HOUSING CRISIS SOLUTION: Co-owning homes new way to get on the property ladder

PHOTO: Kiwibank

Kiwibank has set up a new system to streamline an alternative home ownership model, aiming to make it easier to go in on a house with friends or family.

With soaring house prices, not to mention the rising cost of living, many are looking for creative ways to jump onto the property ladder.

Going in on a home with friends or family has always been an option, but Kiwibank has set up a system to streamline this alternative to the tradition buying model. It’s called Co-Own.

Kiwibank mobile mortgage manager Philippa Scott told Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan the system aimed to give prospective homeowners an option they may not have previously considered.

With Kiwibank economists estimating the average New Zealand household spends 11 years saving for a house deposit, Scott said it was important to remind people of the options that were available.

“It’s about reminding people that you don’t have to be in a traditional relationship in order to get into the property ladder and recognising that it is increasingly harder to do this by yourself as an individual.”

People with a friend or family member interested in pooling resources to buy a house should contact their bank to discuss their financial options, she said.

However, Scott said it was also vital that interested parties seek legal advice to iron out any “what ifs” before making a commitment.

“Sit down and talk with a professional about the ins and outs involved because there is some risk like with any property purchase and making sure that you’re aware of those.

“Also talking through those what ifs, so what if someone wants out of the arrangement early? What if you want to sell? What if you have a partner later on?”

In the case that a co-owner cannot make their mortgage repayments, the responsibility to cover the payments falls to the other co-owners.

Profile your business – FOR 12 MONTHS | $999 plus GST

Scott said this caveat emphasised the need to seek legal advice prior to committing to a co-ownership housing model.

“It’s really important that you are going into this with someone that you trust, someone that you’re comfortable discussing your financial matters with and really talking about those what ifs at the beginning.”

The unpredictable nature of co-ownership was not dissimilar to the risk facing homeowners in a more traditional partnership, Scott said.