I'm Disabled or Have a Long-Term Condition
Homeownership is for everyone.
Can you buy a home if you are disabled or have a long-term condition? Yes. Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) lets you buy a share of a suitable home on the open market, and grants, accessible search and standard affordability options all stack on top.
Written by Patricia Ogunfeibo, solicitor (non-practising) and Chartered Tax Adviser with over 40 years in property.
Prefer to listen? Open any guide and use the audio player at the top to hear it read aloud.
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Shared Ownership
Buy a share (10–75%), rent the rest, and staircase to full ownership over time.
Government Schemes
Overview of all government-backed routes to homeownership and how to decide which is right for you.
Affording Your Home
Budgeting strategies and financial planning for sustainable homeownership and long-term success.
Affordability & Deposit Alternatives
Family gifts, equity loans, low deposit mortgages, guarantor options, and regional schemes to help you buy.
Finding Your Home
Budgeting strategies, search tips, area research, and making competitive offers in today's market.
Finding a Solicitor
Why you need one, what to ask, choosing the right conveyancing solicitor, and understanding costs.
What usually gets in the way
The obstacles that come up most often for this group, and what actually moves each one.
Lenders treat benefit income inconsistently
Some lenders count long term disability related income in full, some count a proportion, and some exclude it. Award letters and recent bank statements showing the payments arriving are what move this. A broker who has placed these cases before will know which lenders accept which income types.
The right home may need adapting, and that costs money
Level access, a wet room, a stairlift or wider doorways can be the difference between a property working and not working. Adaptations are rarely covered by the mortgage, so they need to sit in your completion and post completion budget alongside the usual costs.
Accessible homes are a small part of the market
Searching by accessibility features is often not possible on the big portals. Being specific with agents about what you need, and being open to a property that can be adapted rather than one that is already adapted, widens the field considerably.
Support for Mortgage Interest is help with interest, not the capital
If you claim a qualifying benefit, Support for Mortgage Interest may help with the interest part of payments after a waiting period, usually as a loan secured on the home. It does not cover the capital repayment, arrears or other housing costs, so it should not be treated as a safety net for the whole payment.
Moving from renting to owning changes your housing support
Housing Benefit and the housing element of Universal Credit do not cover mortgage payments. Understanding exactly what stops when you buy, before you buy, is essential. A benefits adviser can model this for your situation.
The buying process itself can be inaccessible
Ask solicitors, brokers and agents about reasonable adjustments at the start: documents in an accessible format, appointments by phone or video, extra time to review paperwork. They are obliged to consider adjustments, and asking early avoids pressure later.
Routes worth checking
Eligibility rules differ by nation and sometimes by local authority. Always check the current rules for where you plan to buy.
HOLD, Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities
A shared ownership route that lets eligible disabled buyers purchase a share of a suitable home on the open market, rather than being limited to designated shared ownership developments. Availability depends on participating providers and can vary by area, so contact the shared ownership provider for your region.
Standard shared ownership
Buying a share and paying rent on the remainder lowers both the deposit and the mortgage needed. Check the rent, service charge, lease length, resale rules and the cost of buying further shares later.
Disabled Facilities Grant
A local authority grant towards adaptations that let you live independently in your home, subject to assessment and means testing. Rules and maximum amounts differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Support for Mortgage Interest
Help with the interest element of mortgage payments for people on qualifying benefits, usually provided as a loan secured against the property, with a waiting period and eligibility conditions.
Family supported and low deposit routes
Guarantor and joint borrower sole proprietor arrangements let a family member support the application without owning the home. A Lifetime ISA (e.g. a LISA) adds a government bonus on eligible contributions towards a first home, with a withdrawal penalty if used for anything else.
How a share purchase and adaptations sit alongside each other
An illustration using made up figures to show the mechanism. Not a quotation, a prediction or advice.
- Suitable home on the open market
- £220,000
- Share purchased
- 40%, or £88,000
- Deposit at 10% of the share
- £8,800
- Mortgage on the share
- £79,200
- Monthly cost
- Mortgage plus rent on the 60% share, plus service charge
- Adaptations budgeted separately
- Grant funded or self funded
Buying a share reduces the deposit and mortgage but adds rent and often a service charge, so the monthly total is what matters, not the mortgage alone. Grant availability and amounts are set by your local authority. Illustration only, not financial or mortgage advice.
Common questions
Straight answers to what people in this situation ask most. General information, not financial, mortgage, tax or legal advice.
Can I get a mortgage on disability benefits?
Yes, though lenders treat benefit income inconsistently. Some count long term disability related income in full, some count a proportion, and some exclude it. Award letters and recent bank statements showing the payments arriving are what move this. A broker who has placed these cases before will know which lenders accept which income types.
What is HOLD shared ownership?
Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities is a shared ownership route that lets eligible disabled buyers purchase a share of a suitable home on the open market, rather than being limited to designated shared ownership developments. Availability depends on participating providers and can vary by area, so contact the shared ownership provider for your region.
What happens to my housing benefit if I buy?
Housing Benefit and the housing element of Universal Credit do not cover mortgage payments, so they stop when you buy. If you claim a qualifying benefit, Support for Mortgage Interest may help with the interest part of payments after a waiting period, usually as a loan secured on the home. A benefits adviser can model exactly what changes for your situation before you commit.
Can I get a grant to adapt a home I buy?
A Disabled Facilities Grant from your local authority can fund adaptations that let you live independently in your home, subject to assessment and means testing. Rules and maximum amounts differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Adaptations are rarely covered by the mortgage, so they need to sit in your budget alongside the usual completion costs.
How do I find an accessible home?
Searching by accessibility features is often not possible on the big portals, so be specific with agents about what you need. Being open to a property that can be adapted rather than one that is already adapted widens the field considerably, and a Disabled Facilities Grant may fund the work after you buy.
Your next steps
- Read the shared ownership guide, including HOLD
- See what lenders count as affordable
- Read the overview of every government scheme first
- Read the full step-by-step guide to buying a house in the UK
- Score how mortgage ready you are with the free Readiness Check
- Test a monthly total including rent and service charge in the Monthly Budget Builder
- Plan your deposit timeline in the Deposit Builder
- Add up legal fees, survey and stamp duty with the Total Cost to Complete calculator
- Compare staying in rented against buying with the Rent vs Buy calculator
Other pathways
Does another situation fit you better? Jump straight to it.
Ready to Dive In?
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