Selling your home
You have the flexibility and choice to sell your Sparrow shared ownership home at any time. You will be able to find out how to go about this in your key information document or the lease for your home.
What is a resale?
A resale is when a shared ownership home is sold by its current owner. Unlike buying new, resales come with a few extra steps - but we'll help make the process smooth and straightforward.
If you're unsure: Sparrow can provide a free internal estimate to help you understand potential sale value before committing.
Step-by-step guide to selling
Make sure your home is registered with the Land Registry. Your original solicitor can confirm this.
Start the process by completing a resale request via the Sparrow customer portal. You’ll also need a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)—check if yours is still current here.
We’ll arrange for a RICS-accredited surveyor to value your home. This valuation sets the current market price and is required by your lease.
Choose an estate agent to market your home. They’ll handle viewings, vet potential buyers, and submit the buyer’s details to Sparrow for approval.
Once a buyer is approved, your solicitor and the buyer’s solicitor will handle contracts, searches, and legal queries. Sparrow will prepare a management pack and support the legal process.
After contracts are exchanged, a completion date is set. You’ll hand over keys and cancel your direct debit. Make sure to pass on any useful documents to the buyer (e.g. boiler instructions, warranties).
Costs to expect
Selling your home comes with some costs. Here’s a typical breakdown:
• RICS valuation: £200–£300 + VAT
• Estate agent fee: Usually a percentage of the full market value
• Solicitor fees: Varies—Sparrow can recommend experienced solicitors
• Licence to assign: £125 + VAT (unless selling 100%)
• TP1 Fee (if selling 100%): £325 + VAT
• Management pack (LPE1): £150 + VAT
• Additional fees: May apply for managing agent enquiries
Who does what?
• Arranges valuation
• Approves buyers
• Provides management pack
• Supports legal queries
Note: Sparrow does not manage the sale or speak directly to buyers.
• Checks Land Registry status
• Submits Property Resale Request via Sparrow portal
• Ensures valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Pays for RICS valuation and legal fees
• Appoints and pays estate agent
• Reviews valuation report for accuracy
• Responds to solicitor and buyer enquiries
• Maintains rent and service charge payments until completion
• Provides key handover and relevant home documents (e.g. warranties)
• Markets your home
• Conducts viewings
• Vets buyers
• Issues Memorandum of Sale
• Handle contracts and legal paperwork
• Respond to buyer enquiries
• Finalise exchange and completion
Tips for a smooth sale
• Choose an estate agent experienced in Shared Ownership
• Don’t commit to buying another property until your buyer is approved
• Discuss buyer suitability with your agent—complex funding can cause delays
• Keep up with rent and service charges to avoid deductions at completion
Report a safety concern
If you have a concern about safety relating to a building we own or about anti-social behaviour (ASB), please contact Sparrow Customer Services.
Financial wellbeing
Find out what to do if you struggling financially or want useful tips to make your money go further.
FAQs
Here you will find answers to the questions most commonly asked by our customers on a range of topics from who we are to parking and renovations.