Hf march 2014 whole issue by homefocus

homefocus MARCH/APRIL 2014

Interior Design Expert

JULIA KENDELL ‘Above all, decorate and live in your home as you wish’

MONEY TO BURN Renting is like watching your money go up in smoke

‘Without shared ownership, we would have had nothing’

WAYS TO HELP YOU BUY

says Pearl

Help to Buy and Shared ownership

WI N

Cover photograph: John Lawrence

MADE MORE AFFORDABLE

A VAX STEAM FRESH COMBI MULTIFUNCTION STEAM MOP AT T R ACT I V E , ACC E S S I B L E , A F FOR DA B L E HOM E S

Publisher’sComment

Affordable homes in fantastic locations

(Indicative interior)

Victory Pier, Gillingham ME7 1AF

Canal Walk, Southampton, SO14 3BH

Kings Highway, Plumstead SE18

Final 2 bedroom apartment available for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme Prices start from £36,250 for a 25% share.

1 bedroom apartments in Southampton available for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. Prices start from £27,500 for a 25% share.

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom houses for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. Prices to be confirmed. Contact us now to register your interest.

CO SO MI ON NG

Kings Highway

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Bond Central

ISSN No 1470-0360

ADVISORY PANEL Maddie Cross LONDON BOROUGH OF BEXLEY Gail Davies EM HOMEBUY Dave Evans BE CREATIVE LONDON Adie Fox STAGNELL FOX Dave Lakin GRAND UNION HOUSING GROUP John McManus GLA Trevor Morley DIRECTION LAW Paul Negi GENESIS HOMES Yvette Ruggins AFFINITY SUTTON GROUP Isabel Saville CONCORDIA HOUSING CONSULTANCY Simon Scott ORIGIN HOUSING Sharon Shaw EAST THAMES GROUP Jo Short HOMES IN HANTS Richard Stone PROGRESS HOUSING SOLUTIONS Helen Towner HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY Greg Warner-Harris SPECTRUM HOUSING GROUP Chris Winfield LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT EDITOR Alex Randell e-mail: info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

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South Shore

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AV N AI OW LA BL E

Hyde New Homes makes the experience of buying your first home easy with new properties available for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. It’s simple, you buy a share of the property and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder.

homefocus

SUBSCRIPTIONS & GENERAL ENQUIRIES Julie Baugh Tel: 01622 772407 e-mail: julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk PUBLISHER Jeffrey Gritzman Tel: 01622 772407 e-mail: jeffrey@homefocusmagazine.co.uk PUBLISHED BY Graid Publications, Kent House, Romney Place Maidstone, Kent ME15 6LH Tel: 01622 772407 DESIGN & PRODUCTION John Eldridge Design Associates

YOU’RE A LOST GENERATION...

KEEP IT TO YOURSELVES! Everyone is excited about the rise in property prices. The press, the government, homeowners, the banks, buildings societies – everyone. Well, everyone except those who aren’t yet on the home ownership ladder. According to recent research by financial institution, Castle Trust, 4.1 million adults have given up on ever owning their own home and over half of those struggling to get on to the property ladder cited raising a deposit as the key reason. And with low interest rates for savers and property prices on the up, the savings you do have towards the deposit, move further away from what you need all the time. The research went onto show that about a quarter of all aspiring homeowners are hoping to borrow the deposit from parents or grandparents or are waiting for an inheritance, although it didn’t say how the older generations felt about lending their hard earned cash, or dying, to achieve children’s aims!

Lost generation Of those people aged 18 - 24 who are not yet on the property ladder, 40% expect to have to wait until they are 31 or older before they do get on. Among those aged 25–34, around 11% expect to have to wait until they are over 40. Sadly, a third of those people aged between 35 and 44 who don’t already own their own home, think they have missed out permanently. This then, is the ‘lost generation’ of homeowners. With so many people thinking that home ownership is an impossible dream, there might just be an opportunity for those of you who want to look at things a little differently; to consider another approach; to investigate the potential of low cost home ownership (LCHO).

Find home ownership Website: www.homefocusmagazine.co.uk

The Croft

Super B

Clock Tower Court

The Croft, Cocking, West Sussex GU29

New England Square, Brighton BN1

Albion Road, Bexleyheath DA6

2 bedroom houses and 2 bedroom apartments for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. Prices start from £74,000 for a 40% share.

1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments available for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. Prices to be confirmed. Contact us now to register your interest.

1 & 2 bedroom apartments for sale through the Shared Ownership scheme. Prices start from £72,000 for a 45% share.

www.facebook.com/homefocus www.twitter.com/homefocus

homefocus is full of examples of people who found the home buying opportunity. And maybe there’s potential for you too. But keep it to yourself eh? You wouldn’t want those other 4.1 million people to go into competition with you – it’ll push up prices even further.

Hyde New Homes properties are also available in Buckinghamshire • Cambridgeshire • East & West Sussex Essex • Hampshire • Isle of Wight • Kent • Surrey

Happy home hunting

Call our sales team now to find out more on

0845 606 1221

or email: info@hydenewhomes.co.uk

So find out about Help to Buy. Yes, you’ll still have to find a 5% deposit, but the mortgage you’ll need is 20% less than the mortgage you’d otherwise have to find. Or get advice on shared ownership, where you’ll only need to find a mortgage for 5% of the share you’ll be buying. The figures on page 13 of this magazine indicate that with shared ownership (definitely) and Help to Buy (probably), your monthly outgoings are likely to be less than renting a similar property.

Jeffrey Gritzman • Publisher Supports the aims of homefocus

Terms and conditions apply. Hyde New Homes is part of The Hyde Group. Prices correct at time of going to print.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 3

homefocus

Contents MARCH/APRIL 2014

From house hunting to house war ming

48 Buyers’ Guide

Hot properties

Celebrity Status

Lifestyle

Great advice

Competitions

6 Me become a homeowner?

14 South East Focus

34 In Conversation With

36 Bedroom Bliss

38 Budget Buster

48 Win, Win

So you think pigs will fly before you get onto the home ownership ladder...

A selection of affordable homes from Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, Berks, Bucks, Oxon & Essex

Interior design expert Julia Kendell

Personalise your bedroom design

‘our home has a huge impact on our motional well-being’

Our most requested guide: it’ll help you get control of your finances

42 Food Focus

Two readers will win a Vax Steam Fresh Combi, each valued at £199.99

8 Schemes to suit your dreams The low cost home ownership options

18 South West Corner And some from Devon, Cornwall, Avon, Dorset, Glos, Somerset & Wilts

10 Where to begin the dream journey...?

22 East of England

Low cost schemes might be just the thing, but what do you do first?

Some from Beds, Cambs, Norfolk & Suffolk

12 Money to burn?

26 Midlands Move

Why waste it on renting?

Here’s Derby, Leics, Lincs, Rutland, Notts and Nothants

40 Buy now, grow later Help to Buy helps you buy the house you want

30 London Life And finally, some from the London boroughs

44 Stretch Some examples of how to stretch your money – not yourself!

46 It doesn’t have to be new build More shared ownership properties and more locations to look at in the ‘second hand’ market

4 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Welcome spring into your kitchen

50 Ask the Experts

52 Moving checklist

35 Grab yourself one of 5 pairs of tickets to The National Home Improvement Show

Who to tell you’re on your way

Details at the bottom of page 35

A reader’s question, answered by our experts

Where next?

Homefinder Directories Your search for an affordable first home in your area starts here...

54 Introduction

WIN

55 Shows and Events 56 Property listings 59 East 60 London 62 South East

Just for you

64 Midlands

3 Publisher’s comment

65 South West

E-MAIL: info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

You’re a lost generation. So maybe now is the time to look into shared ownership and Help to Buy.

66 Legal and Finance Directory

PHONE: 01622 772407 MAIL: homefocus magazine, Kent House, Romney Place, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6LH

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 5

Buyer’sGuide

schemes, you can pay off some or all of the equity loan. If you need to move to a different area, or have a pressing need for a larger or smaller home, you can look to move to another shared ownership property. And when you come to sell, your Help to Buy Agent is likely to hold a ready-made list of people who are hoping they can buy from you. So whatever your future needs, LCHO will help you ‘take home the bacon’.

Two routes to home ownership…

ME BECOME A HOMEOWNER?

PIGS WILL FLY! H

ave recent reports that property prices will continue to rise made you think that becoming a home owner is an unrealistic dream? If you’re one of those many, many people that think that pigs might fly before you get to own your own place, then read on and be pleasantly surprised by just what can be achieved.

This little piggy... There are schemes to help you become a home owner far quicker than you might have thought possible. And this isn’t blue sky thinking that will cost you a fortune, these schemes are far from expensive and may end up costing you less than renting privately. Sometimes a lot less. The schemes are collectively called Affordable or Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) and buying through one of them could be just what you need to get off the ground and into your own home. And remember, it’s called affordable home ownership for good reason; it’s not cheap or smaller, but it’s made affordable. It’s programmed to allow you to live your life and be the piggy who ‘had roast beef’ every now and again! If home ownership is your dream then take a look at some of the new-build LCHO homes we’ve found for you on our regional property pages from page 14 onwards. You’ll see we’ve given them estimated monthly costs – so you can check them against what you’re paying now, or what you might have to pay to rent a similar property. It’s good to have an idea of what you could be spending each month, to buy a home of your own. And just look at the figures on page 13. They compare buying and renting

6 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

There are two main types of LCHO – shared ownership and equity loans. Both will get you to a place of your own and the one you choose depends on your particular circumstances. There’s no guarantee that both options will be available to you, although there are developments where both shared ownership and equity loans are available, sometimes even on the same property. There are more details of the schemes on the next two pages, but essentially they are:

Shared ownership Also known as part buy/part rent. This works by allowing you to buy a share of your home and pay a subsidised, less than market rent on the remainder, which is owned by a housing association. You’ll be expected to buy the largest share you can afford - but don’t worry, the key word here is ‘afford’, you’ll be able to discuss what share is right for your financial circumstances.

Equity loans

homes in different parts of the country. You may be pleasantly surprised at how often buying is the more cost efficient option.

You own 100% of your property, but initially, you’ll only have to cover a percentage of the cost with your mortgage and deposit. You can defer the rest for a while as it’s covered by the equity loan. You won’t have to pay anything on that equity loan for a few years, and the scheme you choose will dictate whether you pay any interest on this loan, and when you have to pay it back.

Start by rooting around

Is LCHO for you?

When you’re looking for a LCHO home, start by contacting a Help to Buy Agent. These are organisations appointed by the government to promote and co-ordinate LCHO in a particular area, and there’s a list of who they are and what areas they cover on page 54. Things work a little differently in London, but wherever you are, Help to Buy Agents will point you towards finding your own home.

Maybe you’ve already heard of LCHO and thought ‘I’m not that lucky. It’s only for people with particular jobs or with specific needs’. Or maybe you’ve been thinking ‘it’s social housing by another name and I’m not after that sort of help’. Well, think again. It’s home ownership, and you’ll take on all the responsibilities and enjoy all the benefits that go with it. It’s an opportunity to get onto the housing ladder when circumstances mean that you’ve been priced out of the market in your area. If you’re a first time buyer, or buying on your own for the first time and your household income is less than £60,000, (£66,000 if you’re looking for one or two bedrooms in London and £80,000 for three bedrooms or more) chances are you’re eligible for LCHO.

No amount of huffing and puffing The majority of LCHO schemes are backed by the government, so you can be sure that the help you receive will be there for the long run. And unlike renting privately, where your landlord could decide not to renew your tenancy, leaving you needing to start your journey all over again, LCHO means that your home will always be there for you, just as long as you pay your bills. So no matter how much he huffs and puffs, the big bad wolf won’t be able to blow your house away!

Taking home the bacon Once you’ve found your own place through LCHO, it’s flexible enough to change with you when your circumstances alter. You can buy more of your home until you own it outright – this is called staircasing. If you have a shared ownership home, in most cases you can staircase until you own 100%. For equity loan

You COULD be eligible for the schemes if… • You’re a first time buyer • You’ve owned a home in the past but don’t own one now • You need to buy a home of your own for the first time, for example after a relationship breakdown • You own your own home but it’s far too small for your needs – for example you have two children in a one-bedroom flat – and you can’t afford to buy somewhere bigger • You can’t otherwise afford to buy a suitable home in the area you need to live in

• You’re working even though it’s not full time (you’ll have to show that you earn enough to cover your housing and living costs though. And you might be able to count long-term benefits towards your income) • You don’t need a mortgage (for example if you have equity from a previous home after a relationship split and use that to buy your share outright. Or maybe you’ve been left some money or had a small lottery win.) Again, you’ll have to show you have enough coming in to cover your housing and living costs.

You’re NOT eligible if... • You already own a home that you’re living in and it’s adequate for your needs, or you own one but are renting it out • You can already afford to buy a suitable home of your own in your area • You want to buy a property to rent out. LCHO funding is there to help people to buy a home, not to become a landlord • You already own a home and now want to help your adult child or children to get on the ladder. You can help them with their deposit BUT it’s your children who would have to apply and be eligible. • CCJ’s or a bad credit rating make it unlikely that you can pass financial assessments

Jargon-buster LCHO Stands for low cost home ownership. Many organisations also use affordable home ownership, and this is an umbrella term for schemes designed to help you buy a home. We use LCHO throughout homefocus.

Housing provider A ‘shorthand’ term used to describe any organisation which offers LCHO. This organisation can be a housing association, private developer, local council or charity.

Eligibility The LCHO schemes are mostly backed by the government, which means there are rules for who can benefit. When you apply to your Home to Buy Agent they’ll make sure you tick all the right boxes.

Allocation Just because you’re eligible, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get the first property you’re interested in! If more than one family applies for the same property, the housing association will allocate it to the most suitable according to set criteria.

Open Market Is the term used to mean purchased in the ‘more usual’ way - via an estate agent or from a developer without the advantages of an LCHO scheme.

Specialist IFA & Solicitor An IFA is an independent financial advisor, while a solicitor is the person who acts for in the legal side of your home purchase. We recommend you use ones who specialise in LCHO because they will know the schemes. Your IFA will know where to find the best mortgage, and your solicitor will help things run smoothly. There’s a list of specialists on pages 66 and 67.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 7

Buyer’sGuide

SCHEMES TO SUIT YOUR

Finding the right LCHO scheme for you can be a bit daunting. But don’t worry, we’ve put together this quick guide to help keep you cool, calm and collected. First of all, we need to ask you one question…

What percentage of the home you need do you think you could buy with your deposit and mortgage?

DREAMS...

Between 25% and 75%

Shared ownership could be your route to home ownership…

At least 70-80%

This page gives you an at-a-glance reference to all of the Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) schemes on offer. And don’t think it’s for day dreamers and high flyers, it’s a practical guide to finding an affordable home of your own. Scheme type

Shared ownership

Looks like an equity loan could be the right deal for you…

Equity loans

100%, but I can only afford a 5% deposit

Check out the mortgage guarantee schemes…

I haven’t got enough for a deposit yet Time to start saving! Or take a look around for a try before you buy option…

Try before you buy

Mortgage Guarantee

Scheme name

New Build

Resales

Help to Buy Equity Loan

Developers’ own schemes

Rent to Buy

NewBuy

Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee

THE BASICS

You buy the share of your home you can afford (between 25% and 75%) and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You can buy more shares over time until in most cases you own 100% of your home. You may see shared ownership referred to as part buy/part rent.

These are properties that have already been bought through shared ownership in the past, and where the owners are now looking to sell their share and move on. You buy the share they are selling and pay a subsidised rent on the remainder. You might see resales referred to as ‘existing shared ownership’.

Available on newly built properties up to a value of £600,000. You buy 100% of your home but only have to pay for 80% initially. The rest is covered by an equity loan from the government. There’s nothing to pay on the equity loan for the first five years, after which there’s a small interest charge. There’s more info on pages 44-45.

Many private housing developers have their own equity loan scheme, and the details vary but in general you pay for between 70% and 85% of the value of your property, and the rest is covered by an equity loan. There’s often nothing to pay for this loan, but you’re expected to buy the remaining equity within ten years.

This is available on selected new developments and gives you the opportunity to rent the home you wish to buy at a reduced rate, on the understanding that you’ll buy it through shared ownership within a specific time. In London there’s a similar scheme called Rent to Save, ideal if you want to buy a home in the city.

NewBuy allows you to buy a newlybuilt home with just a 5% deposit. The initiative is run through many of the larger housing developers, so you’ll find it available at some new developments.

Designed to make 95% mortgages available to a wide range of people. More importantly it means that you only need to raise a 5% deposit. These mortgages will be available on new and older properties costing up to £600,000.

PRIME CUTS

Ideal if you live in an area where prices are high as you only need to buy the percentage you can afford (just as long as it’s over 25%). This means you need a smaller mortgage. It’s also perfect if you don’t have much in the way of savings as you only need to find the deposit for the share you’re buying.

Not limited to recently-built homes so properties are likely to be in established communities and you may have a wider choice of styles. There could be more flexibility with regards to who is eligible. There’s more about resales on pages 46-47.

Great if you can almost afford your home but don’t have a thumping great deposit to start you off. You only have to find a 5% deposit. Not restricted to first time buyers, and doesn’t have the same income restrictions as shared ownership, so you can use the scheme to move to a larger home or one in a more expensive area.

Good for anyone who is confident of their ability to buy the remaining equity within the timescale they need to. In addition, the eligibility criteria might be less strict.

Perfect if you can demonstrate that you could afford to buy 25% of your home, but are not in a position to do so straight away – for example you earn enough for a mortgage but don’t have a deposit saved. It gives you a chance to put down roots and move into your new home sooner.

It’s perfect for you if you can afford the mortgage for 95% of your home, but don’t have more than a 5% deposit. So you can get on the housing ladder without having to save for ages to boost your deposit. If you earn too much for some of the other LCHO schemes you might be able to buy through NewBuy.

Like NewBuy, it’s perfect if you can afford a mortgage for 95% of your home, but don’t have a large deposit. And as it’s available on existing properties as well as new ones, you can still benefit even if you want to live in an older home or somewhere that’s seen no new homes for a while.

BE CAREFUL

As with the most of the schemes on these pages, the properties are all new-builds, which might not be to your taste. If you’re looking for period features, though, you might find a shared ownership home that’s a conversion of an older building.

You’re unlikely to be able to buy a smaller share than the previous owners are selling, though it may be possible to buy more. And you’re buying someone else’s taste in décor – though it’s fun to change it!

You still have to be able to afford 80% of your home with your mortgage and deposit, so if you live in a very expensive area house prices could still be out of reach.

You have to approach each developer individually as they don’t need to advertise their homes through the Help to Buy Agent. But if there’s a new development going up in your area that takes your fancy, it’s always worth asking about an equity loan scheme.

There are very few Rent to Buy properties available, and no more are planned outside London. You have to be disciplined to use the discount on your rent to save for your deposit.

Not available in conjunction with other LCHO schemes. Generally only available from the larger property developers.

You still have to be able to get a mortgage for 95% of your home, so might not be right for you if you want to live in a very expensive area.

BUY FROM JUST 25% WITH A SMALL DEPOSIT

WIDE CHOICE

NOT JUST FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS

ASK THE DEVELOPER

SAVE TO BUY YOUR HOME

FOR HIGHER WAGE EARNERS

NOT JUST FOR NEW PROPERTIES

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Call homefocus on 01622 772407 or e-mail julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

8 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 9

Buyer’sGuide

WHERE TO BEGIN TH E DREAM JOURNEY... S

It’s ok to start your home ownership journey at this point, especially if you’ve seen a new development going up and spotted a housing association hoarding offering shared ownership or equity loans deals.

tarting to get the idea that home ownership is more than just a dream, but a real possibility if you take the right steps through low cost home ownership (LCHO)? We hope so. And if you are, you must be asking, ‘what’s your first step?’ Well, once you’ve read the rest of homefocus (obviously) there are a number of ways you can start on your LCHO journey. Bear in mind that unless you’re buying through a developers’ own scheme, it’s a government-funded opportunity so there are hoops you have to go through.

What do they do?

Help to Buy Agent If you haven’t yet found a property you like, but you think that LCHO is probably your best option, then your best bet is to go straight to your local Help to Buy Agent, or if you’re in London, to take a look at the LCHO online portal. As we’ve mentioned before, London has a slightly different way of managing LCHO but wherever you are, the online portals will give you an idea of every LCHO home in your area. There are details of the Help to Buy Agents and their web addresses on page 54.

What do they do? The Help to Buy Agent for a particular area is like the ‘one stop shop’ for LCHO. They’ll give you an idea of what’s on offer, how much you’ll have to come up with and what you need to do to become a homeowner. The hard fact is that outside London you MUST register with your Help to Buy Agent before you buy a government-funded LCHO property. It sounds like a chore, just another box you have to tick, but it’s relatively painless and the benefits far outweigh the few minutes it will take you to register. Generally you can register online, or ask for a form to be sent to you. You’ll be asked about your finances, your living circumstances etc, to make sure you’re eligible for the LCHO schemes. The Help to Buy Agent will also undertake what’s known as a baseline affordability check. This will give you a ‘ball park’ figure of what you might be able to afford when buying an LCHO home. This is reassuring, because it means you’ll have an idea of what’s within your budget and what isn’t. You might find that you can afford more than you thought, or you can afford to buy a larger property than you imagined. Once you’ve identified a property you’d like to buy, a more detailed affordability check will be carried out. If you’re buying through shared ownership from a housing association, it’ll determine just what percentage of the home you can afford. The key word here is ‘afford’ and you’ll be asked to maximise the share you’re buying, but not take on more than you can afford. The point is to make home ownership the sensible option for the long run, not to squeeze you so tightly that you’ll have to save up for a packet of pork scratchings!

OK, so you’ve done the first thing and registered with your Help to Buy Agent. Now have a look at their website, because they list every new LCHO property available on their patch. There’s a good chance they’ll be listing quite a few resales or

10 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

existing shared ownership homes too, where the current shared owner is ready to move on. So have a browse, and hopefully you’ll find somewhere that ticks all the right boxes – right area, right size, right price. What now? Now, you get in touch with the housing association or developer who’s selling the property – normally there’s a link right there with the listing. But who are the housing associations and what do they do?

Housing Association These are the organisations who sell LCHO homes. Sometimes they’ve built them themselves, but sometimes they take responsibility for the LCHO portion of a larger development. So you may find that part of the development is being sold by a private developer, and the shared ownership properties by a housing association - but the whole development is built by the same company. When this happens, you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between which properties are which. Maybe the spec and finish might be a little higher on the privately sold ones, sometimes there’s more storage and floor space in the shared ownership homes. It’s possible that the view is better from the private ones or the shared ownership ones have a higher energy efficiency rating. More likely than not, you just won’t know. Whilst housing associations generally deal with shared ownership homes, a number are now building Help to Buy equity loan homes too, and a few have homes available on a rent-to-buy basis so you can rent for a few years before you buy through shared ownership or outright. They’ll also have ‘resales’ or existing shared ownership homes available – probably listed on their website. There’s more about resales on page 46.

They’re the people you’re buying from, so once you’ve found a house you love, you get in touch with the housing association and they’ll take you through the whole of the rest of the process. First, if you’re outside of London, they’ll check you’re registered with your local Help to Buy Agent. After that, there may be some eligibility criteria with the homes they’re selling too. For example, some homes specify that you have to have close links to the area – either working or living there, or having family there. Next comes the much more detailed financial assessment we referred to earlier, to decide what percentage of the home you can afford. So even though the advert might say ‘buy from 25%’ you could find you can afford 50%! Be aware that even if you pass all the ‘checks’ you aren’t guaranteed to be offered a particular property. There may be someone else more suited to it than you. If this is the case, keep trying! Sometimes, the housing association will have other benefits to offer when you buy from them. For example, they may have negotiated a special deal with a mortgage lender, or offer a moving in package that helps with insurance. And if you do buy a shared ownership property, then the housing association will be the organisation you pay rent to, on the share you don’t own.

Property Developer If you’re looking for an equity loan home, you’ll almost certainly be buying from a property developer, although some housing associations are building them too.

What do they do? They’re the people who build the homes! On a larger development where a housing association is selling some shared ownership properties, the developer is likely to have built them, too. But if you’re looking to buy through the Help to Buy equity loan scheme (more about that on pages 40-41) it’s more than likely to be a developer you buy from. You might have seen their development on a website, on your Help to Buy Agent’s website, or just from a development going up near you that you like the look of. However you found them, they’ll take you through the process of buying an equity loan home, including registering with your Help to Buy Agent if you haven’t done so already. So, now you’ve found your own home, you’ve been assessed by the Help to Buy Agent and accepted by the housing association or developer. What next? Well, you’re almost certainly going to need a mortgage and someone to organise the legal side of things. And for that, we heartily recommend using LCHO specialists.

Specialist Financial Advisor This is the person who will get you your mortgage. You could go to any independent financial advisor (IFA) or even stroll into your bank, but we highly recommend using a specialist. Some people start looking for their dream right here by finding out what kind of mortgage they might draw on, based on their income and savings. It’s a very rough and ready calculation at this stage, but it might save some serious disappointment later on when you’ve found your dream home, only to discover it’s out of your price range. Earlier we talked about the affordability check; this might be called the reality check! You’ll find an IFA who specialises in finding mortgages for LCHO buyers listed on page 67.

What do they do? Well, apart from giving you an early indication of what you might be able to afford, a specialist IFA may be able to get you a better deal on your mortgage than a High Street IFA or your bank could. Your specialist IFA may have some specially negotiated “specials” up his sleeve – you could even find that your specialist IFA could get you a better deal with your own bank than you can! Just as importantly, they’ll make sure that all the financial boxes are ticked because they will be thoroughly aware of what your housing association or developer expects. It may make the journey a little smoother is the later stages.

Specialist Solicitor This is the person who will deal with the purchase of your home from the legal side – the conveyancing, as it’s called. You can find some excellent solicitors specialising in LCHO purchases on pages 66-67.

What do they do? Like a specialist IFA, a specialist solicitor will know the LCHO industry inside out. They’ll have worked with the legal team representing your sellers (housing association or developer) on numerous occasions and will know exactly what is needed to make sure your purchase goes through without too many hold ups. Buying through LCHO isn’t complicated, but it isn’t quite as simple as buying a property in the normal way. If you were to go to a high street solicitor they may not have experience of this type of house purchase, so they may take longer and charge more. For a specialist solicitor, there are no surprises and they’ve done it all before – often for properties on the same development. So if you’re buying an LCHO home, you’re not on your own! At every turn, there’s someone to advise you. Turning the dream of owning your own home into a reality, and making the most important purchase you’ll probably make in your life can be daunting. But we hope it’ll go quickly and smoothly, making you a home owner in far less time than you thought possible…

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 11

CostConscious

MONEY

TO BURN? WHY WASTE IT ON RENTING?

12 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

he Bank of England reported in February that the bank rate is likely to stay low for some time to come and the Governor, Mark Carney, gave a strong hint that rates would rise only gradually, to reach 2% by 2017. Meantime, mortgage rates are down, lenders are getting more willing to lend, property prices are rising and the demand for properties is on the up. On the other hand, the need to put together a chunk of money for a deposit, even at 5%, has put buying out of reach of many wouldbe buyers. The result? Rental demand has increased, allowing landlords to push up prices. And what it means is that if you can scrape a deposit together, buying a home is far more advantageous than paying ever rising rents. According to research by Halifax, if you own a home you are now 10 per cent a year better off compared with renting. And financial website, This is Money, is quoted as saying ‘the financial benefits of buying a home versus renting have rarely been so pronounced’. The figures on the next page generally confirm that if you can come up with that all important deposit, then the financially sensible thing is to go for home ownership. And if you can’t beg, borrow but preferably not steal the full amount of deposit and repay a huge mortgage - then low cost home ownership (LCHO) will be the way to go. And with LCHO, you’ll be able to afford a reasonable lifestyle too. The affordability checks that housing associations insist on before offering you LCHO mean that rather than paying every penny you earn just to keep a roof above your head, you can live comfortably. If you’ve got plans to buy your own place eventually, renting somewhere as a stop-gap might mean your dreams have to take a back seat. After forking out everything you can afford to pay someone else’s mortgage, you’re often left with nothing at the end of the month to save for a deposit. So home ownership slips further and further away. So do check out all the options and decide what works best for you. You will see from the figures on the next page, LCHO means you’ll need a smaller deposit and a smaller mortgage too – one you can actually afford! In fact, LCHO usually gives you lower monthly costs than renting privately or buying outright.

CHECK THE FIGURES YOURSELF... We’ve done a bit of checking around, and compared the price to rent a typical twobedroom property with the cost of buying outright with a 95% mortgage, buying different shares through shared ownership, and buying through an 80% equity loan deal like the Help to Buy scheme. We’ve done our research now you must do yours.

Bushey £347,000

25% share

‘I soon realised that renting is just money disappearing’ What Tom Atkinson wanted for Christmas was the independence that having his own home could give him. Thanks to Grand Union Housing, he got his wish. Tom, 26, had been living in the South Northamptonshire village of Litchborough for 15 years with his family. A few years ago he decided to move out and into rented accommodation. He says, ‘when you’re living at home and you’re my age, you’ve got to get out. It was nice to have the freedom of my own place’. It wasn’t long before Tom realised that renting wasn’t for him though. ‘While it was great, I soon realised that renting is just money disappearing in my eyes. It’s just paying off someone else’s mortgage.’ Like many other people, Tom couldn’t get the money needed for a deposit on a home of his own. That was until he found out about shared ownership. ‘I remember hearing about shared ownership from someone and thinking it was a great way of getting on the property ladder. In fact, for me it was the only way I could get on the ladder.’ Tom, who works as a Precision Engineer in nearby Silverstone, began looking in the local area for any shared ownership properties. ‘I wanted to stay locally because my family is here, so are my friends, my job is close by and it’s a nice village.’ After keeping an eye out in local towns and villages, Tom found exactly what he was looking for on his doorstep – a fantastic new two bedroom property. ‘I found out about the houses being built in Litchborough and asked around to see if any would be shared ownership. I called Grand Union and found out what I needed. Tom’s place cost £195,000 and he bought a 50% share. The rent is an additional £200. Tom says, ‘it’s great. I’d never be able to buy somewhere like this without shared ownership. I’m chuffed to bits.’

Deposit

Mortgage

Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm

Total monthly costs

£4,338

£82,412

£610

£596

£1206

50% share

£8,675

£164,825

£1,013

£378

£1391

80% equity loan (Help to Buy)

£17,350

£260,250

£1,599

£0

£1,5991*

100% buy

£17,350

£329,650

£2,025

£0

£2,025

Private rent

£1,415

Deposit

Mortgage

Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm

Total monthly costs

Coventry £112,000

25% share

£1,400

£26,600

£164

£193

£357

50% share

£2,800

£53,200

£327

£129

£456

80% equity loan (Help to Buy)

£5,600

£84,000

£516

£0

£516*

100% buy

£5,600

£106400

£654

£0

£654

Private rent

£610

Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm

Total monthly costs

Waltham Forest, London £283,000 Deposit

Mortgage

25% share

£3,538

£67,213

£413

£487

£900

50% share

£7,075

£134,425

£826

£325

£1,151

80% equity loan (Help to Buy)

£14,150

£212,250

£1304

£0

£1304*

100% buy

£14,150

£268,850

£2,626

£0

£1,651

Private rent

£1,286

Deposit

Mortgage

Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm

Total monthly costs

£2,075

£39,425

£243

£286

£529

Herne Bay £166,000 25% share 50% share

£4,150

£78,850

£486

£190

£676

80% equity loan (Help to Buy)

£8,300

£124,500

£765

£0

£765*

100% buy

£8,300

£157,700

£769

£0

£969

Private rent

£662

Deposit

Mortgage

Mortgage pcm

Rent pcm

Total monthly costs

Shaftesbury £197,000 25% share

£2,463

£46,788

£288

£380

£567

50% share

£4925

£93,575

£576

£253

£801

80% equity loan (Help to Buy)

£9,850

£147,750

£908

£0

£908*

100% buy

£9,850

£187,150

£1,1500

£0

£1,150

£653

Private rent

The small print We’ve used an average repayment mortgage over 25 years at 5.5% to get our figures. Deposit amounts are 5% which reflects what is available in the market at the moment. Please note that Help to Buy Guarantee Mortgages are NOT available in conjunction with LCHO schemes. But we have used 5% deposits for 100% purchases assuming that the mortgage will be attained using a Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee. Rent for shared ownership is based on 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year (we then divide this by 12 to get a monthly rate). Private rents and property prices are based on averages in the area, taken from popular property websites not specific properties. * Please note that with a Help to Buy equity loan, you will be paying back some interest from year 6 onwards.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 13

South East

South East Focus

CENTURY QUAY Woolston from £43,750 for 35% Spectrum Housing Group is pleased to announce the release of one and two bedroom apartments at the brand new development, Centenary Quay in Woolston, which is located on the eastern bank of the River Itchen. These homes are being offered on a shared ownership basis. This phase of the development consists of two x one-bedroom apartments and fourteen x two-bedrooom apartments all built to a high standard, with excellent fixtures and fittings. This development will make a perfect

THE OLD TANNERY Canterbury from £207,996 for 80%

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying be more cost effective than renting? If you’re looking in Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berks, Bucks, Oxon, Hants or Essex, then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on page 57 & 58 and our South East directory on pages 62 & 63 will give you all the contacts you’ll need.

BOND CENTRAL

The cathedral city of Canterbury is home to over 40,000 students across three universities and colleges. And Bellway Homes has designed its Old Tannery development to specifically appeal to the current students and recent graduates who want to make Canterbury a more permanent home. The Old Tannery is a superb new development with a great location within the old city walls and minutes from the city centre – ideal for graduates looking to get a foot onto the property ladder and who don’t want to compromise on style and location. And Bellway is offering the

location where people can live, work and relax. And a state-of-the art marine quarter will complete the look of the new complex. There is plenty on offer with shopping and leisure facilities enhancing this vibrant waterfront location, so there really is something for everyone to enjoy at this exciting regeneration project. One-bedroom house: Full value: £125,000 Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £43,750 5% deposit: £2,188 • Mortgage on share*: £256 Rent on remaining share**: £187 • Total costs: £443

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Century Quay’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

homes through the Help to Buy scheme. The Old Tannery offer purchasers a high specification home in a perfect location. Not only are the homes a short walk to the city centre, but high speed trains from nearby Canterbury West station take just over an hour to get into London, so those looking for a career in the capital needn’t miss out. Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £259,995 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £207,996 5% deposit: £12,999 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,198*** Total costs: £1,198

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Old Tannery’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

One-bedroom apartments in Southampton from £33,000 for 30% A selection of one bedroom apartments are available at Bond Central from Hyde New Homes through the Shared Ownership scheme. These one bedroom apartments have been designed to bring style and convenience and the homes have been intelligently designed to maximise light and space. Contemporary fixtures and fittings are standard and the development benefits from communal terraces for residents to enjoy. Bond Central is an exciting development of 36 apartments, ideally located in central Southampton, close to amenities and transport links. Yet it also has a strong

affinity with the past. Local street names mark the medieval walls and the site of an 18th Century canal, whilst the magnificent Old Bond Store symbolises the area’s proud heritage in global trade. With cutting-edge design and modern comforts, Bond Central is 21st living at the heart of one of the world’s most famous maritime cities. Living at Bond Central is all about opportunity. Many of Southampton’s attractions are within easy walking distance, including great shopping, eating, entertainment, nightlife, sports and leisure.

Have a stroll on the waterfront. Browse the stalls at the Saturday market, dine out in the restaurant quarter, take in a movie or visit an art gallery. Living in this vibrant, cosmopolitan city has so much to offer. Southampton is one of the UK’s top shopping destinations. The choice ranges from store-packed malls, such as the WestQuay and Marland centres, to the independent boutiques of Bedford Place. Historic Bargate has regular markets, selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to fairtrade clothing.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £110,000 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £33,000 • 5% deposit: £1,650 Mortgage on share*: £193 • Rent on remaining share**: £176 • Total costs: £369

Want to know more? We’ll make it easy to get hold of the information you need. Put the name of the development or developments that interest you in the subject line of an email and we’ll arrange for the right companies to contact you. Just email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and remember to include your name and phone number if you’d like us to pass it on. Or you could call 01622 772407. * Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.

14 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

JUNIPER PARK Aylesbury – prices to be advised Situated in the stunning Vale of Aylesbury, this two bedroom coach house offers the perfect balance of country and town living. With Aylesbury town centre just a mile away, there is a good selection of high street shops, two indoor shopping centres plus a variety of independent stores, restaurants, bars and pubs within easy reach. The narrow streets of the conservation area around St Mary’s Church give visitors a taste of the old Aylesbury, including the King’s Head Inn - one of

just a few pubs owned by the National Trust. The town’s railway station provides commuters with regular services direct to London Marylebone in just under an hour. Oxford, Reading and London are all easily accessible by road, while local bus routes provide connections to Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton airports. Whilst prices are yet to be finalised, Hightown Homes who is offering these homes, confirm that they will be made available via the shared ownership scheme’. Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Juniper Park’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 15

South East

RUXTON SQUARE

ROEBUCK PARK

Rochester from £43,750 for 35%

Hellingly from £95,000 for 50%

Ruxton Square, in the heart of Rochester, has a number of two bedroom apartments available for shared ownership from Heart of Medway Housing Association. Just a stone’s throw from Rochester High Street, Ruxton Square offers an impressive range of amenities, shopping, culture and history. Ruxton Square is just a five minute walk away from Rochester train station, with direct links to London St Pancras, London Victoria and London Charing Cross. So good news for commuters There are stylish fitted kitchens with integrated appliances in each of the six apartments. Allocated parking is available.

Roebuck Park is a stunning new development of energy-efficient homes located close to the village of Hellingly, East Sussex. Situated in approximately 38 acres of beautiful parkland and surrounded by countryside and woodland, Roebuck Park is also within easy reach of a range of shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities; Hailsham is just two miles away. The development allows easy access to the A22 which connects London and Eastbourne and you can easily reach Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings by road. A selection of two and three bedroom homes are being offered on a shared ownership basis through Orbit Homes.

Two-bedroom apartment with parking space: Full value: £125,000 Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £43,750 • 5% deposit: £2,188 Mortgage on share*: £256 • Rent on remaining share**: £186 Total costs: £442

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.

co.uk with ‘Ruxton Square’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to

co.uk with ‘Roebuck Park’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to

include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

Gabriella and James Crust Previous situation:

Renting Privately

Scheme:

Shared Ownership

Location:

Maidstone

Provider:

Affinity Sutton

Help to Buy Agent: Helptobuy.net

abriella and James had been previously living in a rented studio apartment in Maidstone and paying £550 per month. Describing their previous home as ‘very claustrophobic’, they were looking for a new home that was open plan and gave them the opportunity to invite friends over for dinner. The property James and Gabriella found wasn’t brand new. And it was far from being the first property they looked at. Initially, they viewed new properties available through the Help to Buy scheme, but decided that shared ownership suited them better, as it allowed them to have more space and an extra bedroom for their money. Gabriella, 36, and James, 35, chose a two-bedroom ‘resale’ (existing

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

Pan Meadows ‘With shared ownership, we could afford two bedrooms’ shared ownership) apartment from Affinity Sutton in Maidstone. ‘The homes in the area available through Help to Buy scheme and within our budget were smaller; we could only afford a studio or one-bedroom apartment. With shared ownership, we could afford two bedrooms.’ The full market value for Gabriella and James’s apartment was £125,000. As it was a resale shared ownership property, the couple purchased it from the previous owners who were selling their 25% share. But Gabriella and James could afford more, so purchased a further 10% from Affinity Sutton. Buying more, meant paying less in rent for the portion that they didn’t own. They paid

a deposit of just £2,187 and their monthly mortgage and rent combined to only £536. Gabriella explains, ‘a huge factor in choosing this apartment was value for money with the space that we now have in comparison to where we previously rented. It was also great that we were able to meet the previous owners, and as they showed us around the property, we could ask them everything we wanted to.’ ‘We only had to visit the apartment once before we fell in love with it. We liked the idea of a top floor apartment and the kitchen was a great selling point too – it has so much cupboard space and the features were in a great, practically brand new condition,’ says Gabriella.

16 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £190,000 • Minimum share: 50% Cost of share: £95,000 • 5% deposit: £4,750 • Mortgage on share*: £555 Rent on remaining share**: £218 • Total costs: £773

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homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 17

South West

South West Corner

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying be more cost effective than renting? If you’re looking in the expensive south west corner of the country, then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on page 58 and our south west directory on page 65 will give you all the contacts you’ll need.

PLYERS WAY

house has a living/dining room. Upstairs is a white bathroom suite with a shower over the bath. And outside, all plots have a good-sized garden to the rear of the property and designated parking. Lydney provides a range of modern amenities and a variety of shops plus schools for all ages..

Lydney fom £59,000 for 40% Two Rivers Housing is offering shared ownership on 2 x three-bedroom houses and 1 x two-bedroom house in Lydney, a small town on the west bank of the River Severn. Interestingly, because of the differing shares on offer, the larger houses require a smaller deposit and lower mortgage than the smaller property. In turn, the rent on the share you won’t own is far less on the two-bedroom home. Downstairs, each home has a white cloakroom suite and fitted kitchen with hob oven and extractor fan. The larger homes offer a kitchen/diner, whilst the smaller

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £147,500 Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £59,000 5% deposit: £2,950 • Mortgage on share*: £345 Rent on remaining share**: £203 Total costs: £548

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Plyers Way’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

HEATHFIELD GARDENS Taunton from £87,500 for 50% Heathfield Gardens in the village of Monkton Heathfield, has a range of two and three-bedroom homes available via shared ownership from Yarlington Homes. Monkton Heathfield has good road links, being close to the A38 and M5 and the main station at Taunton is on the London-Penzance line. The village is fine for local shopping and enjoys a real community feel and for more serious shopping and entertainment, Taunton is ‘on the doorstep’. And to make sure that

MELBURY GRANGE Three and four bedroom houses in Shaftesbury from £51,000 for 30% Property in Shaftesbury and this part of the south west has a reputation for being highly priced. And many looking to buy their first home, have been worried about how to get their foot on the property ladder. But now Spectrum Housing Group is pleased to announce the release of three and four-bedroom houses for sale under the shared ownership scheme; making buying a family home more affordable. The homes on offer are built to a high standard with finish, fixtures and

fittings being of an excellent quality. All the modern features you would expect in a a stylish new build home have been incorporated. For shoppers, the market town of Shaftesbury has a range of independent shops alongside national retailers, and for entertainment there’s pubs, cafes and restaurants. And the Shaftesbury Arts Theatre. So you get the benefits of a thriving market town plus beautiful

Heathfield Gardens fits nicely into the community feel, careful attention has been paid to architectural features and

Three bedroom houses in St Austell from £51,000 for 80%

views over the countryside For commuters, Melbury Grange is within striking distance of the A30, so the development has good road links and if you need the railway, then there’s a station at nearby Gillingham.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £170,000 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £51,000 • 5% deposit: £2,550 Mortgage on share*: £298 • Rent on remaining share**: £272 • Total costs: £570

Want to know more? We’ll make it easy to get hold of the information you need. Put the name of the development or developments that interest you in the subject line of an email and we’ll arrange for the right companies to contact you. Just email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and remember to include your name and phone number if you’d like us to pass it on. Or you could call 01622 772407 * Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6

18 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Two- bedroom house: Full value: £175,000 Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £87,500 5% deposit: £4,375 • Mortgage on share*: £511 Rent on remaining share**: £200 Total costs: £711

TREGORRICK VIEW Help to Buy is ensuring great value homes at Tregorrick View, Taylor Wimpey’s development in St Austell. A new selection of homes has just been released for sale, each ideally suited to contemporary family lifestyles, with plenty of space for day-to-day living as well as for entertaining or working from home. The ‘Danbury’ features an open-plan ground-floor layout, including a large living/dining room opening through French doors to the private rear garden, a kitchen/breakfast room and a guest cloakroom.

building materials, to make sure that the new homes complement their surroundings. High spec kitchens have stainless steel ovens, hobs and cooker hoods included and all the properties have gas ventral heating and PVCu double glazing.

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Heathfield Gardens’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

Juliet balcony overlooking the garden, plus a well-proportioned guest bedroom and a bathroom. An en-suite master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a shower room occupy the top floor, while outside, the property benefits from two allocated parking spaces. The new homes at Tregorrick View occupy a convenient location just to the north of the town centre. Three-bedroom house: Full value: £187,995 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £150,396 5% deposit: £9400 • Mortgage on 80% equity*£866 TTotal costs: £866***

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email

Upstairs, the first-floor landing leads to a spacious family room with attractive

info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Tregorrick View’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts in year 6

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 19

South West

KING’S LODGE Cinderford fom £109,596 for 80% Kier Partnership Homes is offering two, three and four-bedroom homes at Cinderford, (the illustration is of the four-bedroom Bentley style) and all available under the Help to Buy scheme. Each home is finished to a high standard, with contemporary kitchens and integrated appliances, downstairs cloakrooms, plus fitted wardrobes and en suites to the master bedrooms. King’s Lodge is a great setting whether you’re looking for town or rural life. Whilst overlooking stunning woodland in the beautiful Forest of Dean, the

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £136,995 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £109,596 5% deposit: £6,850 Mortgage on 80% equity*£631 Total costs: £631***

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Kings Lodge’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

MALBOROUGH PARK Swindon from £32,250 for 25%

Pearl Stonelake Previous situation: Renting Scheme:

Shared ownership

Location:

Torquay

Provider:

Sovereign Living

Help to Buy Agent: South West Homes

earl Stonelake had lived in Torbay all her life, always in rented accommodation, but when she found out about Beechfield View in Torbay, she saw the chance to change her situation. Not only had Sovereign Living built some eye-catching properties there but they made sure that Beechfield View would be a genuine mixed community of people, with homes for the over-55s, key workers, people in social rented homes and home owners. Of the 144 properties in total, 17 were made available through shared ownership. And it’s thanks to the shared ownership programme that 52 year old health-care

‘Without shared ownership, we would have had nothing’ assistant Pearl, and husband Nik, were able to become owners of a two-bedroom apartment. Pearl explains, ‘we both work, but don’t earn enough to have a full mortgage. Shared ownership was our chance to have somewhere of our own, with nobody telling us what to do. And it feels so nice to know that we can come home and call this our home. She continues, ‘without shared ownership, we would have had nothing. We are first-time buyers in our 50s. We were in a situation where if we didn’t get shared ownership, we would have started to go backwards again - back to the rental market, where landlords can tell you what

to do, put the rents up to whenever they want. When shared ownership came up, it was like a dream – it was exactly what I needed.’ Pearl is really delighted that she was finally able to get a place of her own. She says, ‘the flat is calm and spacious. There are a lot of windows, so it feels light and fresh. This is a beautiful place. We’re lucky to live here; it’s local to my work and to the shops. I’ve got everything I need.’ And to make things even better for Pearl, one of her daughters also lives at Beechfield View, having bought one of the apartments there.

Just on the edge of Swindon, Malborough Park has a range of two-bedroom apartments offered through shared ownership, by Places for People. All of the apartments have been finished to a high specification and include a wide range of added extras. Kitchens include an integrated hob and oven plus a washer dryer, fridge and freezer. The well proportioned apartments have an open plan living, kitchen and dining area and many of the spacious master bedrooms have an en-suite shower room.

audio-visual door entry system. Malborough Park offers views over the countryside, yet is conveniently close to Swindon’s old town. If you’re a commuter, you’ll find the development well connected to London, Bristol and Reading. Two- bedroom apartments: Full value: £129,000 Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £32,250 5% deposit: £1,613 • Mortgage on share*: £189 Rent on remaining share**: £222 Total costs: £411

For home entertainment, you’ll enjoy integrated digital terrestrial and satellite TV and for peace of mind, there is an

WHITLEY COURT Paignton Taunton from £103,125 for 75% Sanctuary Group has built an extra care scheme for the over 55s, in Hayes Road, Paignton and is making homes available through the shared ownership scheme. Whitley Court is made up of individual self-contained apartments, some with sea views, plus bungalows and they’re all designed to give residents maximum independence with care and support on site as needed. Living in an age exclusive development means that alongside the benefits of continuing to live on your own, you’ll find communal facilities that, at Whitley Court, include a restaurant, lounge,

development is only a short distance from Cinderford town centre, which offers a thriving market and a variety of independent shops and places to eat. Gloucester and Monmouth can be reached by car in less than 30 minutes, and the A40 main trunk road is within a five-mile drive.

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Malborough Park’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

hairdresser’s salon and multifunction room. And of course, you’ll find like minded and similar aged homeowners to share them with. And even though you’re able to buy a 75% share at Whitley Court on a shared ownership basis, under the terms of this extra care scheme, there’s no rent to pay each month. As with all leasehold properties, service charges will be applied. One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £137,500 Minimum share: 75% • Cost of share: £103,125 Rent on remaining share: n/a on this scheme

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Whitley Court’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

20 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 11 21

East

East of England

DE-VESSEY VILLAGE

Bishop Stortford from £70,000 for 40%

Two-bedroom homes on the DeVessey Village development in Greylees, Sleaford can be purchased from Acis from as little as £16,500 for a 25% share. There are various types of property available, all with lounge, kitchen, two bedrooms, gas central heating, UPVC double glazing and allocated parking. Ground floor flats also have the added benefit of enclosed gardens. The De-Vessey village development at Greylees is located within three miles of the town of Sleaford in Lincolnshire. Sleaford enjoys a range of local amenities including schools, shops, bars and restaurants, and as a variety of other leisure and entertainment facilities. Sleaford has good road and public transport links and is well situated for access to the city of Lincoln.

If living by the water appeals to you, then the two remaining two-bedroom apartments available through shared ownership from Paradigm Living could be just what you are looking for. Situated in a canal-side location, the apartments are priced at just £70,000 for a 40% share and come complete with under croft parking. Each of the apartments features a fully fitted kitchen complete with fridge/freezer and washer/dryer, carpet throughout the living areas and vinyl flooring to the kitchen and bathroom The development has a lift to all floors. Bishop Stortford is a thriving town well positioned for road travel north to Cambridge or south to Harlow and the M25. By rail, London-bound commuters could be at Liverpool Street in around 45 minutes.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £66,000 • Minimum share: 25% Cost of share: £16,500 • 5% deposit: £825 • Mortgage on share*: £97 Rent on remaining share**: £113 • Total costs: £210

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £175,000 • Minimum share: 40% Cost of share: £70,000 • 5% deposit: £3,500 • Mortgage on share*: £413 Rent on remaining share**: £241 • Total costs: £654

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407, go to www.homefocusmagazine.co.uk or

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

e-mail property@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Tanner’s Wharf’ in the title and

with ‘De-Vessey’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying be more cost effective than renting? If you’re looking in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk or Herts, then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on page 56 and our Eastern directory on page 59 will give you all the contacts you’ll need.

TANNER’S WHARF

Sleaford from £16,500 for 25%

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

Searching for a home of your own?

SAXON FIELDS

Two bedroom apartments, a two-bedroom coach house and a three bedroom house in Biggleswade from £72,500 for 50% On the outskirts of Biggleswade at the Saxon Fields development, Hightown Homes is offering one x three-bedroom house with garden, a two-bedroom coach house and two x two bedroom apartments all via the shared ownership scheme. Biggleswade is a historical market town just 40 miles north of Central London. For shoppers, there is a good range of facilities, including supermarkets, shops and a selection of independent retailers. The town centre features a market square

where a market is held each Saturday with a wide variety of stalls including fruit and vegetables. Biggleswade Farmers’ Market is held on the third Wednesday in the month selling meat, vegetables, pies, cakes, jams, chutneys, honey and crafts. Saxon Fields is ideally placed to keep young and growing families fit and busy, with Saxon Pool and Leisure Centre just

minutes away. And there are a number of local schools for all ages, some with outstanding and good Ofsted ratings. Commuters will be pleased to know that both road and rail communications are good. Biggleswade is situated on the A1 and the main Biggleswade train station is approximately 2 miles away from the development. Fast trains run into London Kings Cross in 35 minutes.

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £145,000 • Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £72,500 • 5% deposit: £3,625 Mortgage on share*: £423 • Rent on remaining share**: £166 • Total costs: £589

Interested? We’ll make it easy to get hold of the information you need. Put the name of the development or developments that interest you in the subject line of an email and we’ll arrange for the right companies to contact you. Just email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and remember to include your name and phone number if you’d like us to pass it on. Or you could call 01622 772407.

Your search starts here... Lea Valley Homes, part of the Aldwyck Housing Group, can help you find a place of your own. Opposite are options* currently available through the Government’s Help to Buy initiative.

Shared Ownership Shared Ownership Resales Help to Buy - Equity Loan Intermediate market rent

APP ON LY NOLINE W!

Rent to Buy

For further information please call

01582 869440

Help to Buy

leavalleyhomes@aldwyck.co.uk www.leavalleyhomes.co.uk

*Subject to the Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ eligibility criteria. YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER LOANS SECURED ON IT

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.

22 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 23

East

SCHOLARS QUARTER Ipswich from £56,000 for 40% A selection of stylish two and threebedroom homes are being offered by Orbit Homes via the shared ownership scheme at Scholars Quarter. The new homes are well placed to enjoy some of the prettiest villages, countryside and coastline that Suffolk has to offer. Yet at the same time, Scholars Quarter is ideally situated for easy access to all areas of Ipswich, one of England’s oldest towns. Ipswich is host to a variety of leisure and entertainment facilities including museums, theatres, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife plus the beautifully redeveloped Marina.

Two-bedroom house: Full value: £140,000 Minimum share: 40% • Cost of share: £56,000 5% deposit: £2,800 • Mortgage on share*: £394 Rent on remaining share**: £193 Total costs: £587

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Scholars Quarter’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

BEAUCHAMP MILL

bedroom, a study and a main bathroom, while two additional bedrooms can be found on the top floor. Outside, there’s a garage and driveway parking. Good schools for children of all ages are located close by, while commuters will appreciate that King’s Cross is just 37 minutes away by train.

Stotfold from £297,200 for 80%

Michelle, her partner and Ruby-May Previous situation:

Shared owner

Scheme:

Shared Ownership

Location:

Bushey, Herts

Provider:

Hightown Homes

Help to Buy Agent:

Lea Valley Homes

ichele, her partner and their daughter Ruby-May recently moved into a three bedroom shared ownership house in Bushey that they bought from Hightown Homes. They’d previously been living in a two bedroom shared ownership flat owned by another housing association in the same area. When they started to think about living together in 2007, Michelle and her partner found they simply couldn’t afford to buy and the idea of renting and paying someone else’s mortgage didn’t appeal to them. They thought there must be another way and after doing some research, they came across shared ownership. Having lived in Bushey all her life, Michele wanted to stay in the area, so buying a 50% share of a two bedroom flat there was perfect.

‘We weren’t sure it would be possible to move from one shared ownership property to another’ Fast forward six years and the twobedroom flat was now too small for them, their growing daughter Ruby-May and her mountain of toys. Michele says: ‘Ruby-May’s toys were taking over the flat. We knew it was time to move on but we didn’t know what our options were.’ They began to look for a house and decided to take a look at the new development at Queen’s Acre, not far from where they lived, to see if anything caught their eye. And what did, was the sign from Hightown Homes, announcing shared ownership houses coming soon. ‘We weren’t sure it would be possible to move from one housing association’s shared ownership property to another’s, said Michele, but once we realised we could, we knew this was the right step for us.’

Their shared ownership flat sold quickly on the open market and the process became straightforward. Michele has some advice for anyone thinking of buying a shared ownership home: “Use a solicitor who has experience with shared ownership (homefocus has a list on pages 66-67 of the magazine). It is a unique way of buying a home and we know from experience that if the solicitor doesn’t know how it works, the whole process will take so much longer.” Michele is happy in their new home. It is affordable, big enough for them to spread out and in the perfect location. And they’re looking forward to relaxing in the garden when the good weather comes. And Ruby May’s opinion? She has a bedroom large enough to fit all her toys so she is happy!

Offered by Taylor Wimpey under the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, is a choice of two, three, four and fivebedroom properties at Beauchamp Mill,Stotfold. Featured is the ‘Kentdale’ style, four-bedroom semi-detached house with a dual-aspect living room opening through French doors to the private rear garden. An open-plan kitchen/dining/utility room and a guest cloakroom completes the groundfloor layout. Upstairs, the first-floor landing leads to an en-suite master bedroom, a further

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Beauchamp Mill’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

Silsoe Grange is set in a village location within easy reach of the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside and nearby Wrest Park. The village of Silsoe has a range of amenities, including a pub, hotel, newsagents and other local retailers. For more major items, the town of Bedford is close by.

Silsoe from £200,000 for 80%

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

24 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Four-bedroom house: Full value: £371,500 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £277,200 5% deposit: £18,575 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £1,586 Total costs: £1,586***

SILSOE GRANGE Silsoe Grange is a development of three, four and five bedroom houses offered by Bloor Homes and available through the Help to Buy scheme. Featured is the three-bedroom Fanhope style house, with a spacious lounge, contemporary kitchen/ diner with French doors leading to the rear garden. The kitchen is fully fitted with quality worktops and matching laminate splashbacks and completing the downstairs layout is a cloakroom and storage. Upstairs is a master bedroom with fitted

Scholars Quarter is perfectly located for commuting whether by road or rail. Ipswich Railway Station provides regular service into London Liverpool Street in around an hour, as well frequent services to Norwich and Cambridge. The A14 is just a few miles away and provides direct access to Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and beyond.

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £250,000 Minimum equity: 80% • Cost of equity: £200,000 5% deposit: £12,500 Mortgage on 80% equity: £1,152*** Total costs: £1,152

wardrobe and en-suite and a further two bedroom and family bathroom. Outside there is an enclosed rear garden and a garage with parking. ** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Silsoe Grange’ in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

*** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts in year 6

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 25

Midlands

Midlands Move

BOOTH PARK Boothville, Nothants from £56,000 for 40%

GOLDEN PARK West Bromwich, prices TBA

Three-bedroom house: Full value: £140,000 • Minimum share: 40% Cost of share: £56,000 • 5% deposit: £2,800 • Mortgage on share*: £327 Rent on remaining share**: £193 • Total costs: £520

Kier Partnership Homes is launching a new development of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom homes just off Claypit Lane in West Bromwich – so there’s easy access into Birmingham city centre. Each new home at Golden Park offers the very best in low maintenance living. Designer-inspired kitchens include integrated appliances as standard, and the master bedrooms all benefit from fitted wardrobes and en suites. The fast and frequent train service takes you into Birmingham New Street station in as little as nine minutes. Alternatively, you can get to Birmingham Snow Hill in just 17 minutes from Dudley Street Guns Village station, just a short walk from Golden Park. All of the homes at Golden Park will be available through the Help to Buy equity loan scheme.

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email

Interested? Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email

Situated in the popular Northampton suburb of Boothville, Booth Park is a new development of two and three bedroom homes, available through shared ownership from Orbit Homes. A selection of house styles are available and all new homes at Booth Park come with a high specification to include contemporary Lemongrass fitted kitchens with integrated Bosch appliances, a modern bathroom with chrome fitments, downstairs cloakroom, allocated parking and NHBC Warranty. Less than 4 miles from the town centre, Booth Park is located close to the range of leisure, entertainment and shopping facilities.

info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Booth Park’ in the title and we’ll do the

info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Golden Park’ in the title and we’ll do the

rest. Remember to include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

Spread the word!

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the midlands be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 57 and our Midlands directory on pages 64 will give you all the contacts you’ll need.

You can now get Help to Buy! Thanks to the brand new Governmentbacked equity scheme Help to Buy, first time buyers and existing home owners now only need a 5% deposit to buy a new home. For more information visit www.emhomebuy.org.uk or call us on 0844 892 0112.

GLEN COTTAGES

Two-bedroom houses Ketley from £63,750 for 50% Some people dream of buying new-build, a sort of new canvass on which to make their mark, but others prefer the feel of something older, something with of its own bit of built-in history. If you’re looking in Telford, Sanctuary Group will give you the choice of both, in exactly the same place! Unusual, in the sense that it provides a mixed development of new-build and refurbished properties, Sanctuary is offering two x new, and two x refurbished,

two bedroom houses under the shared ownership scheme. The refurbished homes are semi-detached and priced just a little lower than the new-builds, one of which is end terrace, and the other, mid-terrace. The development is to be found in Brickhill Lane, Ketley, where the four shared ownership houses form part of an overall

£1.6 million project incorporating fourteen homes. As you’d expect, each home has been finished or upgraded to an exacting high standard. Ketley is a suburb of Telford with easy access to the restaurant, shopping and entertainment facilities that central Telford has to offer.

Two-bedroom houses: Full value: £127,500 • Minimum share: 50% • Cost of share: £63,750 • 5% deposit: £3,188 Mortgage on share*: £372 • Rent on remaining share**: £146 • Total costs: £518

T 0844 892 0112 E emhomebuy@emha.org EMHomeBuy is run by East Midlands Housing Group in our role as a Help to Buy Agent. East Midlands Housing Group has been awarded the Help to Buy Agent status by the HCA (Homes and Communities Agency).

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year.

26 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 27

Midlands

WILLIS PLACE

CITRUS GROVE

St John’s, Worcester from £191,960 for 80%

Kegworth from £28,750 for 25%

Barratt Homes have just six houses remaining at their Willis Place development off Watery Lane in St Johns, Worcester and are offering them all under the Help to Buy scheme. One of the bonuses to buying at Willis Place, is being able to live in the desirable Worcester suburb, St Johns. St Johns is filled with local amenities, parks, and pathways. If Willis Place is still a bit out of your price bracket, but you like the location, it sits side by side with Barratt’s Cinderella Court, a converted shoe factory that now hosts 89 luxury one and two-bedroom apartments. Prices there start from £148,950 (£119,160 with Help to Buy).

Citrus Grove is a development of spacious two-bedroom apartments in Kegworth, Leicestershire, available for shared ownership from Hello Homes. The apartments feature an open plan living, dining and kitchen area which makes for excellent, flexible living space. The kitchens include a stainless steel oven and extractor. A thriving village, Kegworth has its own primary school, library, chemist and supermarket. The village is well located for connections throughout Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, so the homes at Citrus Grove are perfect for commuters who would rather not live in the city. The new East Midlands Parkway station is just five miles away.

Four-bedroom houses: Full value: £239,950 • Minimum equity: 80% Cost of equity: £191,960 • 5% deposit: £11,998 Mortgage on 80% equity*: £327 • Total costs: £327***

Two-bedroom apartment: Full value: £115,000 • Minimum share: 25% Cost of share: £28,750 • 5% deposit: £1,438 • Mortgage on share*: £170 Rent on remaining share**: £198 • Total costs: £368

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407, go to www.homefocusmagazine.co.uk

or e-mail property@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Willis Place’ in the title and

or e-mail property@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with ‘Citrus Grove’ in the title

we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year *** Help to Buy property. Interest on equity loan starts after 6 years

Pranav, Vaibhavi and their daughter Aarna Previous situation:

Renting

Scheme:

Help to Buy

Location:

Leicester

Provider:

Westleigh Homes

Help to Buy Agent: emhomebuy

hanks to the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, Pranav (31), his wife, Vaibhavi and their one year old daughter Aarna, have been able to upsize from a one bedroom rented house, to a spacious two bedroom house of their own, at Westleigh Homes’ Belgrave Riverside development in Leicester. Pranav had been told about Belgrave Riverside by his Uncle. Pranav says, ‘we had been living in a one bedroom rented property on Melton Road for seven years and after starting a family we were in need of more space. Renting near the city is quite expensive and any thoughts of

‘after starting a family, we were in need of more space’ moving were very distant. However, my Uncle insisted that I go with him to visit the Westleigh development on Ross Walk and I was very impressed’. He goes on, ‘Westleigh’s sales advisor asked me what I was looking for in a house. I told him I was very particular about layout and wanted a garden. With this in mind, he arranged for me to view a property and explained that the Help to Buy scheme meant I only needed a 5% deposit to purchase.’ Pranav reserved his new two bedroom family home and within a matter of weeks he was handed the keys to his

own home. He adds, ‘we are very happy and extremely pleased with our new home, especially as my daughter has space to play in the garden, and we are within a short distance of the city centre.’ Belgrave Riverside is located off the A607 Melton Road and within easy reach of local amenities, Abbey Park and Leicester city centre. All properties are of high specification and energy efficient, incorporating high levels of insulation, fuel saving central heating systems and efficient kitchen appliances.

Will this story inspire you to become a homeowner? See the list of low cost home ownership (LCHO) properties on pages 56-59. Or email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and let her know what sort of property you’re looking for. Ring us on 01622 772407 or e-mail info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and let us know what you’re looking for.

28 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 29

London

London life

FULHAM RIVERSIDE Fulham from £110,000 for 25%

Starting to think that you can buy your own home? Could buying in the capital be more cost effective than renting or commuting? Then take a look at this selection of low cost home ownership (LCHO) homes. There are more listed on pages 56 & 57 and our London directory on pages 60 & 61 will give you all the contacts you’ll need.

If you’re after waterside living, Affinity Sutton is offering 20 x one-bedroom apartments, 21 x two-bedroom apartments, and 11 x three-bedroom apartments, available through shared ownership at Affinity Sutton at Fulham Riverside. The luxury development includes a concierge and a residents’ gym, and all the apartments will have either a balcony or terrace – so either way, you’ll get great views of London. Fulham Riverside is just a few minutes from Chelsea, renowned for its nightlife and fine food and the infamous Kings Road is within walking distance.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £440,000 Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £110,000 5% deposit: £5,500 • Mortgage on share*: £642 Rent on remaining share**: £756 • Total costs: £1,398

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Fulham Riverside” in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

CAPWORTH COURT

newly refurbished Leyton Leisure Lagoon swimming complex and of course, the Olympic Park itself. Quality schools and the shops, restaurants and bars of Leyton High Road are all just a short walk away – and it’s not far from the centre of London, for work or play.

E10 from £68,250 for 35%

CANAL WALK APARTMENTS One two and three-bedroom apartments in Hackney from £90,000 for 30% Located in Kingsland Road, adjacent to the Regent’s Canal, ISHA (Islington & Hackney Housing Association) is launching a range of one, two and threebedroom apartments via the shared ownership scheme. If you’re looking to live in a buzzy and vibrant part of town, then Canal Walk could be made for you. Kingsland Road and the area immediately around Canal Walk provide a wide range of shops and you’ll find a lively market at close by Hoxton Street.

Restaurants, clubs, restaurants, bars and trendy boutiques abound in nearby Dalson and ‘The Shoreditch Triangle’ and the City and West End are easily reached for work and even more entertainment. The nearest station is Haggerston – part of London’s overground network - and Old St on the Northern Line is quite accessible. Each apartment comes with a stylish kitchen incorporating laminate

worktops and a stainless steel oven, extractor hoods and sink. Built-in appliances are a fridge/freezer, washer/ dryer and dishwasher. You won’t have to worry about in-home entertainment, as there’s a communal digital TV aerial and satellite dish already cabled for Sky and HD and visitors can announce themselves via a video entryphone system. Ensuring that Canal Walk is affordable to run as well as to buy, the apartments are heated by gas boiler central heating system and to further aid to low cost energy efficiency, the development has a solar panel.

One-bedroom apartment: Full value: £300,000 • Minimum share: 30% • Cost of share: £90,000 5% deposit: £4,500 • Mortgage on share*: £526 • Rent on remaining share**: £481 • Total costs: £1,007

Want to know more? We’ll make it easy to get hold of the information you need. Put the name of the development or developments that interest you in the subject line of an email and we’ll arrange for the right companies to contact you. Just email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and remember to include your name and phone number if you’d like us to pass it on. Or you could call 01622 772407 * Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%. **Assumes rent is charged at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year. *** Help to Buy property, interest on the equity loan starts in year 6

30 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Designed for first time buyers and young families, Capworth Court from L&Q offers a choice of one and two-bedroom apartments in the heart of Leyton. The apartments are spacious and elegant, with quality fittings and décor and many of them have their own private outdoor spaces, and enjoy stunning views across East London. Step outside your front door and you’ll find yourself in the midst of East London’s recent redevelopment. So in addition to Leyton’s traditional community feel and rich cultural diversity, you’ll find an

Located within Zone 2, Imperial Wharf offers regular overground services to London Waterloo and London Bridge, and Fulham Broadway – a 20-minute walk away connects to the District Line. Day and night buses are also easily accessible. Chelsea Harbour is moments down the river, where you can take a boat to Putney, Blackfriars Millenium Pier or to Embankment Pier.

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £195,000 Minimum share: 35% • Cost of share: £68,250 5% deposit: £3,413 • Mortgage on share*: £399 Rent on remaining share**: £291 Total costs: £690 Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Capworth” in

evolving landscape with new facilities and green spaces nearby. There’s the

the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

CLOCK TOWER Bexleyheath, prices to be confirmed Clock Tower Court is a brand new, contemporary development offering 43 one and two-bedroom apartments, available from Hyde New Homes. Ideally situated in Bexleyheath town centre, the apartments at Clock Tower Court are offered for sale through shared ownership. The development is conveniently located to make the most of shops, restaurants, bars and leisure facilities, and also enjoys the nearby tranquillity of Danson Park. If you’re a commuter, you’ll * Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

benefit from excellent transport links with a wide variety of bus services and a regular rail service from Bexleyheath train station to central London. Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email julie@ homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Clock Tower” in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 31

London

BETHNAL GREEN ROAD Shoreditch from £100,000 for 25% Genesis is offering a collection of new homes, on a shared ownership basis, in Shoreditch. At the heart of one of the most vibrant and dynamic parts of London and just moments away from Shoreditch High Street station, the new homes are ideally positioned for those who want the best in stylish urban living at an affordable price. The nine apartments on Bethnal Green Road are available in a range of one and two bedroom layouts, with most having their own private balcony or terrace. The apartments are part of a larger development which incorporates a landscaped central

One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £400,000 Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £100,000 5% deposit: £5,000 • Mortgage on share*: £584 Rent on remaining share**: £688 Total costs: £1,272

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Bethnal Green in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

LOCK SIDE Camden from £108,750 for 25% Origin Housing has launched Lock Side, a collection of 7 shared ownership apartments, set in Camden Town, overlooking the world famous Camden Lock. Lock Side offers six x one-bedroom properties and one x three-bedroom apartment all with open plan kitchen/ living/dining areas. The fitted kitchen incorporates statement black and white lacquered units and sleek slate effect work tops, with built-in stainless steel appliances. Amitico wood-look floorings are in the living areas and hallway. Bathrooms have smart white sanitary ware by Roca. The

Lucy Still Previous situation: Renting Scheme:

Shared ownership

Location:

East Village, Stratford

Provider:

Triathlon Homes

ucy Still, a 31 year-old Religious Education teacher working at a school in Newham, became one of the first residents to reserve a two-bedroom apartment in Vesta House, which looks out over the green and tranquil surroundings of the Olympic legacy East Village. Vesta House is a distinctive building that offers residents generous living space and a private, shared roof garden. Its spectacular 14-storey atrium, brings natural daylight to residents on all floors, and helps foster a sense of community.

‘owning a percentage of her own apartment will give her a real sense of achievement’ Lucy has been living in a rented house in Stoke Newington, sharing with three others. Until she secured an apartment at East Village, Lucy regularly checked the Share to Buy website looking for affordable two bedroom apartments. She was attracted to East Village because of the spacious living accommodation, plus great transport links to her school and other parts of the capital. Lucy chose a shared ownership home at East Village because she can afford to invest 25% into a property, but not a deposit on the full market price. Her

monthly outgoings will increase as a result of the move, but Lucy cannot afford to rent a one bedroom flat in the area and is keen to now live alone. Time will improve Lucy’s financial situation by enabling her to build equity in her own property, whilst allowing her to live alone in a bigger apartment. Lucy is confident that owning a percentage of her own apartment will give her a real sense of achievement, and she’s particularly looking forward to creating a home with her own decorations and style!

32 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Rent on remaining share**: £747 • Total costs: £1,382

apartments have floor to ceiling windows, and three of the properties benefit from their own private balcony.

Wandsworth from £68,750 for a 25%

* Approximate figures only, assuming a 25 year mortgage at 5.5%

The development is moments from the bright lights of Camden Town, which has a plethora of shops, bars and restaurants, as well as it’s internationally renowned eclectic music scene. The development is a short walk from Camden Road overground, Camden Town tube and Kings Cross/St Pancras, is within walking distance. One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £435,000 Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £10,8750 5% deposit: £5,438 • Mortgage on share*: £635

ILLUMINA Just two, one-bedroom shared ownership apartments remain in this phase of Illumina@Wandsworth, but don’t worry too much if you miss out, Octavia Living will be launching another phase later this year. These contemporary apartments offer bright, generous living spaces with high level specifications. Each apartment enjoys a custom designed Manhattan kitchen with integrated Electrolux appliances including hob, oven and fridge/freezer. The bathrooms have white Roca bath suites, semi recessed wash basins with Grohe taps, ceramic wall and

courtyard for residents to use. There’s also a Sainsbury’s Local, The London Cocktail Club and Naamyaa restaurant, all located within the development. A high standard of specification has been chosen, including white gloss kitchen units with granite effect worktops and a full range of integrated Bosch appliances.

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Lock Side” in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

which will get you to Clapham Junction in just three minutes and Waterloo in fifteen. The food, shopping and entertainment amenities in Wandsworth are legion, but if you’re also interested in seeing some greenery in your life, then the beautiful King George’s Park is only a stone’s throw away. One-bedroom apartments: Full value: £275,000 Minimum share: 25% • Cost of share: £68,750 5% deposit: £3,438 • Mortgage on share*: £404 Rent on remaining share**: £473 Total costs: £877

floor tiles and a heated towel rail. Illumina is in Zone 2, a few minutes walk from Wandsworth Town station,

Interested? Call us on 01622 772407 or email julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk with “Illumina” in the title and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

** Assuming rent at 2.75% of the share you don’t own, per year

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 33

Inconversationwith...

What attracted you to becoming an interior designer and what do you like most about the job? From a very young age I had an interest in interiors. I would be the only child commenting on someone’s wallpaper at children’s parties! When I started looking for a Saturday job, aged 14, the only position in my local high street was in a soft-furnishings showroom. From the moment I started, I fell in love with all things interior decoration. Within a few months I knew every fabric in the shop and learnt many important lessons in dealing with the public and first steps in putting schemes together. The interest quickly became a passion. I thoroughly enjoy the art of creating beautiful schemes that truly reflect the personalities of my clients, where they can feel ‘at home’ from the moment they move in. In my television programmes, the redesign of the contributors’ houses is genuinely life-changing and their reaction to their finished home never fails to move me.

When did you buy your first home, what was it like, and what made you choose it? I bought my first home with my husband in 1987. It was a three bed link-detached in Henley on Thames, modern and very dull! It had a living room and kitchen downstairs, a tiny garden backing onto common land and three small bedrooms (with no wardrobes) and a small bathroom upstairs. I hated it, but at the time property prices were increasing ridiculously quickly and we felt that if we didn’t make a purchase immediately we might have been priced out of the opportunity. Although I wasn’t enthralled with the house I did my best to give it some personality and taught myself many of the DIY skills I regularly use today whilst there.

What do you believe are the most important aspects of a home?

INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERT

Julia Kendell

Best known for her appearances on TV programmes, Daybreak and DIY SOS, Julia Kendell has enjoyed huge success as an interior design expert. With twenty years experience in the industry she has a wealth of knowledge about property and interiors so we were delighted when she agreed to chat with us. 34 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Our ideals for a perfect home vary enormously across the globe, but there are a few factors that are essential to all. Somewhere safe, warm, and where we feel secure when we shut the front door behind us is probably the only truly essential requirement for our homes. But our home has a huge impact on our emotional well-being and health and this shouldn’t be underestimated. We all have different wish-lists and it’s important to be clear about these when looking for a home. Even if the property under consideration doesn’t fulfil every requirement, if most aspects are satisfied there’s every chance that a little creative remodelling will produce the ideal layout/ storage possibilities/ home office requirements etc. For me, a peaceful neighbourhood, easy access to main routes into London and a decent pub nearby are as important as high ceilings and original features! I’ve often been tempted to move to a less expensive part of the UK but being ‘at home’ is as much about being close to friends and family and the shared experiences within the four walls as much as the property itself.

What is your vision/opinion on the lack of affordable housing in the UK? The increase in property prices over the past few decades has made it virtually impossible to get onto the housing ladder without assistance from either parents or housing associations. I am,

however, pleased that the new ‘Help to Buy’ government scheme has been introduced. I believe it will certainly help first-time buyers bridge the gap between the mortgage multiples and property values and make purchasing a home for the first time more achievable. But with the number of new households increasing faster than new house builds, the UK is in crisis and the Government will have to take an even more creative view on the situation to alleviate the shortfall in properties. I have been working with ‘Habitat for Humanity’ recently whose work in the UK involves leasing derelict council properties, renovating them using volunteer labour and renting them to families in need. There are currently approximately 700,000 empty homes in the UK which could be brought back into use helping the shortage of properties. I think community intervention is key to making a success of such schemes.

What advice would you give to those looking to purchase their first home? One of the main concerns when purchasing a home for the first time is the potential ‘large expenses’ that might come out of the blue once you have the key. Cosmetic changes can be more easily budgeted for and managed than structural renovations so I would advise not to be swayed by glossy kitchen cabinets or a shiny bathroom if the roof looks decidedly dodgy and the electrics need some attention! If a property looks dark and small there are many changes you can make to brighten it and make it feel more spacious. Texture absorbs light so replace carpets with solid floorings (modern laminates are excellent these days, quick to install and kind to the pocket) and consider blinds instead of curtains. Use good quality light fittings to bring the space to life; if the lighting is bad it doesn’t matter how much has been spent on the furnishings, they will look flat and uninteresting. Above all, decorate and live in your home as YOU wish.

What you are currently working on and what’s next for you? In the last twelve months I have had a great time working on both DIY SOS and Peter Andre’s 60 Minute Makeover and hope to film more for both shows again later this year. Additionally I have just launched some Interior Design courses aimed at anyone either starting on a new project wanting to ensure great results or who might have an interest in design in London and in Marlow which I’m very excited about. I will be presenting seminars at the NEC and Olympia for The National Home Improvement Show, and travelling to India with Habitat to help with a women’s build project to coincide with International Women’s Day. Julia will be at The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show on Saturday 29th March 2014 in Hall 12 of the NEC. Tickets to the show include FREE access to The National Home Improvement Show. For more information on seminars, masterclasses, features and tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk. Homefocus has five pairs of tickets to giveaway to the show. If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a pair please send your name and address on an email to comps@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and mark the subject line ‘Nat Homebuild Show’

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 35

HomeStyle A bedroom designed by Lucy for AmicusHorizon’s show apartment at Hallam House, Croydon. Malm dressing table £95 www.ikea.com

Personalise your bedroom design with help from interior designer Lucy Bartley

St Ives Mirror £50 www.johnlewis.com

Main photograph courtesy of Sesame Design

Silk Twist Vinyl Wallpaper £28 www.johnlewis.com

Bedroom Bliss Ombre Mink Table Lamp £45 www.next.co.uk

Interior designer Lucy Bartley has been creating beautiful interiors within a range of budgets and styles for over ten years. We caught up with her at Hallam House, a recent project for Amicus Horizon, who offer shared ownership and affordable housing in the South East. Here Lucy gives us her tips on how to create your own interior design scheme on a budget.

Colour palette & mood When working on any room in your home the first thing to do is decide upon a colour palette & the look you want to create, as this will save you both time and money in the long run. When thinking of a mood for your room, choose a theme, item, or style of interior that you like. I recommend buying interiors magazines and tearing out the pages with items on that catch your eye. You can then create your own mood board with these alongside paint and fabric swatches. Doing this will also help you get an idea of how much it will all cost, and if it exceeds your budget you can search for similar less expensive items that will still create the look you want.

36 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

White & taupe neutrals are best if you are unsure as they work with everything, look clean, and can be quickly refreshed and updated at a later date. I have used soft neutrals in this bedroom and contrasted with a splash of soft silver grey wallpaper to create a feature. Remember, if you have limited space in your home stick to one core colour palette throughout, as you can always add accent colours to each room that blend and tone.

Colour A key tip when choosing colour is to find a patterned accessory that you want to include in the room, for example, a cushion or piece of artwork and then use the colours from it. In this bedroom I have used chosen the feature vintage ski cushion, which takes centre stage, along with the accent stag cushions. From these I have picked out soft neutrals ranging from cream to grey, using the cream shade for the curtains, which also introduces a new cotton/silky texture, and for the throw a mixture of soft taupey greys. Additionally I have matched the dark charcoal grey accent cushions with the darker shade in the wallpaper. Always cross reference items, as this will make the room gel.

Bruno Cushion £25 www.furniturevillage.co.uk

Texture and contrast

By layering different fabrics on top of white cotton sheets, whether pillows, throws or blankets, you can create contrast, depth and warmth whilst providing a homely feel.

Sourcing When choosing bedroom furniture I always recommended doing your homework and searching the internet, there are lots of good companies giving a designer look for half the price – so Google away!

Design statements In this room I have created a design statement with the white gloss dressing table, a drum stool for seating, and practical mirror. Other ways to create a statement include grouping pictures/photos together. Vary by height, width, and frame finish, place the smaller item at the front. This gives another focal point and groups a collection together. The most important thing to remember is to have fun when creating your room, choose colours that will make you feel calm, and be sure to include familiar much loved objects around you.

Chunky Herringbone Throw £25 www.sainsburys.co.uk

For more info about Lucy’s interior design service check out her website at www.lucybhome.co.uk

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 37

MoneyMaestro

BUDGET BUSTER

Are you a spender or a saver? Do you feel like your money trickles through your fingers? Are you always struggling at the end of the month? We can’t give you more income to play with, but if you follow our simple steps, we can help you get your finances under control. And that’s important when you’re saving for that vital deposit, and the fees you’ll need to buy your home. Keep it up once you’ve bought your home, though, and you could still manage to fund the things that make life fun, whether that’s a spot of retail therapy or a week in the sun. Don’t know where to start? Read on…

At the beginning… Get to grips with your budget right from the start. Not only will it make saving for your deposit and moving costs easier, it’ll also make life much more relaxing once you move. If you have your money sorted, that’s one less thing to panic about. First and most importantly, know yourself. Think about your money management history. Have you always been able to make ends meet or save for a special purchase? Ask friends and family what they think you’re like with money, too (and tell them to be honest, not kind!) and then plan your budget plan accordingly. Make sure you’re not spending on anything you don’t have to. If you’re already responsible for utility bills, head off to a price comparison site and switch to the cheapest. Same for broadband, phones and car insurance.

Plan of action... Make a plan of what you have coming in each month and what you spend. If you’re a serial fritterer then keep a money diary for at least a month. Write down everything – and we mean EVERYTHING – you spend. This will give you a good idea of what you spend on and where you could save. Secondly, think about what to do with your

38 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

savings so you’ve got them available for your deposit. If you’ve worked out how much you can save each month, make sure you transfer that out of your account as soon as you get paid – a standing order is ideal. Don’t pay tax on your savings if you don’t have to – take up your full ISA allowance and choose your savings account carefully to receive as much interest as possible. Next, clear your debts. It might seem tempting to put any spare money you have straight into a savings account so it can go towards your deposit, but it’s a false economy if you’ve got credit cards, loans and store cards to pay off. No savings account will bring you the rate of interest you’ll be paying on your cards. Transfer your existing credit card balances to new ones with zero percent on balance transfers, and pay it off as soon as you can. Then start saving. That way, when you do move into your new home, you won’t be taking your debts with you. Finally, make sure your credit rating is as good as possible. That could be the difference between you getting a mortgage for your dream home or not, or influence the rate you have to pay. Check your rating online in case your records are not correct. Make sure you don’t miss payments on loans, cards or bills, as that’s the biggest influence on your credit rating. If you’re having problems, it’s always better to contact the organisations concerned and sort out a manageable payment plan.

Get moving… If you’ve followed our advice, got your finance under control and saved for your deposit, now’s the time to make the scary decision to go ahead and buy a home. The first step is to find an independent financial advisor (IFA) who specialises in Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) and they will be able to get you’re the best mortgage and know the industry inside out. The affordability assessment carried out through your Help to Buy Agent or housing

association will make sure that you don’t sign up to pay out more than you can afford on your home, which is reassuring.

Keep it up… Once you’ve bought your home, it’s very easy to go out and splurge on things for it – after all, you don’t have to save for that deposit any more! Don’t be tempted spending or borrowing more than you can afford, no matter how nice the sofa and how good the deal. By now, you’ll have plenty of experience in setting yourself a budget and keeping to it, as well as making sure you’re getting all the best deals. So make a new home owner’s budget – and be realistic. Don’t scrimp on the amount you set aside for bills. If you have no idea what your bills are likely to be, ask your new neighbours – it’s a great way of introducing yourself! You’ll find that your budget changes now that you’ve got your own space. Instead of going out, you might want to entertain at home more. Or perhaps your travel expenses are less if you’ve moved closer to work and don’t have to pay to commute. It’s a good idea to keep the savings habit going to create a bit of a cushion. Paying your deposit is likely to have wiped your savings out, so create a fall-back fund so your bills are covered for at least three months. And make sure that things like your mortgage and even your income are covered by insurances should the worse happen and you lose your job. It might seem like wasted money, but it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind. If it all sounds too simple, that’s because it really is – your money makeover doesn’t have to be difficult, time-consuming or stressful. It’s just a matter of organisation and being realistic, and getting to grips with your budget could just put you in a great position to finally buy a home of your own. Now that HAS to be worth a go…

BUDGETPLANNER

If you’re trying to get to grips with your finances, it’s always best to do a budget – but very easy to miss off important expenses or even sources of income. Remember to include everything in your monthly budget, even if you only have a bill once a year! So we’ve come up with a handy sheet to help you. Our advice? Photocopy it a few times and then you’ll have something to fill in as your budget changes. Or you could e-mail us at info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and we’ll send you an electronic version for you to print off as many times as you like!

1 – Income

4 – Everyday expenditure

Wages or salary (net after deductions) Partner’s wages or salary (net) Tips, commission or overtime Other earnings (net) Maintenance/child support Working Tax Credit Children’s Tax Credit Child Benefit Any other benefit income Interest on savings Other income

Food & Drink Housekeeping Travel & fares Car expenses (tax/petrol/servicing etc) Childcare (nursery/minder/babysitter) Children (pocket money, activities, events) School meals Pets (food, vet’s bills, insurance) Cigarettes and other ‘vices’ Clothes and shoes Household items (repairs etc) Health costs (dentist, optician, prescriptions)

TOTAL INCOME (BOX 1)

£ TOTAL EVERYDAY COSTS (BOX 4)

2 – Housing and utilities

5 – Other expenditure

Mortgage payments Rent Other loans on your home Council tax Service charge and/or ground rent Buildings/contents insurance Life or redundancy insurance Water and sewerage rates Gas Electricity Other fuel costs Other housing costs TOTAL HOUSING COSTS (BOX 2)

Religious and charitable giving Entertaining, eating out Holidays Hobbies (activities, gardening, books etc) Gifts (eg birthdays) Christmas or festivals and presents Courses and professional fees Catalogue/mail order payments TOTAL OTHER COSTS (BOX 5)

3 – Important expenditure Telephone and internet (including mobiles) Credit card payments Loan repayments Maintenance payments Pension TV licence HP or rental payments (car, tv etc) TOTAL IMPORTANT COSTS (BOX 3)

6 – Your budget Total income

BOX 1

Housing costs Important expenditure Everyday expenditure Other expenditure

BOX 2 BOX 3 BOX 4 BOX 5

Total Outgoings (add boxes 2,3,4,5 & 6) BOX 6

MONEY LEFT OVER (BOX 1 – BOX 6)

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 39

HelpToBuy Aspects Three and four-bedroom townhouses near Worthing, available thorough Burton Property from £248,000. Full asking prices start at £310,000

BUY NOW...

GROW LATER!

Plan your future without having to move to a larger property!

roperty prices are rising! The Nationwide and Halifax both claim a surge in price inflation, developers are reporting an upturn in business and most analysts are predicting continued price growth. Which is great for those on the home ownership ladder who will see their equity stake in their home grow. But what if you aren’t yet on the ladder? You could find that rising prices might take your dream home out of range? It’s so frustrating. One option of course would be to buy a home that will do for now, but need trading up as you need more space. Another is to look at the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. It’s designed to help you get the home you want by bridging the gap between what you can afford right now, and where you’d like to be living.

How it works If you can afford 80% of the property you want, then Help to Buy is made for you. The other 20% will be lent to you – in the form of an equity loan - by the government. Just as an example, let’s imagine you see a new build property on the market for £160,000 (it’s a sort of average price across the country). With Help to Buy, you will need to put down a 5% deposit of £8,000 and find a mortgage for £120,000. If you can do that, then the Government will lend you the extra £32,000 to make up the difference. And that £32,000 might buy you the extra rooms you will need in the future. Crucially, there’s nothing to pay on that £32,000 equity loan for the first five years and during that

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time you can adjust your budgets and hopefully, increase your income. After that, there’s a small interest charge which rises each year. You will have to pay the equity loan back eventually, but right now, it’s made all the difference. It’s perfect if you’re planning for the future. You can only apply for the Help to Buy equity loan if you’re buying a brand new property and if the developer is participating in the scheme – and a lot of them are. Properties up to a maximum full value of £600,000 are included, and there are no maximum income limits for you to think about.

Not just first time buyers You can use Help to Buy if you’re a first time buyer, but you can also take advantage of the scheme if you’re already a home owner. So if you need to move to a more expensive area, to be nearer a job, or schools for your growing family, then a Help to Buy equity loan could be what you need.

Moving on… When it comes to selling up, you simply sell your home and split the proceeds. Assuming you haven’t paid a lump sum off of the equity loan, you get 80% of the sales price and the government gets the other 20%. That’s fair. If you’ve already paid off the equity loan, you get to keep the whole 100%. And if you sell up within the first five years, you’ve had the benefit of the equity loan without having to pay anything at all towards it.

‘It’s lovely to have our own place now’ Siobhan and Mark Reynolds moved to their new home at Taylor Wimpey’s Grenfell Park development in Taplow, Berkshire – after a year of living with Siobhan’s parents nearby. When Siobhan became pregnant over two years earlier, the couple had decided to sell their two-bedroom terraced house in Maidenhead with a view to buying something bigger. But after four prospective house purchases fell through and baby Max had arrived, the family eventually ended up moving in with Siobhan’s parents in Taplow. ‘We thought it would be an interim move,’ explains Siobhan, ‘but it ended up being a year. It’s lovely to have our own place now, because although it was great we could move in with my parents, you do miss your own space.’ The Reynolds were struggling to find an affordable four-bedroom house with a good-size garden in Taplow, until they found Taylor Wimpey’s ‘Lambourne’ at Grenfell Park and looked into the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. They then acted quickly and secured their favourite plot off-plan. They moved into their new property in December 2013 and have found their perfect family home just in time – as Max is now 20 months old and Siobhan is expecting their second child in the summer. ‘I love the house, even more than I’d envisaged,’ says Siobhan (31). ‘I’d never bought off-plan before and I was trying to visualise everything in my head. Then when we did get to see the house it was amazing. We’re just round the corner from my parents, and we’re also close to the Jubilee River, nice pubs and schools, and the supermarket, plus there’s great access to the motorway.’

THE HELP TO BUY MORTGAGE GUARANTEE Yes, there is now another government scheme called Help to Buy. But don’t mix them up. This one is the Help to Buy Mortgage Guarantee Scheme. And it lets you buy a place with just a 5% deposit. But this scheme relates just to your mortgage. And you can’t get a Help to Buy Mortgage for a Help to Buy equity loan property! Eh? You can’t get a Help to Buy mortgage for a Help to Buy equity loan property! Basically, you can’t have it both ways. If you get yourself a Help to Buy equity loan on a new property, you can’t then pay for it with a Help to Buy Mortgage. Ok? The Help to Buy mortgage will let you buy any property, new or old, up to £600,000 and the Government guarantees 15% of the loan for 7 years. Now that’s not making any guarantees to you, it’s making them to your mortgage lender. Effectively it’s making you a better bet when they lend you money. So in theory, the bank or building society should be able to offer you a better interest rate than if you were applying for a 95% loan in any other way.

Here’s a few of the fantastic homes you could purchase through Help to Buy right now… Debdale Rise Three-storey, threebedroom homes in Mansfield availalbe through Rippon Homes from £130,360. Full asking prices start at £162,950

Oakgrove

Meadow View

Three, four and five -bedroom houses in Caterham-on-the Hill, available through Berkeley Homes from £344,000. Full asking prices start at £430,000

Three and four-bedroom houses in Herne Bay, available through Taylor Wimpey from £155,600. Full asking prices start at £194,500

Eden Park Four -bedroom houses in Rugby, available through Bloor Homes from £212,000. Full asking prices start at £265,000

Manor Kingsway Two, three, four and five-bedroom houses in Derby, available thorough Kier Homes from £113,596. Full asking prices start at £141,995

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 41

FoodFocus

WELCOME SPRING IN

After the long winter months it’s great to welcome the first signs of spring and where better than the kitchen? We’ve compiled a selection of the latest products, some of which we have tried and tested, alongside an easy to prepare tasty lamb casserole that makes the most of seasonal vegetables.

Zest It Up...

Spring Clean

cloths from Vileda help No one likes cleaning, but these new Microfibre Kitchen make the task a whole lot easier. The zone design to create er pow a combines soft microfibre with ofiber surface is very micr ed stitch The . a multipurpose cloth area tackles burnt on dirt absorbent, whilst the power zone Limescale is an anti-limescale without scratching. The Microfibre It has an abrasive star pattern cale. cloth designed to target limes limescale and keep surfaces and texture designed to help lift off e new cloths and found that streak free. We’ve tried both of thes en sinks, and shower kitch they work very well particularly on o.uk da.c .vile screens. £1.99 each www

Home Brew Now you can brew your favourite high street coffee in the comfort of your own home with Starbucks’ new VerismoTM System, a range of coffee making machines that create Starbucks espresso drinks, from Caffè Lattes to Americanos, as well as freshly filtered coffee. There are three models available, the smallest of which is the V-600, this comes in a choice of silver and piano black finishes and boasts Swiss engineered technology, a 19-bar high pressure system, and a fast heat up time. So whether you need a boost to start the day or an afternoon pick-me-up, you can now make your own. £149 www.starbucks.com/verismo

42 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

If like us at HomeFocus you love the flavour of lemon, then Rachel’s new Greek Style Lemon Yogurt is just for you. Made using organic lemons and locally sourced milk, the new yogurt is thick and creamy with buttery undertones of fragrant lemon. We ate ours on its own and with fresh fruit, both of which were delicious, but you could as suggested by Rachel’s, fold a generous heap into your cream cheese filling for a delicious twist to the traditional lemon cheesecake, or dollop a spoonful into your lemon drizzle cake mix to add extra zest to your sponge. £1.99 for a 450g pot www.rachelsorganic.co.uk

Bake Off!

Budding bakers will be pleased to hear that Brabantia has launched a new Digital Kitchen Scale. The stainless steel Kitchen Scale has an integrated countdown timer with alarm to warn you when your cakes are ready so there will be no need to worry about ‘soggy bottoms’! They also boast a clear, illuminated LCD read -out, displaying in grams, pounds and ounc es, millilitres or fluid ounces. £24.75 www.brabantia.com

Go Nuts! Peanut butter fans will be delighted to hear about the new 3 Nut Butter from Whole Earth. It contains a moreish mix of 39% cashews, 39% peanuts and 20% hazelnuts and has no added sugar making it a healthier treat than crisps or chocolate. We tried some on wholemeal toast and it made a great, tasty snack. Other serving suggestions from Whole Earth include mixing a spoonful into your porridge before microwaving, putting some on top of vanilla ice cream, and eating with chunks of apple. £3.19 for a 227g jar, available from Sainsburys

Serves 6 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 1½ hours

Lamb Casserole with Spring Vegetables Tip: If preferred replace the onion with 8 small shallots.

Ingredients

Method

675g (1½lb) lean lamb neck fillet or shoulder, cut into 2.5cm/1inch cubes

• Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a moderate heat, meanwhile put the lamb in a large plastic food bag, season and add the curry powder, seal and shake well to coat.

30ml (1tbsp) oil Salt and freshly milled black pepper 10ml (2tsp) curry powder 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 850ml (1½pint) good, hot lamb stock 450g (1lb) new potatoes, halved 2 leeks, finely sliced 100g (4oz) fresh peas 30ml (2tbsp) freshly chopped coriander or flat-leaf parsley

• Cook the lamb in batches in the pan for 3-4 minutes until brown. Transfer to a large heatproof casserole dish with a lid. • In the same frying pan cook the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Spoon into the casserole dish and add the stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and cook on the hob or in a preheated oven at Gas mark 3, 170°C, 325°F for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally. • 25 minutes before the end of the cooking time add the potatoes and continue cooking. • 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time add the leeks and peas. • Garnish the casserole with the herbs and serve with crusty bread

For more information and recipes visit www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 43

S-T-R-E -T-C-H

STRETCH YOUR MONEY, RATHER THAN YOURSELF Seems the economy is doing better at long last. But the chances are that if you’ve had a pay rise recently, or you’re just about to get one, it’ll be small. Certainly less than the reported increase in property prices. So what do you do if your household income STILL doesn’t allow you to buy the home you need? Well, you could squeeze your family into a smaller place and hope you can afford to buy somewhere bigger in the future. Or carry on renting. Or you could try low cost home ownership (LCHO). LCHO means you get to stretch your money, rather than yourself. So make your money work for you by making it go further. 44 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

John, Vicky and their son

Rebecca and Lauren

Daniel and Caroline

John and Vicky currently pay £540 a month to rent a two-bedroom house in Kettering where they live with their youngster, Josh who is 4. John works as a delivery driver and earns around £23,000 a year. The couple have wanted to get on the housing ladder since they married six years ago, and would prefer to move closer to Vicky’s family in Northampton. Although they have some savings, two-bedroom homes in the area cost £135,000 or even more, so buying a place of their own seems out of their price range.

Rebecca and Lauren have been together for five years and have been renting since university, but they’ve got to the stage where they want to buy a place of their own near Canary Wharf in London, where they both work. They both have good jobs, but their combined income will only stretch to allow them to buy a studio flat on the outskirts of the city and renting the kind of place they want is likely to cost them as much as £2000 month. What they really want, is to buy somewhere with a cool urban vibe and a bit of space so friends can stay over and they can entertain - but places like that come at a price.

Daniel and Caroline currently live separately, with their parents, just outside Whitstable; but when they marry they want to start married life in a place of their own. Caroline earns £23,000 and Johnny £29,000 a year. The couple both moved back with their families so they could save hard for a deposit and they save they did. But even if they saved for another year, they could still only just manage to scrape enough to get a mortgage on a small house in the area. But they’ve got plans to start a family before too long and would prefer to buy somewhere bigger with a garden.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

East Village could give the girls the lifestyle they’re looking for, at a price they can afford. It’s a shared ownership opportunity at the Olympic Legacy by Triathlon Homes. Two-bedroom apartments there start at £350,000, so a minimum 25% share is £87,500, but Rebecca and Lauren have relatively well-paid jobs and can afford a 40% share for £140,000 with a 5% deposit of £7,000. Their mortgage will be £817 a month, and rent £485, so their total housing costs would be £1302. Monthly rent for a similar place in the area is between £1500-£1700.

The Help to Buy option at Taylor Wimpey’s Meadow View development in Herne Bay could give the couple the chance to buy a brand new three-bedroom house for just 80% of the full price and have the remainder covered by an equity loan on which there are no repayments for five years. The house costs £194,500, but through Help to Buy the couple only need to come up with £155,600 initially – do-able on their salaries. Their 5% deposit would be £9,725 so they’ve already saved enough. And their mortgage comes to about £900 a month, around the same as renting the same size house in the area.

S-T-R-E-T-C-H Booth Park in Boothville, Northants could be just what they’re looking for! It’s a shared ownership development from Orbit Homes. A 40% share of a two-bedroom house there costs just £56,000 (the full market value is £140,000). So John and Vicky’s savings will cover the 5% deposit they need to buy their share - £2,800. John’s salary is enough to cover the mortgage, which works out to around £345 per month. There’s rent on top of that which comes to around £193, bringing their total housing costs to £538 a month – a around the same as they’re for their rented house now. And if they buy they’ll have a foot on the housing ladder.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 45

MoveandMore

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NEW-BUILD

Preloved and pre-owned. The second hand market for shared ownership homes...

hen you’re looking to buy a home through shared ownership, you might be forgiven for thinking that the only properties available are brand new ones. You see advertising in local papers, information at housing events, even hoardings alongside new developments being built. But what if you want to stay living in the area you know and it hasn’t seen any new development for a while? What if staying close to family and friends is a key factor in your life? What if your children have issues about schools or medical facilities that make moving away a real problem? What then? Well maybe a resale shared ownership home could be just what you’re looking for!

Preloved… A resale property, or existing shared ownership as it’s sometimes known, is a home that’s already been bought through a shared ownership scheme, and now the owners are looking to sell their share and move on. Your Local Help to Buy Agent (or the sharetobuy. com/firststeps website for London) will have details of many of the resales properties available in their area, and be able to let you know which housing association to contact about each one. You can also check out individual housing association websites for information on any resales they have. In fact, if you’re looking to move onto a particular development, it’s worth finding out who the relevant housing association is and getting in touch to let them know you’d be interested in a resale if one comes up.

In the know… When you’re looking for a home, nothing beats a good chat with the people who already live there. If you’re only looking at newly built homes, you’ll get information from the sales team, but if you’re buying

a resale you’ll get the real insider info. Ten minutes from the station? ‘Yes, and only five from the shops…’ Good parking? ‘Yes, allocated to the homes, but if you’ve got visitors tell them to get here early if they come at the weekend.’ Utility bills? ‘We didn’t have to turn our heating on at all until November…’ See what we mean? Nothing beats the personal touch.

More choice… Resales add to the choice of homes you could buy. Of course, a lot of the resale homes will be nearly new, simply because most shared ownership homes were new build at the time of their first purchase. But there are other kinds of property available too – including older properties that have been refurbished and sold through shared ownership in the past. So if you’ve got your heart set on an older property, check out the resales available in your area.

More places… Buying a resale property might give you a bit more choice in the area you live in. For a start, you’re not restricted to places where there’s development going on right now. Perhaps you already know the development, have friends or family in the area, and fancied buying a home there yourself but weren’t ready when the homes were being sold new. In fact, a resale property might not be part of a development at all, because early low cost home ownership schemes did allow people to buy homes other than new builds.

Share and share alike… With most resale properties you buy the share that the sellers own – so if they’ve bought 35%, you buy 35%. But if you want to buy more, you can. Let’s say you can afford 50% of the home you’ve fallen in love with, but the sellers only own 35%. In that case, you buy their

Just a taste 50% of this two-bedroom apartment in Hemel Hempstead, from Hightown Homes for £87,500

46 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Here’s just a sample of the kind of properties you could find as a resale...

50% of this one-bedroom apartment in Welwyn Garden City, from Moat for £77,500

‘It was extremely important to find a property close to my support network’.... ‘I did not want to live anywhere else’ Poppy Gray, 40, a personal assistant, recently purchased her first home, a shared ownership resale property at Whitehill Place in Virginia Water through Thames Valley Housing. Poppy bought a three-bedroom house with a private garden, for herself and her 17 month old daughter, Coco, close to local schools, amenities and Virginia Water station. For the previous three years, Poppy rented a small apartment close to her mother’s house. When her daughter Coco was born with a medical condition however, it became imperative to find a spacious and comfortable home to accommodate their changing needs. Poppy explains: ‘having already lived in Virginia Water and with my mother and sister in the area, I did not want to live anywhere else. However, my budget meant that I was not able to afford a large enough property in the area to cater for mine and Coco’s needs. It was only after my sister recommended that I look at a shared ownership development, that I made enquiries into whether I was eligible.’ Poppy continues, ‘I was under the impression that only new developments were available through shared ownership so thought I had missed the opportunity. It was explained to me that shared ownership is also available on resale homes and I found one available at Whitehill Place that suited our requirements. Everything moved fairly quickly after that and Thames Valley 35% plus a further 15% from the housing association. It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t, and your specialist financial advisor and solicitor will be ideally placed to advise you.

Selling up… When the time comes to sell up, you’ll find that your housing association and Help to Buy Agent will have a list of people who are all in the position you are in now – keen to buy and looking for an affordable home in the area. And you will have to give your housing association the opportunity to find you a buyer - they want to keep your home in shared ownership so more people can benefit

Housing Association was exceedingly understanding of my situation’. She adds: ‘Coco suffers from severe epilepsy and while her condition is improving, her physical and mental development is very much delayed. It was extremely important to find a property close to my support network, near St. Peter’s Hospital where Coco receives her treatment, and large enough to accommodate a carer should my daughter and I need extra support in the future. Without shared ownership I would not have been able to afford such a spacious property, in such a convenient location. I have only recently moved in and really look forward to settling in with Coco. I am very happy here!’ Poppy has bought a 50% share of a three-bedroom house, with a private garden and a parking space. Her monthly mortgage plus rent on the share Poppy doesn’t own come to £960 - lower than renting a similar property in the local area. in the future. But you’re unlucky and they don’t succeed, you’ll be able to go out to an estate agent. So, don’t restrict yourself to just looking at new properties – you could get more choice, more opportunities, and maybe a better fit for you and your family if you check out the resales too!

Get in touch If you want more information about the resale homes here, or any of the properties featured in homefocus, or you want more information about low cost home ownership in general, email us at julie@homefocusmagazine.co.uk or call us on 01622 772407.

30% of this three-bedroom apartment in Ashford, from Affinity Sutton for £56,999

25% of this one-bedroom apartment in London SE28, from Currells for £32,500

50% of this two-bedroom apartment in Hemel Hempstead, from Hightown Homes for £91,250

Get in touch...If you want more information about the resale homes here, or any of the properties featured in homefocus, or you want more information about low cost home ownership in general, email us at info@ homefocusmagazine.co.uk or call us on 01622 772407.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 47

homefocusCompetition

THE PERFECT COMBINATION More and more families are switching to steam cleaners, as they’re a quick, easy to use and effective way of cleaning almost any surface in your home. Steam mops are ideal for homes with hard floors because they’re so much less hassle than using a messy mop and bucket. They heat up in just seconds and leave your floors sparkling clean and germ-free.

To be in with a chance of winning, answer the following question:

The UK’s number one steam cleaner brand Vax has created a multifunction mop that offers a bit more than the average steamer.

The Vax Steam Fresh Combi multi-function steam cleaner has

The Steam Fresh Combi is brilliant at cleaning all types of hard floors, including tiles, lino, stone, sealed laminate and wood. Simply fill it up with water, add the environmentally friendly detergent and it heats up in just 15 seconds, providing up to 20 minutes of steam.

N I W A VAX STEAM FRESH COMBI MULTI-FUNCTION STEAM MOP 48 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

The steam and detergent work together to break down grease and grime, removing stubborn dried on stains, leaving your home smelling citrus fresh. As it kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria for up to 7 days, it keeps on protecting your floors long after you’ve finished cleaning too. The steam mop’s angular floor head reaches right into tight corners with a compact scrub brush to tackle stuck on dirt and stains. It even has a carpet glider attachment for refreshing your carpets and rugs.

A: 6 tools B: 8 tools C: 10 tools

How to enter: Email your answer, along with your name and address to comps@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and don’t forget to include ‘Vax’ in the subject line. The winner will be picked at random from correct replies. TERMS AND CONDITIONS • The closing date is 10th May 2014 • The Editor’s decision is final • No purchase necessary • There is no alternative cash prize • We accept no responsibility for entries not received

It’s so much more than just a steam mop though, as it also has a detachable handheld steamer with 10 different tools for cleaning your windows, mirrors, ovens, taps, tiles, grout and more besides! The Vax Steam Fresh Combi multi-function steam cleaner is available for RRP £199.99, but we’re giving two readers the chance to win one for themselves. For more information visit www.vax.co.uk.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 49

ASK THE EXPERTS

ExpertAdvice

‘I’d like to apply for shared ownership, but don’t I have to be a keyworker or live near the place I want?’ Asks Mike Henderson from Watford

This is a question that comes up time and time again. Our experts will tell you that shared ownership is available to far more people than you think. Melissa, Matt and Rosie’s story, as told on the opposite page confirms it. Can we help?

Got a question but don’t know anyone in the know? Send it to us at info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and we’ll put it to our panel of experts. Or maybe we’ll find someone who has personal experience that will answer your query. It could be a legal conundrum or a financial issue or a general question about low cost home ownership. We’ll do our best to find you the best advice.

50 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

HOUSING ASSOCIATION

LOCAL AUTHORITY

FIRST TIME BUYERS

Sharon Shaw

Chris Winfield

Melissa, Matt & Rosie

Assistant Director, Sales & Marketing, East Thames Group

Development Officer, Brent Council

Bought a shared ownership flat in another area

hared ownership is open to everyone who can meet the eligibility criteria and back in April 2011, the keyworker priority came to an end. Eligibility has always concentrated on income and housing need. You should apply if your household income is up to £60,000 a year (up to £66,000 in London and you need a 1 or 2 bed property. Or if you need a family sized home of 3 or more bedrooms in London, then your household income can be up to £80,000 a year). In all cases shared ownership is there to help those people who are unable to buy a suitable home for their needs on the open market. Of course, you cannot own any other property at the time you buy your shared ownership home and it is important that you are able to get a mortgage to pay for your share as well as being able to demonstrate that you can afford your monthly housing costs. There is a variety of low cost home ownership products offered by housing associations and some are specifically designed, for example, for people currently renting from a council or housing association or for older people. There is also a wide range of new and second hand homes for sale through housing associations on a shared ownership basis, so plenty of choice for everyone. Some housing developments are aimed at specific client groups that will be given a priority, but this will be clear from the promotional material provided by the association. Priority will always be given to potential buyers who live or work in the borough where the development is located. However, this doesn’t rule out anyone else wishing to register their interest in a particular property.

he short answer is that, nowadays, you don’t have to be a keyworker to take advantage of shared ownership. In the London Borough of Brent, we adhere to the list of priority groups of people set out by the scheme, being, in priority order: existing housing association and council tenants, and armed forces personnel; local priorities as determined by the Local Authority (which may vary from development to development) and other eligible buyers. The eligibility has been broadened by the scheme to be defined by income rather than narrow employment categories. Presently, local priorities for Brent have been identified as: people registered on the Council’s housing register for affordable rented accommodation, or who have submitted an application which is under assessment; those to whom the Council have accepted a duty to provide accommodation under the homelessness legislation, including those people placed in temporary accommodation; tenants who are in ‘Intermediate Rent’ properties; applicants who have a recognised disability; keyworkers; and people who live or work in Brent. Other eligible buyers include people living with parents or relatives; those living in private rented accommodation and those who need to move for work reasons. Where possible the Council likes to see a balanced profile of residents allocated to each scheme that reflect the diverse make-up of the Borough as a whole in terms of income, household composition, age, ethnicity, economic status and so forth. Properties not taken up by the priority groups listed are opened up to others across London after a few months. So any person who fulfils the income criteria may apply and we are also seeing people outside of these priorities being successful in obtaining a home through the scheme.

e had been living in a rented flat in Stoke Newington but space was becoming an issue after our daughter Rosie was born. One of our friends was buying through shared ownership and we decided that it was the only way to go. We received details from L&Q Group about a development in Chislehurst and thought it would be ideal. Due to local authority restrictions we were not initially eligible as we had no connection to the borough. Within a matter of weeks though, our luck changed and L&Q emailed to say that the restrictions had been lifted and we were now able to buy, subject to financial checks. We started investigating the area, timing the distances to the shops, the station and so on. We had decided: • it must be under one hour’s commute to central London (It’s 25mins to London Bridge). • there must be good schools for Rosie (There are several). • there must be plenty of parks & greenery. Bromley has the most parks of any London Borough). L&Q put us in touch with a mortgage broker who checked our finances to ensure we could afford the repayments. He arranged the mortgage for us and found a solicitor and L&Q kept us informed through all the stages and stopped us panicking. We were paying about £1350 an month in rent in Stoke Newington. We now pay about £1200 for the mortgage, rent and service charge. Even though the commuting costs are slightly higher we are still saving money and we own a slice of our own property. It has really helped our self- esteem owning our own property. There was a time where we thought we would never be able to do that, but shared ownership has made it a reality.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 51

OnTheMove

When you’re due to move there always seems like an endless list of things to do, people to inform, boxes to pack and things to organise, so here’s a helpful guide to make sure you don’t forget anything…

4 WEEKS BEFORE… n complete a change of address form at the Post Office to re-route mail (www.royalmail.com)

n inform magazine subscriptions and clubs of

your new address and moving date

n decide which items you’re keeping and which

you can chuck or donate to charity

2 WEEKS BEFORE… n discontinue regular services such as

newspapers, window cleaners etc

n arrange to have your satellite dish moved to

your new property if necessary

n arrange to discontinue your phone service

and broadband and have it installed at your new address

n arrange to transfer your TV licence to your new address (www.tvlicensing.co.uk/moving) n complete the relevant section on your car

registration document and licence and send them to the DVLA (more info at www.dvla.gov.uk)

n call your vehicle insurance to keep cover

valid. The price may change due to the new area, new parking arrangements and type of home you’re moving into

n notify water, gas and electricity suppliers to

have your services turned off at your present address

MOVING

n arrange for utility connections at your new home

Practical planning for moving day...

CHECKLIST PRACTICAL PLANNING FOR MOVING DAY Finally, after all the searching and dealing with mortgage advisors and solicitors, you’ve exchanged contracts and you have a day to move in! And then you get to thinking… ‘Who do I need to tell? What do I need to find out? What about moving all my stuff?’ Supposedly, moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do. But the actual process doesn’t have to leave you sitting up in bed at night, eyeballs out, panicking because you haven’t told the library your new address! So take a deep breath, make yourself a cup of tea and have a quick browse through our moving checklist. We’ve come up with all the people you generally need to inform about your move – if you have extra people we haven’t thought of, we hope you remember to tell them! Consider yourself reminded by homefocus…

Pack it in! It’s a fact of life that you ALWAYS have more ‘stuff’ than you ever believed possible! Now is

52 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

a good time to weed out things you don’t want any more – if you think you might be able to sell them put them all in a separate box marked ‘Sell’ so you don’t unpack it and put it all away again when you get to your new place! It goes without saying that you should use strong boxes – and don’t make them too heavy to lift! Use smaller boxes for books, photo albums and other heavy items or they might as well be bolted to the floor – and mark on top that they’re heavy to stop you doing yourself an injury when you try to pick them up. Label each box clearly with the contents and which room it’s to go in. Surprises are lovely, but unpacking nineteen boxes the day you move in just to find the TV remote is beyond the pale…

The Move First of all, have a look at how much you have in the way of possessions. If you’re in furnished rented accommodation, or live with family and aren’t taking much in the way of furniture it can be cheaper to move everything yourself. Just

enlist anyone you can find to help, particularly if they’ve got transport. A friend with a van is a very good friend indeed when you’re moving. If you don’t have this luxury, then renting a van is likely to work out cheaper than a removal firm. If you’ve got lots of furniture to move, then professional movers are essential. Look for ones that are members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) which has a code of practice that protects you and your possessions. Get at least three quotes and make sure your contents insurance covers moving – get it set up for your new place to cover it if need be. If you’ve got children or pets it can be less stressful to have them looked after by someone else on the day. Keep all the essentials (we’ve called it your ‘First Night Kit’) in one box and make sure you know where it is! If you make sure your bed is one of the first things you put together when you get to your new home you can just collapse on it, exhausted, at the end of the day – and leave all the unpacking until the next morning!

n contact your new local authority about

schools and colleges in the area

n notify schools, churches etc of your

impending move

n notify your own and research alternative

doctors, dentists in your area and liaise with your hospital if you’re undergoing any regular treatment

n check parking arrangements at your new

home and apply for permits if necessary

n get to know your new area and work out the

best routes to work and school. Check out www.upmystreet.com to find out more

1 WEEK BEFORE… n arrange to transfer bank and savings accounts

n tell credit and store card companies your

n finish up your frozen food supply or give it away

n pack! n find and label keys n send out change of address cards, text

new areas regarding council tax and electoral registration

n defrost and thoroughly clean the fridge and n Request packing materials from your

removals company, or buy some if you’re doing it yourself

n return things you’ve borrowed from friends n start to run down the contents of your freezer n arrange to transfer home insurance, or set

up new policies to begin the day you move in. Arrange transit insurance if necessary

n research car boot sales to get rid of stuff

you’re not taking with you

Friends and family Post Office Inland Revenue Schools and colleges Local councils House insurance company Electricity and gas suppliers Water and sewerage companies Telephone company Internet supplier Satellite/cable TV provider TV Licensing Banks and building societies Credit card/store cards Doctor Dentist Car insurance company DVLA Car breakdown company Library Milkman Newsagent/magazine subscriptions Sports and social clubs Church/place of worship Children’s clubs

messages and Facebook or MySpace alerts

1 DAY BEFORE…

friends, van rental etc

3 WEEKS BEFORE…

n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

n notify relevant authorities in your old and

n book removals company or arrange help from

new address

People to tell

freezer

n take down pictures, mirrors, non-essential

curtains and blinds

n disconnect your cooker, washing machine

and dishwasher

n confirm minders for children and pets

ON MOVING DAY… n make sure you personally take cash and

jewellery with you

n lock all windows and doors when you leave

If you’d like a copy of our moving checklist to print off and stick to the fridge, then e-mail us at info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and ask for one!

First night kit n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

Kettle Mugs, cutlery, plates, glasses Coffee, tea, milk, sugar, water Washing-up bowl and liquid Rubber gloves Map Vacuum cleaner/dustpan and brush Tea towels and cloths Toilet roll Bin liners Towels/soap/shampoo Lightbulbs Candles and matches Fuses Screwdriver Local takeaway menus! Bottle of champagne

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 53

ShowDiary

WhereNext

homefinder

FORTHCOMING

EVENTS

Your steps to making all the right moves… WHERE NOW?

Now you’ve read all about low cost home ownership (LCHO), and you want to know where to head next – we can help with that as well. Step 1 – Get registered If you want to buy and think you’re eligible (more about that on pages 6-9), you should register with your Local Help to Buy Agent. They’ll process your application so you don’t need to apply to every housing association. They also have a list of all the LCHO properties available in their area. In London, things are slightly different, but there’s still an LCHO online portal to get you started. Step 2 – Money matters Time to work out how much you can afford! Outside London, your Help to Buy Agent will undertake a basic financial check to make sure you’re eligible and work out what’s affordable for you. In London, your housing association will do this once you’ve found a home you like. Now’s the time to find out what mortgage you can get, too, so you don’t fall in love with a home that’s unaffordable. We recommend you go to a specialist financial advisor who understands LCHO inside out and will know the best mortgage product for you. You can find one on page 67 Step 3 – Home hunting This is the fun part! Take a look at some of the affordable homes around, including the ones we feature in our regional property sections from page 14 and our listings on pages 56-58. If you find one you love, go and have a look at it! Step 4 – Details, details Getting down to the nitty-gritty! At this point, whether you live in London or elsewhere, you’ll formally apply for your home through the housing association or developer, and a more detailed affordability check will work out what share you can afford. Step 5 – Check the small print If you decide to go ahead, you’ll need to get in touch with a specialist solicitor to help smooth the buying process. You can find a specialist on pages 66-67. Step 6 – Get moving This is the exciting part! Once you’ve bought your new home you can move in, safe in the knowledge that it won’t cost you every penny you earn to live there! The great thing about affordable home ownership is just that – it’s affordable. It’ll allow you to have a life as well as somewhere to live it from. Good luck!

LOOK FOR THE LOGO! For most of England, the government-backed schemes will have the Help to Buy logo - so wherever you see it, you’ll know that there are LCHO options available. In London you should look for the First Steps logo!

(to help you on your way to getting the keys…) We’ve colour-coded our developments sections on pages 14-33 and our homefinder property listings on pages 56-58, to make finding a property in your area even easier! The key is as follows:

n London n South East n East n South West n Midlands Your local HELP TO BUY AGENT will have a comprehensive list of LCHO properties in your area. LONDON www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps

SOUTH EAST www.helptobuy.net Kent, Sussex & Essex www.catalysthomebuy.org.uk Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire www.homesinhants.co.uk Hampshire

54 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Ideal Home Show 14-30 March 2014

Housing Finance Conference 19-20 March 2014

The National Homebuilding and Renovating Show NEC Birmingham 27th – 30th March

EMHomeBuys’ Affordable Home Ownership Road Show 7-11 April 2014 Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire & Northamptonshire Venues TBC Please contact EMHomeBuy for more information on 0844 892 0112 or email: emhomebuy@emha.org

First Steps Home Show Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 12 April 2014 10:00am until 5:00pm

Low Cost Home Ownership Conference 21 May 2014

www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk www.leavalleyhomes.co.uk Hertfordshire

SOUTH WEST www.southwesthomes.org.uk Devon, Cornwall, Avon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire

MIDLANDS www.emhomebuy.org.uk Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk West Midlands, Warwickshire, Hereford & Worcester, Shropshire, Staffordshire

Homefocus magazine doesn’t cover the north of England but if you go to helptobuy.org.uk you can find your local Help to Buy Agent

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Call homefocus on 01622 772407, e-mail info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

or Facebook us at www.facebook.com/homefocus

2014

EAST

REST OF THE COUNTRY

But don’t worry, wherever you are in the country, the information in homefocus is all relevant!

FIND OUT ABOUT EVENTS NEAR YOU!

HERE’S THE KEY

Can we help? Don’t forget you can contact homefocus if you’ve got a question about low cost home ownership or are interested in any of the properties we’ve featured. Just call us on 01622 772407 or e-mail us at info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help! Until the next issue of homefocus… happy homehunting!

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 55

PropertySearch

AFFORDABLE PROPERTIES

NEAR YOU!

HERE’S JUST A FEW OF THE HOMES IN YOUR AREA Location

Name of Development

No of Units

Type of Properties

Available From

Provider

EAST Help to Buy Agent: LEA VALLEY HOMES www.leavalleyhomes.co.uk Aylesbury Juniper Park, Berryfields Bushey Queens Acre Hemel Hempstead Aspen Park Hemel Hempstead Gade Place Hemel Hempstead Oatridge Gardens Hemel Hempstead Amberside Court Hemel Hempstead Basildon Court Hitchin Lavender Place St Albans Lime Tree Court St Albans Radley Court Stevenage Miller Way Stevenage Stephensons Mews Watford Nascot Grange Watford Warhol Court Watford Verdana Court Help to Buy Agent: ORBIT HOMEBUY www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk Bedford St Bede’s Independent Living Biggleswade Saxon Fields Biggleswade Saxon FIelds Brogborough Leeward Point Bury St Edmunds Vinefields Cambourne Spitfire Road Cringleford Aura, Round House Park Diss Frenze Hall Mews Dunton Boot Lane Everton Sandy Road Hadleigh Hadleigh Park Harlington Hillside Road Hoveton Meadow View Ipswich Scholars Quarter Norwich Rosary Point Papworth Everard The Ridgeway Sandy Sunderland Road Shefford Stanford Road Stotfold Beauchamp Mill Upper Caldecote Biggleswade Road

1 9 5 3 5 1 1 10 2 1 1 2 4 8 1

2 bed coach house 2 bed flats 2 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flat 2 bed flats, 3 bed house 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats 3 bed flats 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 bed flats 2 bed flats 2 bed flat

Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now

Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Origin Housing Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes

53 4 4 6 7 9 6 5 3 2 14 2 11 4 3 2 13 15 9 4

1 & 2 bed flats for the over 55’s 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses 3 bed house, 2 bed flats, c/house 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 bed houses 2 bed houses 1 & 2 bed house 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 bed flats 2 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses 1 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses & bungs. 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 bed house 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed bungalow

Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now End of 2014 August Now Now Summer Now Now Now 2014-2015 2013-2015 Now 2015

Orbit Homes Hightown Homes Hightown Homes Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Metropolitan Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Aragon Aragon Orbit Homes Aragon Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Metropolitan Aragon Aragon Hightown Homes Aragon

4 8 9 43 4 10 21 1 1 1 1 16 7 1 6 36 23 20 28

1 & 2 bed flats 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats & duplex 2 bed flat wheelchair accessible 1 bed flat 1 bed flat 1 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 3 bed flats 2 bed house 3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats, 3 & 4 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats

Summer October October Coming soon Summer Now Summer Summer Now Now Now Summer 2014 Spring Summer Spring Spring 2014 Now

Affinity Sutton Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Hyde New Homes East Thames Gateway Housing Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton L&Q Origin Housing Affinity Sutton East Thames Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton L&Q Origin Housing

LONDON Help to Buy Agent: FIRSTSTEPS www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps Barnet The Lexington Bexley Ratio Bexley Erith Park Bexleyheath Clock Tower Court Bow The View Bow The Courtyard Bromley The Ridge Bromley The Ridge Bromley Hardwick House Bromley Warwick House Bromley Brosse Way Bromley Rokewood Apartments Camden Twyman House Canning Town East City Point Chingford Mayfield Croydon Affinity Sutton at Saffron Square Ealing The Garden Court Apartments Elephant & Castle L&Q @ Trafalgar Place Enfield The Bloc

56 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Location

Name of Development

Help to Buy Agent: FIRSTSTEPS www.sharetobuy.com/firststeps Enfield St Paul’s Court Fitzrovia W1 Cleveland Street Gidea Park Dreywood Gardens Greenwich New Capital Quay Greenwich L&Q @ Greenwich Square Greenwich Halton Court Haringey/Tottenham River Heights Harold Wood Kings Park Harrow 74 High St, Wealdstone Harrow High St, Edgware Hornsey Rise Harrington Court Isle of Dogs Pier St Islington QN7 - Phase 2 Kensington The Baronets Kingston Affinity Sutton at Kingston Heights Kingston The Langley Apartments Kingston Carisbrooke House Lewisham The Aurora Apartments Lewisham Stafford House Lewisham Goldcrest House Leyton Cornwell Square Leyton Capworth Court Mitcham Lavender Gardens Paddington Basin Merchants Square Southwark Roseberry Street Southwark Old Kent Road Stepney So Stepney Stonebridge Spring Tower Bridge The Arc Walthamstow The Grangeway Walthamstow Abbots House Wandsworth Sesame Apartments Wandsworth Illumina @Wandsworth Village Wandsworth (Phase 2) Illumina @Wandsworth Village Wembley Elizabeth House Woolwich L&Q @ Woolwich Central

No of Units 11 14 4 10 88 20 11 74 12 15 14 10 30 9 18 8 1 32 1 29 32 83 16 10 14 13 4 27 15 15 27 7 7 19 21 60

Type of Properties

Available From

Provider

1, 2, 3 & 4 bed flats 1 bed flats 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 2 bed flats - for Over 55s 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 2 bed flats, 3 bed maisonettes 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats 2 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 & 4 bed houses 2, 3 & 4 bed flats 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats

2014 Summer Now Coming soon Now Now Now Now Now 2014 Autumn Now Now Summer Now Spring Now Spring Now 2014 Now Now Now Summer Now Now Now Coming soon 2014 Now Now Now Now Summer Now Now

L&Q Octavia Living East Thames Hyde New Homes L&Q Viridian Metropolitan East Thames Origin Housing Origin Housing L&Q Gateway Housing Newlon Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton L&Q L&Q L&Q L&Q Octavia Living Metropolitan L&Q East Thames Hyde New Homes L&Q L&Q L&Q Metropolitan Octavia Living Octavia Living Octavia Living L&Q

2 bed house & bungalows 3 bed houses 2 bed house 2 & 3 bed houses 3 bed houses 2 bed houses 2 bed houses & flats 2 bed flats 2 bed flats 2 bed flats 2 bed house 2 & 3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats, 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 2 & 3 bed house 3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 3 bed houses 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses

Now June Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now November Now Now - Autumn Now Now Now Now November Now

Hello Homes Raglan Housing Orbit Homes Hello Homes Raglan Housing Hello Homes Hello Homes Metropolitan Metropolitan Metropolitan Hello Homes Orbit Homes Metropolitan Orbit Homes Orbit Homes Hello Homes Metropolitan Raglan Housing Orbit Homes Raglan Housing

2 & 3 bed houses 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses, 2 bed maisonettes 2 & 4 bed houses

2015/16 Now Now Now

Orbit Homes Raglan Housing Orbit Homes Orbit Homes

MIDLANDS Help to Buy Agent: EM HOMEBUY www.emhomebuy.co.uk Breedon 4 Breedon on the Hill Burbage Brittania Road 3 Burton Latimer Glade Gardens 14 Hathern Terracotta Gardens 5 Hinckley Leicester Road 1 Husbands Bosworth Husbands Bosworth 2 Kegworth Citrus Grove 4 Leicester Leicester Square 11 Leicestershire Watermead 5 Lincoln Cherry Bank 1 Narborough Copt Oak Gardens 1 Northampton Chapel Lane, Blisworth 2 Northampton Upton Square 82 Northampton Booth Park 56 Northampton Queens Court 10 Northamptonshire Paling Close 5 Nottingham Southreef 4 Quorn Meynell Road 2 South Northants Chaplins Yard, Roade 10 Stoke Golding St Martins Convent 2 Help to Buy Agent: ORBIT HOMEBUY www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk Great Blakenham Blakenham Fields PH2 TBC Hockliffe Watling Street 2 Long Marston Beaufort Mead 29 Stratford-upon-Avon Brooklands @ Poppy Meadow 3

SOUTH EAST Help to Buy Agent: CATALYST www.catalysthomebuy.co.uk Bletchley Newton Leys Bracknell Forest The Parks Epsom Noble Park Milton Keynes Yorkshire Close Milton Keynes Felstead Reading Kennet House Reading Southern at Portman Square Reading The Cedars Redhill The Kilns Canalside

3 15 16 2 2 10 1 17 12

3 bed houses 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 3 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats,3 bed houses 1 & 2 bed flats

Now Summer Now Now Now June Now Coming Soon Coming Soon

Hightown Homes Affinity Sutton Orbit Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Raglan Housing Southern Housing Southern Housing Southern Housing

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 57

PropertySearch Location

homefinder East Name of Development

No of Units

Type of Properties

Available From

Provider

SOUTH EAST CONTINUED Help to Buy Agent: CATALYST www.catalysthomebuy.co.uk Tandridge Oakgrove Waverley Roberts Way Waverley Chilton Close Waverley The Cranes Help to Buy Agent: HOMES IN HANTS www.homesinhants.co.uk Aldershot The Orchards Aldershot The Orchards Basingstoke Waterlily Close Basingstoke Englefield Way East Cowes Isle of Wight Victoria Walk Eastleigh Hub Emsworth Redlands Grange Gosport Bligh House Lyndhurst Knightwood Lodge Newport, Isle of Wight Pan Meadows Porchester King Richards Place Portsmouth Priory View Southampton Bond Central Southampton The Cloisters Southampton Raleigh House Southampton Landguard Place Southampton Studland Road West End, Eastleigh Rosewood Mill Winchester Southside Embankment Woolston Centenary Quay Help to Buy Agent: MOAT www.helptobuy.net Ashford Meridian House Ashford Bramble Walk Bognor Regis Harrington House, Nyewood Lane Brentwood Casa Brighton Super B Brighton The Barrows Brighton St James Street Brighton Woodland View Brighton Coastal Place Brighton Alexandra Apartments Brighton Alexandra Apartments Brighton & Hove The Edge Bristol Maytrees Chichester Affinity Sutton at Graylingwell Park Chichester Middleton Gardens Chichester The Oaks, Forest Road Chichester Apple Treed Road Chichester Bishops Road Chichester Lloyd Road Chigwell Grange Manor Crawley Foundry Place Crawley Lampson Court Eastbourne The Ferns, Churchdale Road Gillingham South Shore Gravesend Clarendon Court Haywards Heath Chapman Way Haywards Heath Pilgrim Gardens Hellingly Roebuck Park Henfield Southern at Bysshop Meadow Horsham Gatehouse Horsham Kilnwood Vale Hove One Hove Park Hurstpierpoint Brewery Mews Maidstone Westborough Mews Maidstone Greenfields Margate Sandhurst Place Polegate Lynholm Road Rochester Summerson Close Whitstable Aurum Way

18 1 1 12

1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses 2 bed duplex 2 bed house 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses

Spring/Summer Now Now Summer

Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton

7 7 1 1 3 4 1 1 2 9 4 1 4 18 1 1 10 2 10 16

2 bed flat 1 bed flat 1 bed duplex 1 bed flat 2 bed houses 3 bed houses 3 bed houses 1 bed flat 1 bed flats 2 bed houses 3 bed houses 1 bed flat 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats, 2 & 3 bed houses 1 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 & 3 bed houses 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed house 1 & 2 bed flats

May May Now Now May Spring Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now

First Wessex First Wessex Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Spectrum Housing First Wessex First Wessex Affinity Sutton Raglan Housing Spectrum Housing First Wessex Affinity Sutton Hyde New Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton First Wessex Raglan Housing First Wessex Hyde New Homes Spectrum Housing

1 1 2 10 53 6 29 1 1 14 1 55 1 22 1 1 1 1 1 9 10 1 5 1 1 1 2 10 2 8 41 30 1 1 1 5 5 1 7

2 bed duplex 3 bed house 2 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 2 bed flats, 2 bed duplex 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1 bed flat 1 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats 2 bed flat wheelchair adaptable 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 2 bed flat 1 & 2 bed flats, 3 bed house 2 bed house 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 bed house 2 bed house 2 bed flats 2 & 3 bed house 2 bed flat 3 bed houses 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 bed flat 2 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 1 bed flats 1 & 2 bed flats 2 bed flats, 2, 3 & 4 bed houses 1, 2 & 3 bed flats 1 bed flat 3 bed house 1 bed flat 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 bed coach house 2 & 3 bed houses

Now Now Now Summer Coming soon Coming soon Coming soon Now Now Summer Summer Now Now Spring Now Now Now Now Now Summer Coming soon Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Now Coming Soon Coming soon Now Now Now Now Now Now Now

Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton East Thames Hyde New Homes Hyde New Homes Hyde New Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Southern Housing Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton East Thames Hyde New Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Hyde New Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Orbit Homes Southern Housing Southern Housing Southern Housing Hyde New Homes Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Affinity Sutton Orbit Homes Raglan Housing Affinity Sutton Orbit Homes

SOUTH WEST Help to Buy Agent:SOUTH WEST HOMES www.southwesthomes.org.uk Chard Great Western Road 4 Hamworthy Old School Place 5 Hooe Lake, Plymouth Reflections 5 Monkton Heathfield Monkton Heathfield 12 Newton Abbot South Devon Mews 1 Salisbury Vanners Court 1 Shaftesbury Melbury Grange 6 Sherborne Sherborne House 2 9 Throop Broadway Mews Weymouth Destiny Fields 4

2 & 3 bed houses 2 bed flats, 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 bed flat 3 bed house 3 & 4 bed houses 2 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses 2 & 3 bed houses

Now Summer Now TBC Now Now Now Now Summer May

Raglan Housing Spectrum Housing Spectrum Housing Raglan Housing Affinity Sutton Spectrum Housing Spectrum Housing Raglan Housing Spectrum Housing Raglan Housing

Interested in any of the properties listed? Call 01622 772407 or email the name of the property to property@homefocusmagazine.co.uk

58 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefinder home East

Beautiful Affordable New Homes Stunning new homes for outright sale, shared equity and shared ownership.

Get on the property ladder with

shared ownership from Hightown Homes

Call us: 01442 292381 Visit us: www.hightownhomes.com

Beautiful, Affordable New Homes Stunning new homes for outright sale, shared equity and shared ownership.

For more information, For more information call 02476 437 040 call 02476 437 040 or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk

A home of your own with Shared Ownership Bedfordshire, South Northants & Milton Keynes

Tel. 01525 844460

www.grandunionhousing.co.uk Grand Union Housing Group comprises: Aragon Housing Association, MacIntyre Housing Association and South Northants Homes

Don’t miss out...

Get the next 6 issues of homefocus delivered through your door Published every other month to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in shared and affordable home ownership Just £12.95 for the next 6 issues n The latest affordable developments in your region n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home n Advice on legal and mortgage matters from specialists n Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy, FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE; celebrity interviews, competitions and reader offers, jargon busters and homestyle articles To be sure of receiving the next 6 issues of homefocus, fill in the form and send your cheque* for £12.95 to: Graid Publications Ltd, Kent House, Romney Place, Maidstone, ME15 6LH

*Please ensure that your cheque is made payable to Graid Publications

Call us on 01622 772407 for our bank details and you can pay online

Name ______________________________ Address ____________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Postcode ___________________________ Phone number ______________________ Email address ______________________ ____________________________________ Signature ___________________________ Date _______________________________ Payment options: n I’d like to receive the next 6 copies of homefocus and my cheque is enclosed n I’d like to receive the next 6 issues of homefocus and would like to pay electronically. Please call me or email as above for me to make an electronic payment. Remember you can call us on 01622 772407 or email info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk for the info you need.

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 59

homefinder London

Providers of quality affordable homes

home homefinder London Get on the London property ladder with an Shared Ownership home

www.lqg roup.co.u k/pricedin

MEET YOUR PERFECT HOME FOR LESS Homematch is a new free service to help people buy or rent a good quality affordable home in London.

Telephone: 020 8709 4352 Fax: 020 8709 4400 Email: sales@gatewayhousing.org.uk www.gatewayhousing.org.uk

Call the sales team now

0800 058 2544

www.homematch.org.uk 0845 230 8099* homematchinfo@metropolitan.org.uk

409-413 Mile End Road London E3 4PB

*Calls charged at local rate, mobile operator charges will vary.

www.newlonhomeownership.org.uk

One application form | Hundreds of homes | Expert advice

NEWLON WELCOMES INTEREST FROM ALL FIRST TIME BUYERS EARNING UP TO £66,000 FOR ALL OF OUR ONE AND TWO BEDROOM HOMES

Affordable Hyde New Homes

FEELS GOOD WHEN YOU FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

Shared Ownership • Discounted Rent

Developing homes in London

Call our sales team now! Tel: 0845 606 1221 Email: info@hydenewhomes.co.uk www.hydenewhomes.co.uk Follow us on

OCTAVIAAFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP

and

020 8354 5601

We leave good advertising to the professionals.

Developing where people want to

06/02/2014 14:45

Viridian is now a major provider of shared ownership properties across leafy south west London, one of the most desirable areas for first time buyers.

Tel: 0800 012 1442

www.viridianhousing.org.uk

Here at the Advertising Standards Authority, we judge ads on whether they’re harmful, misleading, or offensive. Not on whether they’re funny, clever or they look good. Which is just as well, really. Telephone 020 7492 2222 www.asa.org.uk

0300 100 0303

for more information please call

Origin HF directory ad 12.8.11:Layout 1 12/8/11 14:57 www.octaviahousing.org.uk

LAQ_044_HomeFocus_91x61mm_v3.indd 1

Homes for sale on a shared ownership basis across London

3998 OH Home Focus Ad_V2.indd 1

email: sales@affinitysutton.com

10/02/2014 10:44

Call: 0800 068 8990 sales@originhousing.org.uk www.originsales.co.uk If you want to know more about your government funded housing options contact your Help to Buy Agent. You can find out more details by accessing

www.direct.gov.uk/ontheladder

affinitysutton.com

INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE PROPERTIES IN HOMEFOCUS? Call 01622 772407 or email the name of the property to info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

Keeping advertising standards high

60 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 61

homefinder South East

homefinder South East Get on the property ladder with

shared ownership

homefinder South East

from Hightown Homes

Call us: 01442 292381 Visit us: www.hightownhomes.com

Need a helping hand to get on the property ladder? Homes for sale on a shared ownership basis across the South East 0300 100 0303

affinitysutton.com email: sales@affinitysutton.com

Southern Housing Group Shared ownership opportunities in London

New Build Homebuy opportunities across the South East

sales@shgroup.org.uk | www.shgroup.org.uk Redlands Grange, Emsworth

sales@shgroup.org.uk | www.shgroup.org.uk

08456 12 12 71 08456 12 12 71

Affordable properties in various locations: Hampshire Wiltshire Dorset, Devon Isle of Wight

INTERESTED IN ANY OF THE PROPERTIES IN HOMEFOCUS? Call 01622 772407 or email the name of the property to info@homefocusmagazine.co.uk and we’ll do the rest. Remember to include your name.

Call Today 0800 316 3316 www.getmove-in.com

Don’t miss out... get the next 6 issues of homefocus delivered through your door

Published every other month to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in shared and affordable home ownership Just £12.95 for the next 6 issues n The latest affordable developments in your region n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home n Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy,

Beautiful Affordable New Homes

Beautiful, Affordable New Homes

Stunning new homes for outright sale, shared equity and shared ownership.

Affordable Hyde New Homes Shared Ownership • Discounted Rent Call our sales team now! Tel: 0845 606 1221 Email: info@hydenewhomes.co.uk www.hydenewhomes.co.uk Follow us on

For more information, For more information call 02476 437 040 call 01622 633 241 or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk

62 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

and

FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes n Advice on legal and mortgage matters from specialists PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE; celebrity interviews, competitions and reader offers, jargon busters and homestyle articles To be sure of receiving the next 6 issues of homefocus, fill in the form and send your cheque* for £12.95 to: Graid Publications Ltd, Kent House, Romney Place, Maidstone, ME15 6LH

*Please ensure that your cheque is made payable to Graid Publications Call us on 01622 772407 for our bank details and you can pay online

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 63

homefinder Midlands

homefinder South West Need a helping hand to get on the property ladder?

homefinder home Midlands Need Help to Buy?

Beautiful Affordable New Homes

We can give it to you!

home homefinder South West

www.emhomebuy.org.uk for properties in your area T 0844 892 0112 E emhomebuy@emha.org EMHomeBuy is run by East Midlands Housing Group.

Stunning new homes for outright sale, shared equity and shared ownership.

Beautiful, Affordable New Homes Stunning new homes for outright sale, shared equity and shared ownership.

Affordable properties in various locations: Hampshire Wiltshire Dorset, Devon Isle of Wight

Call Today 0800 316 3316 www.getmove-in.com

If you want to know more about your government funded housing options contact your Help to Buy Agent. You can find out more details by accessing

www.direct.gov.uk/ontheladder

For more information, For more information call 02476 437 040 call 02476 437 040 or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk

‘hello homes’ throughout the EAST MIDLANDS…

We leave good advertising to the professionals.

CITRUS GROVE, KEGWORTH 2 BEDROOM GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT 25% SHARE AVAILABLE FROM £27,312

TERRACOTTA GARDENS, HATHERN 3 BEDROOM TERRACED HOUSE 25% SHARE AVAILABLE FROM £37,500

Say ‘hello’ to our dedicated sales team on: 0844 892 2506 / hellohomes@emhgroup.org.uk Click: www.hellohomes.org.uk Part Buy / Part Rent / For Sale / For You… ‘hello homes’ is part of East Midlands Housing Group Limited.

If you want to know more about your government funded housing options contact your Local HomeBuy Agent. You can find out more details by accessing

www.direct.gov.uk/ontheladder

Telephone 020 7492 2222 www.asa.org.uk

Keeping advertising standards high

64 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 65

legal&financialadvice

homebuyers

GUIDE

Property Solicitors (formerly GTCLaw)

Residential Conveyancing Commercial Conveyancing Affordable Housing

Buying a new home requires essential legal and financial advice… contact a mortgage advisor or specialist solicitor

Established over 60 years, Wiseman Lee has a dedicated department dealing with all Homebuy schemes, Resales, Staircasing and all Housing Association Schemes. Please contact one of our team for further information, advice and a quote for costs and disbursements:

Housing Association Schemes

Janice Maskell 020 8215 1077 jmaskell@wiseman.co.uk

Staircasing

Debra Rose 020 8215 5040 drose@wiseman.co.uk

Gary Gillespie 020 8215 1062 ggillespie@wiseman.co.uk

Right to Buy

Ros Grant 020 8215 5041 rgrant@wiseman.co.uk

Lease Extensions

9-13 Cambridge Park Wanstead E11 2PU (opposite Wanstead Station on the Central Line)

Landlord & Tenant

Tel: 020 8215 1000

Personal Injury

Web: www.wiseman.co.uk

Family Law

HOMEBUY / STAIRCASING / RESALES

Wills and Probate

ALL HOUSING ASSOCIATION SCHEMES

T: 020 85096800 E: enquiries@clglaw.co.uk

RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCING

Don’t miss out...

Get the next 6 issues of homefocus delivered through your door

• Shared Ownership • Shared Equity

Put your conveyancing in experienced hands

• First Buy • Resales • Staircasing • Right to Acquire Prince Evans has over 25 years experience in all types of housing association and private developer schemes. Our Specialist Team is ready to help you buy your new home.

ß Shared Ownership purchases ß FirstBuy ß Social HomeBuy ß Right to Buy ß Right to Acquire ß Staircasing ß Shared Ownership resales ß Equity Loan redemption/remortgaging

www.directionlaw.co.uk

Visit www.free-conveyancing-guide.co.uk to receive your FREE Guide to Conveyancing.

66 homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014

Just £12.95 for the next 6 issues n The latest affordable developments in your region n Who to ask and where to find an affordable home n Advice on legal and mortgage matters from specialists n Information about shared ownership, New Build HomeBuy, FirstBuy, and all low cost home ownership schemes PLUS MUCH, MUCH MORE; celebrity interviews, competitions and reader offers, jargon busters and homestyle articles To be sure of receiving the next 6 issues of homefocus, fill in the form and send your cheque* for £12.95 to: Graid Publications Ltd, Kent House, Romney Place, Maidstone, ME15 6LH

*Please ensure that your cheque is made Contact us for a friendly, no obligation quote:

Please contact our solicitors; Kerry Hicks, Sophie Treszka, Dorothy Johnstone or Rachel Turner on 020 8567 3477, or email khicks@prince-evans.co.uk

HomeFocus ad-Shared Ownership_April13.indd 1

Published every other month to keep you up to date with the latest opportunities in shared and affordable home ownership

London Office: 020 7158 0031 Kent Office: 01227 812733 enquiries@directionlaw.co.uk

10/04/2013 17:00

payable to Graid Publications

Call us on 01622 772407 for our bank details and you can pay online

homefocus • MARCH/APRIL 2014 67

Renting

SHOULDn’t

MeAn pAcking Up

eveRy yeAR Sometimes it feels like you’ve hardly moved in before you have to find a new home to rent. And having to move out at the end of your tenancy, especially when you don’t want to, can be a big drain on your time and on your pocket.

Renting from Genesis is different. When you rent from us, you can rent for longer if you want to. On most of our properties we offer rental tenancies for 1, 2, 3, 4 or even 5 years, giving you peace of mind and security. Our rental properties are different too. They’re new or well-maintained apartments featuring contemporary bathrooms and kitchens and a great specification. They come with a host of quality white goods as standard and if you need furniture, we can provide a range of great options. We have a fantastic, but limited amount of properties available for rent at our iconic Stratford Halo development in east London, just minutes from the Olympic Stadium and Westfield shopping centre. Call us today to book a viewing.

0800 280 0904

genesishahomes.org.uk/for-rent