You can sell your share in the property regardless of the size of the share you own. When you come to sell up, the value of the home could have gone up or down since you first bought it, depending on housing market conditions.
If you decide to sell your L&Q home, the re-sales team will help you find a buyer. L&Q are given the first opportunity to re-sell your property to another Shared Ownership buyer. This is so that another person has a chance to buy their home under Shared Ownership, just like you did.
How will L&Q sell my home?
We’ll try to sell your home within set period of time. This gives us a chance to offer the property to other first time buyers and to honour our agreement with the local authority. It also helps make sure you’re given an efficient and cost-effective service. You will need to have your home valued and we will instruct an independent company to take professional photos of your home for the sale. They will also provide us with a floor plan and an Energy Performance Certificate. We’ll then advertise your home online.
If we find a buyer for your home, you’ll be charged an administration fee. This fee is Lease dependant and will be either 1% or 1.25% of the home’s full market value, plus VAT. This is a competitive fee compared to many estate agents.
What if we don’t find a buyer for you?
If we don’t find a buyer for you we’ll waive our right to sell the property ourselves and you have the option to sell it through an estate agent after that point.
As the buyer for your property will not have been introduced by L&Q, you’ll be responsible for covering our solicitor costs as we’ll be waiving our resale admin fee.
You’ll be responsible for paying your estate agent fees and your own solicitors costs.
You would not be able to accept a lower offer than the RICS valuation unless you’re prepared to take the full shortfall (not just the % share you own). You will be able to accept a higher offer. Where this is achieved, you will be able to keep 100% of the additional monies received.
Will my home need to be valued?
Yes, under the terms of your lease we’ll need to know the value of your home when you come to sell it. This is because there are public funds invested in your home. You will need to instruct an independent valuer, qualified through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The value of the property could increase or decrease based on housing market conditions, so you may find your home is valued at more or less than the original price you first paid for it.
Any significant improvements you’ve made to your home will be included in the full market value. From this, we’ll calculate the value of your share.
Your valuation report will only be valid for a set period of time, usually three or four months. If it takes longer than that to sell your property, then you’ll need to get what’s known as a desktop valuation. This is a professional adjustment of the original valuation, based on market conditions. It’s your responsibility to make sure you have an up-to-date valuation during the sale process.
What are the costs involved in selling my share?
If L&Q find a buyer for your home, you’ll be charged an administration fee. This fee is Lease dependant and will be either 1% or 1.25% of the home’s full market value, plus VAT. As a seller, you are also obligated to provide prospective purchasers with an Energy Performance Certificate. Once you have found a buyer, you will need to cover the cost of any solicitor fees.
You will also be required to pay for a landlords’ management pack which will be requested by your buyer’s solicitors. This pack contains important details about the property, for example – details of the services that the landlord provides; any major works forecasts; fire safety reports; insurance documents; and, other information which may be relevant to your buyer.
For more detailed information on the selling process, you can visit the L&Q Group website.
When should I look for my next home?
You can start looking for your next home as soon as you decide to sell. However, to avoid putting yourself under any pressure, it’s best if you avoid making an offer on another home until a buyer has agreed to purchase your Shared Ownership home.