Connells Group has reported a sharp rise in first-time buyer activity, with registrations up 39% in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year.

The figures, published in the firm’s latest Shared Ownership Factsheets, underline both the continued appetite for homeownership and the widening affordability gap facing prospective buyers.

The research shows that shared ownership continues to offer a marked financial advantage. The national average monthly payment for a 25% share stands at £691, which is 36% lower than the average traditional mortgage payment of £1,080.

Roy Hind, affordable housing director at Connells Group, said: “Our data shows the demand to step onto the property ladder is clearly there, but as we well know, affordability has become a major blocker for first-time buyers wanting to purchase their first home.

“That’s why shared ownership is a vital solution for aspiring homeowners in today’s market, and one which needs to be prioritised across the housing sector if we really want to help buyers overcome cost barriers and access homeownership.

“The regional picture shows the best opportunities for shared ownership are in the North East, where all five of the most affordable local authorities are located. Meanwhile, the five least affordable local authorities are in London.”

REGIONAL AFFORDABILITY SPLIT

The analysis highlights the stark differences between regions. Hartlepool is ranked as the most affordable local authority, where shared ownership buyers spend on average 16% of their salary on monthly payments. At the other end of the scale, in Kensington and Chelsea, buyers would spend 74%.

Other affordable areas in the North East include Darlington and County Durham, both at 17%, followed by Redcar and Cleveland and Northumberland at 18%. In contrast, London boroughs dominate the least affordable list, with Westminster at 56%, Wandsworth at 54%, Camden at 52% and Hammersmith and Fulham at 51%.

Hind said the findings are set against the backdrop of a constrained housing market. “While this data is really encouraging, the supply of new homes remains a significant challenge, with recent NHBC data showing new home starts are 17% below the 10-year average.

“Shared ownership is a vital solution to the affordability gap, and therefore, to truly unlock homeownership for more people, we need to explore innovative ways to boost housing supply and ensure these much needed options remain available.”

The group argues that shared ownership, long regarded as a stepping stone for those priced out of full ownership, will play an increasingly central role as affordability pressures mount across the UK.