere between 4 weeks and 3 months. You can speed it up by getting all your documents ready, booking your valuation, and responding quickly to any questions.
Step-by-step guide
What it costs
Email us for a no-obligation estimate of your home’s value.
Check what you can afford before starting the formal process - it avoids paying for a valuation you can't use. If you have a mortgage, you'll also need your lender's consent to staircase, so talk to them early.
We’ll arrange an independent RICS surveyor and confirm the cost before you pay (usually £200 +VAT). The valuation sets your share price. Worth knowing upfront: if it's more than three weeks old when you query it, a £150 desktop re-valuation fee applies - so keep things moving once it lands.
We'll share the valuation with you within two working days of receiving it. Check your lender is happy with it, then send us your documents and pay the £185 admin fee.
Once your application is in, we instruct our solicitors and you instruct yours. They handle the legal work between them.
You’ll now own a greater share – or the full value – of your home. Your solicitor registers the change with the Land Registry, and we update your account and confirm your new charges.
You’ll need to pay us for arranging the valuation and this will cost between about £250 and £350 but can vary depending on size and type of property. We’ll contact a RICS qualified surveyor and confirm the cost before you pay
We recommend that you speak to your current mortgage lender or an independent financial advisor to decide what you can afford. You should do this before you start the formal staircasing process to avoid unnecessary fees
If you didn’t pay stamp duty on the full value of your home, you may need to pay extra stamp duty. Your solicitor will be able to advise you.
When we receive the RICS valuation, we will share this with you within two working days. You should check with your mortgage advisor or mortgage lender that they are happy with the actual valuation. You will then need to pay our administration fee of £185 and provide us with the documents we need. We’ll then instruct our solicitors and the legal work will begin. This is when you should also instruct your solicitors.
The cost of the extra share. This is set by the RICS valuation
After staircasing
We’ll update your account and confirm your new charges.
If you now own 100% of a house, you’ll need to arrange your own building insurance. You can also request the freehold transfer through your solicitor.
If you now own 100% of a flat, you’ll stop paying rent but continue paying service and management charges.
Helpful information
Under the terms of your lease, the value used for staircasing must be provided by an independent RICS‑registered surveyor and prepared in line with the RICS Red Book. This ensures the valuation is objective, impartial and based on the full market value of your home.
Mortgage valuations are carried out for lending purposes only. They are often more cautious, as they reflect the lender’s assessment of risk rather than the full open‑market value. Because of this, mortgage valuations aren’t directly comparable and can’t be used instead of a Red Book valuation for staircasing.
If you believe your valuation is higher than expected, or you have recent comparable sales that may be relevant, you can formally query the RICS surveyor who carried out the valuation.
This process follows RICS guidance and allows the surveyor to review any new, material evidence you provide. If your valuation is more than three weeks old, a desktop re‑valuation fee of £150 will apply.
The surveyor’s contact details can be found on your valuation report or on the surveyor’s website.
It’s based on your home’s current market value, as assessed by a RICS surveyor.
Usually 10%, but check your lease – some homes allow 1% increments.
You can query it with evidence, but the surveyor’s decision is final.
If you own a house outright, you’ll need your own policy. If you own a flat, you may still pay via your service charge.
