Shared ownership – a government-backed scheme which allows people to purchase between 25 and 75 per cent of a property and pay rent on the rest – was introduced in the 1980s as part of Margaret Thatcher’s desire to shift the nation away from renting. Now there are 250,000 shared ownership households in the UK.

Advocates say the scheme enables those on lower incomes to get on the property ladder, as owners can then buy more of the property as time goes on. Others say it is a financial trap, due to rising rents and service charge fees and difficulties selling.

So is shared ownership a property dream or con? Two shared owners, Ash Percival and Melanie Marshall, and The i Paper’s housing correspondent Vicky Spratt give their perspective.

To buy, or not to buy? That is the question. Particularly if you’re looking at using an affordability boosting homeownership scheme like

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