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Shared ownership nomination period (UK): what it means when you sell

When you sell a shared ownership home you don’t own 100% of, your landlord may get a nomination period to find a buyer. Here’s what that means and a simple timeline.

Published: 26/05/2026 • Last verified: 26/05/2026

The short answer

When you sell a shared ownership home you don’t own 100% of, your landlord (often a housing association) may have a period to nominate a buyer. During this time, you typically can’t just list it anywhere you like — you follow the scheme/lease process.

GOV.UK guidance for Right to Shared Ownership describes a 4-week nomination period. If the landlord doesn’t find a buyer in that period, you can usually sell on the open market (subject to your lease terms).

A tiny example

You tell your landlord you want to sell on 01/06/2026.

  • Nomination period runs for 4 weeks (example: to 29/06/2026).
  • If the landlord nominates a buyer in that period, the sale price is based on a market valuation (GOV.UK describes using a RICS surveyor valuation).
  • If no buyer is found by the end of the period, you can usually market it more widely.

What to do next (quick)

  • Ask your landlord for the resale pack (process, fees, documents).
  • Budget for a valuation and legal fees.
  • Keep your timeline realistic — shared ownership resale has extra steps compared to a normal sale.
FAQ
Do I have a nomination period if I own 100%?
GOV.UK guidance for Right to Shared Ownership explains that if you own 100% you can sell on the open market without going through the nomination period.
How is the sale price decided if a buyer is found?
GOV.UK guidance describes using a market valuation by a RICS-registered surveyor to set the sale price.
Sources