Buying with Peabody FAQ's
Discover a range of frequently asked questions about buying a home with Peabody. For any further questions unanswered, please speak to a member of our team.
Your solicitor will:
- Carry out searches on the property to make sure there are no issues that will affect your new home.
- Check your lease.
- Communicate with our solicitors and your mortgage company.
- Ensure that all contracts and paperwork are in place so that your purchase can go without any problems.
The Mortgage Advisor you'll be speaking to when you book an appointment will check your affordability and have knowledge of mortgage lenders and the most suitable mortgages for your needs.
They'll also explain the buying process and give a guide to the costs associated with your purchase.
We provide a choice of solicitors and mortgage advisers that we’ve worked with in the past. Or you can of course appoint your own. We recommend choosing an adviser who has been personally recommended to you.
Yes - you'll be given the opportunity before completion takes place.
All of our new build homes are covered by a 10-year NHBC or LABC warranty and insurance cover.
Peabody has a reputation for dealing fairly with our customers and we want to keep it. We aim to provide a home that is decent, safe and secure for all our residents and private buyers.
Our goal is to prevent defects from happening in the first place by using only the best designers, contractors and developers. If a defect does come to light, however, we will work quickly and efficiently to identify and repair it.
Buildings insurance is included in your monthly service charges for flats, whilst it is up to you as a leaseholder to organise cover for contents insurance.
You'll need to pay for your utilities.
If your home is in a development with a communal heating system the supplier will be Peabody or an energy services company chosen for that development.
If you're in a house, one of the first things you do when you move in is take a meter reading. We’ll advise who your utilities are with on completion day, and you can then transfer to whichever company you wish afterwards.
You'll find an estimated monthly service charge on our website for each property but the final charge you'll actually pay may differ - our sales team will advise you on this.
The service charge will be specific to the development and calculated on the number of bedrooms in your home and is reviewed on an annual basis.
We make sure that any services we provide are reasonable and affordable and the charge covers costs such as:
- Maintenance of building and grounds
- Upkeep of communal areas
- Caretaking and cleaning
- Maintenance of lifts, fire alarms and door entry systems
- Buildings insurance
- A contribution to a reserve fund to cover future redecoration or refurbishment.
The service charge is reviewed on an annual basis, and if it's to change, we'll give you at least one month's notice.
NB The service charge is separate from the ground rent you may have to pay.
Our sales team will be available to answer any questions and offer support throughout the sales process, either on site, by email or on the phone.
Yes, Help to Buy has closed for new applications as of the 31st of October 2022 and will run until the end of March 2023, with this gap between dates aiming to give purchasers with an existing application time to complete their buying process. If you have an existing Help To Buy application and have any questions, speak to a member of our team.
Shared Ownership FAQ's
Discover a range of frequently asked questions about buying through Shared Ownership. For more information, read our complete guide to Shared Ownership.
Shared Ownership is a part buy/part rent scheme, where you buy a share in the property and pay rent on the share you don’t own. It is designed as a stepping stone for first-time buyers looking to completely own their own home.
Resale properties are homes that a current owner bought through Shared Ownership and now wishes to sell on. The principle is the same as buying a new build through Shared Ownership but you must purchase at least the share that the seller currently owns.
Eligibility will vary depending on which development you are looking at purchasing, the property size and whether there are any criteria imposed by the local authority. There are, however, some general, over-arching criteria you will need to meet.
You won't share your home with anyone else. Shared Ownership means that the Housing Association that sells the property owns the remaining share of your home (in this case, Peabody). As well as being a leaseholder, buying through Shared Ownership means that you are an owner-occupier, with all the same rights and responsibilities. Find out more by reading our guide to Shared Ownership.
Once you've found a property you are interested in, make sure you register your interest. Once you have done that, we will keep you updated on the development you have expressed an interest in including when we expect to launch, any new viewing dates and updates on pricing and availability.
Shared Ownership is referred to as “affordable” because you can buy a Shared Ownership home with a lower deposit than is usually the case and pay rent that is lower than the market rate.
It doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to afford a home under Shared Ownership, because every development has its own income requirements. This is to ensure that you can afford the ongoing costs as part of Shared Ownership including rent, mortgage payments and service charges.
- You own as much of your home as you can afford and you can buy a larger share if and when you’re able to - the choice is yours. This process is called staircasing.
- Your monthly mortgage plus rent can work out less than renting on the open market.
- Instead of paying rent every month and having nothing to show for it, you own a part of your home.
- You'll need less in savings as you'll be putting down a deposit on a share of the property rather than the full market value.
- If you decide to sell your home, and the value of your home has increased, so too will the value of the share you own.
There are no age restrictions when it comes to Shared Ownership, however, mortgage lenders may impose age limits when it comes to arranging a mortgage needed to buy through Shared Ownership.
This will depend on a number of things. The speed at which the solicitors can process the sale, the length of time it takes to arrange a mortgage and whether the completion of the building work is on track can all have an effect.
We target the exchange of contracts to six weeks after you receive your letter from us offering you a home, or within 5 days of receipt of your mortgage offer (whichever is sooner).
Completion of your purchase will take place within 10 working days of exchange of contracts or "on notice" if we're awaiting handover of your home.
We'll monitor the sale's progress, liaising with your solicitor and Mortgage Advisor to make sure exchange and completion happen.
A poor credit rating may rule you out of qualifying for a mortgage which is needed to buy a Shared Ownership home. If you're unsure, contact an Independent Mortgage Adviser (IMA) before you book an appointment to view a home.
If you've been successful (you'll receive notification of this by email or letter) we'll give your contact details to a mortgage advisor who'll act on your behalf. We'll also give you their contact details in case you need to speak to them.
You'll be available for an appointment with the advisor within 5 days of the offer being made and the advisor will ask you to bring some documentation that your lender will ask to see:
- Credit report
- ID
- Proof of address for each of the last 3 years
- Proof of income (a payslip or P60)
- Proof of additional income
- Last 3 months’ bank statements
- Proof of deposit
- Proof of gifted deposit
- Proof of rent for Council or Housing Association tenants (6 months rent statements)
- Landlord's details (name, address and telephone number)
- Proof of rent for council or housing association tenants
- Mortgage statement (your latest annual statement)
The interview will last from between two to three hours and the advisor will go into some detail about your day-to-day expenses and monthly outgoings.
This is quite a bit of detail, but the more information your advisor has, the more straightforward the process with your lender will be.
At the outset
As with any house purchase, you’ll need to have adequate funds to cover certain costs at the outset. We recommend:
- At least £4,000 in savings
- Your mortgage deposit. We’ll indicate the minimum deposit you’re likely to need based on the local authority's eligibility requirements for your chosen development.
The monthly costs
- Your monthly mortgage repayment to your lender.
- The rent on the remaining share of your home you don't own. Peabody keeps this at as an affordable level as possible.
- A service charge for the upkeep and maintenance of the buildings your home is situated in.
- Your usual monthly outgoings for household bills etc.
We recommend you have around £4,000 in savings to cover the costs involved in buying a new home and moving into it.
These costs include:
- £500 to reserve the property (which will be refunded if you’re unsuccessful or on completion)
- Solicitors’ fees (our Mortgage Advisor will recommend a solicitor, or you can appoint your own)
- Lender’s fees
- Valuation fee
- Removal costs
- SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) – your solicitor will advise if this will apply and how much it will be (no SDLT is charged if the initial share you buy is £125,000 or less)
While many people who buy a home through Shared Ownership are buying for the first time, it is available to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria.
However, if you already own a home, you must be in the process of selling it as you cannot own any other property at the time you buy a Shared Ownership home.
If you need more space because of changing family circumstances, you can sell your home and apply to buy a larger home. You can find out more on selling your Shared Ownership home.
There are no restrictions on the size of home you can buy, however, we generally prioritise larger homes to people with a larger household size i.e. families.
Armed forces personnel and some key workers may have priority, depending on the criteria the local authority has specified when it comes to buying a Shared Ownership home.
The terms of the Shared Ownership scheme state that you should buy the maximum share you can afford. Your Mortgage Adviser will advise what this is during your financial assessment. You can buy a maximum of 75% of the share in the first instance.
There is a usually a minimum share of at least 25% that you’ll have to buy, but the actual minimum varies from home to home. You'll find details on this website, and our sales team can advise.
Shared Ownership applies only to specific homes and developments as we also sometimes sell homes on the open market, as well as through other affordable products such as London Living Rent.
You can search for homes available through Shared Ownership on our website.
Yes. This is called 'Staircasing', where you can increase the share of your home in incremental steps. For more information about Staircasing, you can read our complete guide.
To make sure properties go to those most in need, priority will be given in the following order.
- Existing social tenants - because council and housing association tenants buying their own home will release a home to someone else who needs social housing
- Military personnel
- Applicants registered on the local authority’s housing waiting list or who are in a local priority group
- First-time buyers
- Buyers with a home to sell
After the initial priority groups have been considered, applications will then be prioritised based on:
- People who live and work within the same borough of the home they wish to buy
- People on the lowest income, but still able to afford the property
- People with a larger household size i.e. families
Yes – all owners/occupiers over the age of 18 are liable for council tax. You may be eligible for reductions if you live alone or are a disabled owner. Contact the relevant local authority for further information.
Absolutely, as well as being a leaseholder, buying through Shared Ownership means that you are an owner-occupier, with all the same rights and responsibilities. You are free to decorate your new home as you wish and are responsible for its maintenance and upkeep.
However if you wish to make any structural changes such as removing walls, you must get Peabody’s approval.
Under normal circumstances, shared owners aren't able to sub-let.
However, if you feel that your circumstances are exceptional and you aren't in rent arrears, you may be allowed (for instance, working abroad for a short fixed period of time or requiring to be absent for a period of time to care for a partner or close family member).
If this is the case, ring Peabody Direct on 0800 022 4040 (free from landlines) or 020 7021 4444 and ask for the Rents and Service Charge team.
We'll ask you to put your request in writing to the team at 45 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JB, along with some supporting documentation which we'll detail in a letter to you.
If sub-letting is agreed, we'll charge a fee of £150 to process the necessary paperwork.
Warranties FAQs
Discover answers to frequently asked questions about new-build home warranties.
You are not able to produce a snagging list prior to purchase, but you will normally be invited to a measure-up and viewing of your property prior to completion (this could be after you have exchanged contracts). If you notice any non-decorative defects during this visit then you can report this to the accompanying member of the Sales Team, who will ensure that this defect is logged with the developer
Once you have reported a defect, a member of our team might need to ask you for more information about how it has occurred so a comprehensive report can be provided to the main contractor for review. We may request pictures or videos which illustrate the issue; this helps to determine the urgency of the problem and who would be required to attend.
Following this, the New Homes and Customer Care team will send the issue over to the developer who would then contact you to arrange a suitable appointment.
It is important to note that we are dependent upon the developer completing the work within the agreed timescales. Our Defect Resolution Team liaises with developers every week regarding outstanding defects and these updates are communicated back to you. Where the developer has not completed the works within the agreed timescales, we may consider instructing an alternative contractor to carry out the works without any cost to you.
There are three defect categories that will affect the timescale:
Emergency defects which may cause real danger to life or risk of major damage to property. The developer must make these safe within 4 hours and put them right within 24 hours. Examples of emergency defects include complete loss of power (when this is not related to the fuses in your home, which you are responsible for, or the mains power supply which the electricity company is responsible for), total loss of water supply, leaks which cannot be contained and faulty locks to doors and windows on the outside of the property.
Urgent defects are small repairs that need to be carried out urgently to prevent property damage. The developer must complete these within 5 working days. Examples of urgent defects include leaks in sinks, baths, or basins, a leak in the roof (unless it cannot be contained), and a door entry system not working.
Non-urgent defects are small repairs where a defect is less urgent but has the potential to cause damage to the property. The developer must complete these within 20 working days. Examples of non-urgent defects are minor repairs to doors and faults that haven't been put right.
If you are without power, experiencing a total loss of heating during the winter months, have no water or there is something that can cause danger to you, please call our emergency lines (below).
Do not report online or by email, please call us on and you will be diverted to our emergency service.
Call 0800 022 4040 (free from landlines) or 020 7021 4444
At the end of the DLP – the period of developer defect liability for a newly built home – it is important to have an EoD (End of Defect) inspection so that any defects still present and identified can be rectified. Your dedicated officer will contact you to book an end-of-defect inspection. You can also complete this form.
Staircasing FAQs
Discover a selection of frequently asked questions about 'Staircasing', buying more shares in a Shared Ownership home.
If all documents are sent in and correct, the whole process can be completed on average in 3/4 months. It may take longer depending on whether the solicitor you instruct is familiar with the Staircasing process.
No, the valuation must remain in date until Staircasing has been completed, if the valuation has expired then you are responsible for contacting the surveyor to request an extension or desktop valuation.
No, all our administration fees are non-refundable.
Absolutely not, the Staircasing process is completely optional. While some buyers choose to buy additional shares in their home as their financial circumstances change, many owners choose to stay at their currently owned shares.
No- you can choose to sell at any time. If you choose to sell while being a shared owner, you need to download the resales enquiry pack.
No, this will depend on whether Peabody owns the freehold and if the freehold gets transferred to you upon the final Staircase, your solicitors will be able to advise you of this.
This all depends on your particular property and the services provided, you will need to speak to the Service Charge team regarding this.
This will depend on the terms and clauses within your lease, once you own 100% you will have to request approval via the Subletting Team, please email -Homeownership.Approvals@peabody.org.uk
This will depend on your financial situation, the minimum amount you can Staircase is 10% and this can increase by 5%, for example, you can purchase additional shares in these increments: 10% 15%, 20%, 25% etc.
Selling your home FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions we receive from leaseholders looking to sell their Shared Ownership home.
If all documents are sent in and correct, the whole process can be completed on average in 6/8 months. It may take longer depending on whether the solicitor you instruct is familiar with the Shared Ownership Process.
No, you can choose to sell at any time, if you choose to sell while being a shared owner, you need to download the resales enquiry pack.
No, all our administration fees are non-refundable.
As per the terms of your lease a RICS valuation is required, RICs registered surveyors are trained and regulated to be able to give an accurate and fair valuation of a property.
You can query the valuation directly with your chosen RICs surveyors.
You can start looking for a new property as soon as you have decided to sell, we would recommend that you do not make an offer on a new home until a buyer has been found for your current property.
The £350 fee covers the administrative tasks carried out by Peabody throughout the reselling process. This includes processing your documents, reviewing your lease, conducting due diligence checks, and performing various other tasks essential to facilitating the sale of your home.
Have a question we haven't answered?
Do you still have a question about buying with Peabody New Homes, or about any home-buying products like Shared Ownership or London Living Rent? Please speak to a member of our team who will be happy to help answer any questions you have.
