Home Ownership for People with Long-term Disabilities (HOLD)

What is HOLD?

Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) is a route into shared ownership.

You must meet the Homes and Communities Agency’s general eligibility criteria, meaning you should be a first time buyer (or be defined as being in housing need) with a household income of less than £60,000 per year.

You should apply for the scheme using our standard application form.  

What kinds of property are available?

A range of new build properties are available. The Time2Buy website lists the full range of new homes available for purchase.

Please be aware that if a property that meets your needs is available through the New Build HomeBuy (NBHB) stock listed on the website, you will be expected to accept the offered property and no further options will be explored. 

What happens if existing NBHB properties are not suitable for my needs?

If there are no NBHB properties available in your particular area or an area close by, or the existing ones are not suitable, we may be able to help you buy a home on the open market. In these cases we will refer you to a housing association that may be able to assist you.

If you want to buy through HOLD via the open market, we also need a letter of support from your local authority, stating that you have a specific disability that means the standard new build properties are unsuitable, or that you need to live in a particular area where no suitable NBHB properties are available.

Want more details?

Please contact Time2Buy to check the availability of HOLD funding in the Tees Valley and County Durham.

Important Additional Information

HOLD is a voluntary scheme. The provision of HOLD funding is dependent on a specialist registered provider offering HOLD assistance within a particular area, and that provider having an existing HOLD allocation.

You must be able to sustain the cost of home ownership. You must have either a lump sum sufficient to cover the initial purchase without the need for a mortgage, or an ongoing source of income sufficient to secure mortgage finance.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO LENDERS PROVIDING INTEREST ONLY MORTGAGES FOR APPLICANTS INTENDING TO COVER THEIR MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS SOLELY THROUGH THE SUPPORT FOR MORTGAGE INTEREST (SMI) BENEFIT.

We strongly advise all applicants to get independent financial advice on the assistance that may be available to them and their ability to afford shared ownership.