NSG Forum Hub - Discuss & Grow

Are Providers still able to use their panel brokers to complete sign offs for out of nominations resales cases where that panel broker is not doing the mortgage? Does the same also apply to cash buyers and cases where an applicant may be going direct to the lender?   The relevant paragraphs in section 6 of the Shared Ownership chapterin the Capital Funding Guide (CFG) are 6.8.10 to 6.8.12. The Shared Ownership – important information for applicants’ guidance found at the outset of section 6.5 is also relevant.   The measures were introduced as part of our CFG updates in June 2025 and were in response to earlier feedback gathered at the sessions with advisors and providers in April. The intention is to provide more transparency for customers, a more streamlined route for resales outside of the nomination period, and reduced duplication for providers and mortgage advice firms.    Where a shared ownership resales buyer is introduced outside of the nominations period has already engaged an advisor to act on their behalf, for example through an estate agent, the provider should rely on the resales’ affordability check conducted by the non-panel advisor as set out in paragraph 6.8.11 which states:    6.8.11 It is for the provider to review the resales sign-off form, any supporting documentation and / or additional information provided, and the rationale for the suitable share purchase provided by any non-panel advisor. Providers are not required nor expected to then refer these applicants for Shared Ownership resales outside of the nomination period to their panel advisors for assessment or sign-off.   To confirm, the non-panel advisor can provide sign-off for both mortgage and cash buyers in this scenario and can also provide the required sign-off in situations where the applicant is applying directly to their chosen lender. There is no requirement or expectation for panel advisors to conduct these assessments. Panel advisors should only be asked to conduct such assessments in exceptional circumstances, such as when there is no advisor involved, and the estate agent engaged does not have their own advisor.    In the Homes England Q&A circulated to members after the affordability guidance virtual session on 19 June, we confirmed the deadline for providers to adopt the new sign-off forms and begin issuing the important information for applicants is Tuesday, 30 September 2025 at the latest. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please contact us at sharedownership@homesengland.gov.uk  with your reason and implementation date.      Special Request from Homes England to members: Could we also make a request that you remind your members that the updates made to the affordability guidance on 10th June 2025; specifically adopting the use of the new sign-off forms and issuing of the Important Information for Applicants, has an implementation deadline of Tuesday 30th September 2025 at the latest.  If a provider is unable to meet this deadline, they should contact us at the S/O mailbox with their reason and implementation date.    Many thanks for your assistance and support in this matter.    Kind regards   Jonathan Swift Manager – Affordable Home Ownership Affordable Housing Grants   @HomesEngland 

Please post any questions in advance on this forum or email to admin@thensg.co.uk

MHCLG and Homes England have asked The NSG to get in touch with you to ask if you would assist in highlighting an important consultation that government published on Friday 4th July.  It is titled ‘Strengthening leaseholder protections on charges and services’ and includes proposals seeking to hold landlords and managing agents more to account. The consultation is in two parts. The first focuses on details required to implement measures from Part 4 of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024. This includes seeking views on the detail to implement measures on:    • Better service charge transparency, including new standardised service charge demand forms, annual reports, service charge accounts and administration charges;  • Improving buildings insurance transparency, including what information should be provided to leaseholders, so they have assurance they are getting fair value and are better able to challenge any unreasonable insurance charges; and    • Rebalancing the litigation costs regime and removing barriers for leaseholders to challenge their landlord.    MHCLG will implement these new measures as soon as possible and the consultation seeks to make sure that they work in practice, are proportionate and bring lasting benefit to leaseholders.    The second part of the consultation focuses on potential new reforms. MHCLG have been clear that the 2024 Act did not go far enough and we need to go further to help existing leaseholders. In particular, it seeks views on:    • Reforming the Section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works;  • Considering the case for greater protections for leaseholders paying fixed service charges, protections for client money, or improvements to the process for appointing a manager in cases of serious management failure (the “Section 24 process”).  • Opportunities to encourage the provision of information and services digitally to be more accessible and reduce costs, but also ensuring safeguards so that all leaseholders receive the information they need; and  • Introducing mandatory qualifications for managing agents to ensure that all agents have the knowledge and skills they need to provide a good service for leaseholders    Alongside the consultation, MHCLG have also published an ‘executive summary’ which you will find helpful in setting out what the MHCLG are consulting on and an overview of the proposals on which they are seeking views. The consultation and executive summary is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-leaseholder-protections-over-charges-and-services-consultation.   The consultation will close on Friday 26 September.