The HOLD Scheme, Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities, is a specialist shared ownership option designed to help eligible people with long term disabilities purchase a home that meets their needs.
For some buyers, finding a suitable property and securing a mortgage can be more complicated, particularly where income includes disability related benefits or the property needs specific adaptations.
Under HOLD, eligible buyers can purchase a share of a suitable property and pay rent on the remaining share. A HOLD Scheme mortgage is generally required to finance the share being purchased.
SynergiseUK can introduce you to specialist mortgage brokers with experience of shared ownership, supported income and more complex mortgage circumstances.
If you would like to explore your options, Start Your Enquiry to begin the process of speaking with a specialist.
What Is the HOLD Scheme?
HOLD stands for Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities.
It is a form of shared ownership intended to help eligible people with long term disabilities who may find that properties available through standard shared ownership do not meet their particular housing needs.
Instead of purchasing the entire property, you purchase a percentage share and pay rent to the relevant housing provider on the remaining share.
This may make home ownership more accessible while allowing the property search to focus on finding a home that is suitable for your individual requirements.
Eligibility, property availability and the precise structure of the purchase will depend on the scheme and housing provider involved.
How Do HOLD Scheme Mortgages Work?
The mortgage element works in a similar way to other shared ownership mortgages.
You obtain a mortgage for the percentage of the property you are purchasing rather than necessarily borrowing against its full value.
Your overall housing costs may therefore include:
- Mortgage repayments on the share you own
- Rent on the remaining share
- Service charges, where applicable
- Buildings insurance or other property related charges, depending on the arrangement
A mortgage lender will still need to assess affordability and eligibility. The amount available will depend on factors including your income, expenditure, deposit, credit history and the lender's individual criteria.
Can Disability Benefits Be Used for a HOLD Mortgage?
Potentially.
One of the important considerations with a HOLD Scheme mortgage can be how a lender assesses your income.
Depending on the lender and individual circumstances, certain benefits and other sources of income may be considered as part of a mortgage affordability assessment.
These could include eligible disability related or long term benefit income, although there is no guarantee that every lender will accept every source of income.
A specialist mortgage broker can review how your income is structured and identify lenders whose criteria may be more appropriate for your circumstances.
Benefits of the HOLD Scheme
For eligible applicants, HOLD may provide a route towards owning a home when standard property purchase or shared ownership options are unsuitable.
Potential benefits can include:
- Purchasing a share rather than the entire property
- Finding a property that better meets specific accessibility requirements
- Combining eligible income sources when applying for a mortgage, subject to lender criteria
- Greater long term housing stability
- Potential access to properties that can be adapted to individual needs
- The possibility of increasing your ownership share in the future where the arrangement permits it
The precise terms will depend on the housing provider, mortgage lender and individual circumstances.
Who May Be Eligible for the HOLD Scheme?
HOLD may be worth exploring if you have a long term disability and require a home that meets particular housing or accessibility needs.
It may be relevant where:
- You have a long term physical disability
- You have a learning disability
- Standard shared ownership properties are unsuitable for your needs
- You require particular accessibility features or adaptations
- Your income includes benefits or other supported income
- Buying a suitable property outright is not financially achievable
HOLD is a specialist housing option and eligibility requirements apply. Availability can also vary significantly by area.
If you are unsure whether your circumstances could fit the scheme, Start Your Enquiry and SynergiseUK can introduce you to a specialist who can discuss the mortgage side of the process.
HOLD Scheme Mortgage vs Benefits Mortgage
A HOLD Scheme mortgage is linked to a specific shared ownership route for eligible people with long term disabilities, where they purchase a share of a suitable property and pay rent on the remaining share.
A Benefits Mortgage is broader and refers to mortgage options where some or all of an applicant’s income includes eligible benefits. It is not tied to the HOLD Scheme or shared ownership.
If you receive benefits but do not need the HOLD Scheme, a Benefits Mortgage may be worth exploring.
Finding a Mortgage for a HOLD Property
Not every mortgage lender approaches shared ownership, benefit income or specialist housing arrangements in the same way.
This can make the choice of lender particularly important.
A specialist mortgage broker can assess areas such as:
- Your earned and benefit income
- The share of the property being purchased
- Available deposit
- Monthly rent on the remaining share
- Existing financial commitments
- Credit history
- Housing provider requirements
- Property type and any adaptations
- Mortgage term and affordability
In some cases, specialist brokers may have access to lender products or criteria not always available on the high street.
How the HOLD Scheme Process May Work
Although individual cases can differ, the process may involve:
1. Establishing whether HOLD may be suitable
Your circumstances and housing requirements will need to fit the relevant eligibility criteria.
2. Assessing mortgage affordability
A specialist mortgage broker can review your income, expenditure and deposit to establish what mortgage options may be available.
3. Working with the appropriate housing organisation
The relevant housing provider will need to be involved in the shared ownership arrangement and confirm its requirements.
4. Finding a suitable property
The property needs to meet both your housing requirements and the criteria of the organisations involved in the purchase.
5. Applying for the mortgage
Once the property and purchase structure are established, the broker can identify suitable lenders and assist with the mortgage application.
6. Legal work and completion
A solicitor experienced in shared ownership can deal with the legal aspects of the purchase before completion.
Timescales can vary considerably depending on the property, housing provider, mortgage lender and individual circumstances.
Why Choose SynergiseUK?
SynergiseUK is a professional referral network.
We do not provide mortgage advice or arrange mortgages directly. Instead, we introduce individuals to carefully selected specialist mortgage brokers who can assess their circumstances and provide regulated mortgage advice.
For HOLD Scheme enquiries, this can be particularly useful because the mortgage application may involve a combination of shared ownership, benefit income and individual housing requirements.
Our aim is to make it easier to reach an appropriate specialist without having to approach multiple firms yourself.
Is the HOLD Scheme available everywhere?
Availability can vary considerably by location and depends on participating housing organisations and suitable properties. Applicants should check the current availability and eligibility requirements for their area.
Does SynergiseUK arrange HOLD Scheme mortgages?
No. SynergiseUK does not provide regulated mortgage advice or arrange mortgages directly. We introduce enquiries to specialist mortgage brokers who can assess your circumstances and explain suitable mortgage options.
Speak to a Specialist About a HOLD Scheme Mortgage
If you are considering the HOLD Scheme and need help understanding the mortgage options that may be available, SynergiseUK can introduce you to a specialist mortgage broker experienced in shared ownership and more complex income circumstances.
Start your enquiry today with no obligation and begin the process of speaking with a specialist.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Frequently asked Q&A's
The HOLD Scheme (Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities) is a shared ownership housing programme that helps eligible individuals with long-term disabilities buy a share of a home while paying rent on the remaining share owned by a housing association.
The HOLD Scheme may be available to people with long-term disabilities who cannot access other home ownership schemes and require stable housing suited to their needs. Eligibility is typically assessed through housing associations and may depend on local availability and personal circumstances.
Yes. Buyers purchasing through the HOLD Scheme usually obtain a shared ownership mortgage for the share of the property they are buying, while paying rent on the remaining share owned by the housing association.
Some lenders may consider income that includes certain disability-related benefits, although this depends on lender criteria and affordability assessments. Specialist mortgage brokers can help identify lenders who may consider supported income.
No. The scheme allows buyers to purchase a percentage share of the property, often between 25% and 75%, with the housing association owning the remaining share.
In some cases, buyers may be able to increase the percentage of the property they own over time, known as staircasing, subject to housing association policies and mortgage lender criteria.
Yes. Many properties offered through the HOLD Scheme may already include adaptations for accessibility, or may be suitable for modification to meet individual mobility or support needs.
The HOLD Scheme is primarily available in England through participating housing associations, although property availability can vary depending on the region and local housing programmes.
Applications usually begin by contacting a housing association that offers the HOLD Scheme in your area. Once a suitable property is identified, a specialist mortgage broker can help arrange a shared ownership mortgage for the share being purchased.
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you