Co-Ownership reports 8% rise in shared ownership home purchases in Northern Ireland
961 households in Northern Ireland bought a home through its Shared Ownership scheme in 2025/26.
Co-Ownership has reported that 961 households in Northern Ireland bought a home through its shared ownership scheme in 2025/26, an 8% rise on the previous year.
Sales through Co-Ownership provided a £161m boost to the local property market.
The organisation also confirmed that 770 co-owners bought their homes outright.
Mark Graham (pictured, left), CEO at Co-Ownership, said, “This year’s data is particularly illuminating in terms of the continuing importance of our role in Northern Ireland.
“Not only are we responsible for approximately nine per cent of all first-time buyer transactions in an average year, but a sizeable proportion of our co-owners go on to successfully buy out our share, fully owning their home.
“Shared ownership works in Northern Ireland. What differentiates our regional model most sharply from shared ownership schemes elsewhere is its simplicity.”
Graham added: “In England for instance, shared ownership is delivered through multiple housing associations, tied to specific developments, with a more fragmented regulatory and funding framework.
“By contrast, Northern Ireland’s single-provider model creates consistency across property criteria, eligibility, and customer experience.
“In addition, whilst property prices are rising here, and affordability has been squeezed with rising interest rates, homes remain relatively affordable by comparison to large cities in Great Britain.”
Glynis Hobson (pictured, right), director of customer services at Co-Ownership, said, “90 per cent of those we help are first time buyers on modest incomes highlighting just how difficult it can be for people to meet the requirements of home ownership without our help.
“Demonstrating our importance further is the fact that around 45 per cent of customers come from the rental market.
“Our annual data continues to show that approximately 900 property sales per year simply would not occur without our presence in the market.”
Graham said: “Local Development Plans have become the key component in providing our customers access to affordable new build homes.
“Their purpose is to set out a framework for land use over the next 15 years in each of the eleven council areas.
“There are six published plans and each one details how residential developments should be delivered.”
Graham added: “Most significantly, the policies now require new residential developments over a certain size to provide affordable housing, in a concept known as mixed tenure.
“Private sale, social housing, and shared ownership homes exist together.
“Whilst this is still a developing concept, Co-Ownership remains committed to supporting solutions for people who otherwise would have inadequate housing options.”
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