Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE): equality impact assessment

Recommendations and Conclusion

The EQIA concludes that the OMSE scheme will have an overall positive effect of equality groups. OMSE helps eligible buyers on low to moderate incomes to purchase a home where this is sensible and sustainable for them to do so.

At the request of Scottish Ministers, a policy change was implemented which changed the specific groups who are able to access OMSE for financial year 2025/26. The funding available for OMSE is now targeted at those most in need of support, namely priority access groups including disabled applicants and social renters. Supporting social renters to make the transition to affordable home ownership will help free up social rented accommodation and which in turn could help families move out of temporary accommodation.

As a result of this change the EQIA found that those under 35 and lone parents may indirectly affected and may not be able to access the scheme. However, these groups would still be able to apply to OMSE if they fall into one of the priority access groups. They will also still be able to apply to NSSE.

Our administering agent for the OMSE scheme, Link Homes, are required to share the sales logs forms collected from each successful applicant with the Scottish Government. Communities Analysis Division will use these forms to prepare a yearly Characteristics of Buyers report. Policy colleagues will use this information to make any policy changes that are required.

We will also be conducting a review at the end of Q1 to assess how well the changes to the OMSE scheme have been working.