Shared ownership is a process under which buyers purchase a share (usually 25–75%) of a property from a Housing Association and then pay rent to the Housing Association for the remaining portion. Buyers can increase ownership gradually through a process called “staircasing.” The advantage is that it lowers upfront costs and deposit requirements, but it does involve paying rent on the remaining share. The idea is to make homeownership more affordable for buyers, [providing they satisfy the criteria].