Editor-in-Chief SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk
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Creative Director RYAN BEAL
Sub Editor KAY HILL
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Contributors
CHRIS CLARK, NATALIE DANIELS, KAY HILL, STEVE HIRD, SOPHIE MUNNERY, LAURA DEAN-OSGOOD, SEBASTIAN PAULO, CORALIE PHELAN, GINETTA VEDRICKAS, STEPHEN WARD, KATIE WRIGHT
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Director of Advertising/Exhibition Sales LYNDA CLARK lynda@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk
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– National Home Buying Week
– First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards katie@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk
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The content of this publication, either in whole or in part, may not be reproduced, stored in a data retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission from the publishers. Opinions expressed in First Time Buyer magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.
The country has decided and we now have a new Government. It has been a very interesting couple of months, but Labour won the election and I am optimistic about the changes that they will bring to a tough housing market. Labour’s plans to address the housing crisis through an accelerated housebuilding programme will lead to better housing options for buyers, and first time buyers will be supported by the extended mortgage guarantee scheme. We will see how it all pans out and I really hope that housing is high on the agenda as sadly it seems to have been overlooked in the past – I am positive and look forward to the future when we can get more and more first time buyers on to the property ladder.
Voting for our FTB Readers’ Awards 2024 is in full swing. There is still plenty of time to cast your votes and you will find the shortlist on pages 87-107 so please take a moment to go to ftbawards.com – thank you.
We are now, more than ever before, aware that we have to try to lead a sustainable lifestyle. This is very important when it comes to building new homes too, and they will also save you money in the long run. Do turn to pages 22-26 where we explain what is being done and highlight some excellent homes with green credentials.
I hope you enjoy this bumper issue, which is packed with information, and if you are struggling to understand how the homebuying process works, then I am sure you will find the answers to your questions inside.
Until next time, happy house hunting
@firsttimebuyermag
firsttimebuyeronline
EDITOR’S PICKS…
We’ve already spent some time with a mortgage broker to arrange our Mortgage in Principle. Anna Walker, House Hunter, page 14
Even if you think you have a style in mind, view as many different homes as you can.
Sam Jones, 20 Questions, page 138
Carbon cutting can be both good for the environment and good for the pocket.
Marcus Evans, The ultimate guide to heat pumps, page 120
If it is within your grasp, go for it as you will never regret it.
David Moore, At home with, page 12
Have fun with accessories and look around the high street for some budgetfriendly pieces. Pandora Taylor, Show Stopper! page 33
What’s in…
42 Autumnal vibes? Six tips for seasonal styling
Steve Hird, Director and CoFounder of Edward Thomas Interiors shares six simple styling tips to swap spring/summer chic for autumn/winter comforts.
HOMEPAGE
8 FTB Loves...
Enjoy the great outdoors with our choice of lovely glamping essentials to make the most of the summer days.
10 Living
The soothing colour of the sea and sky – our round-up of all things blue and beautiful, a favourite for your home interiors.
12 At home with:
David Moore
David Moore is the founder and owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Pied à Terre in London’s Fitzrovia. A regular on TV and radio, including The Restaurant
with Raymond Blanc for BBC2 and Masterchef the Professionals, he talks to Lynda Clark about his fascinating career, his rst and current homes and has some great advice for rst time buyers.
14 House Hunter
We go on the hunt with Anna Walker and Marcus Bellingham who are on the look out for their rst home in and around Lewisham, south east London.
16 Developer’s doctor
Olubukola Abiiba, the Head of Leasehold Sales Services at Newlon Housing Trust, answers your property question.
Show Stopper!
Award-winning interior designer Pandora Taylor has just unveiled the exciting new one bedroom show home at Peabody New Homes’ The Auria, in Notting Hill. Lynda Clark discovers where her inspiration comes from and she gives some excellent advice to rst time buyers on how to furnish your rst home.
FEATURED
18 The View: Olivia Bowen
Olivia Bowen is well-known for coming second on Love Island in 2016 with her now-husband, Alex Bowen. She is passionate about property and interiors and has over 750,000 followers on her @thebowenhome Instagram. Lynda Clark speak to Olivia again to nd out what she has been doing since we last spoke to her.
22 Why rst time buyers should consider buying more sustainably with a new build home
looks at how we can create a zero carbon future.
We are all becoming more eco-conscious, and buying a new build property, which is energy ef cient and includes smart technology, means cheaper bills. Natalie Daniels
28 Wish you were here
Postcards from some beautiful Northern cities and towns highlight the best places to consider buying your rst home. Laura Dean-Osgood goes on a whistlestop tour of the North and picks out some great developments too.
CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE
IT CAN BE STRESSFUL BUT TRY TO ENJOY IT AS THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN OWNING YOUR HOME
Olivia Bowen
REGULARS
87 First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards – time to vote!
58 & 74 Hotspot
We look at Hastings and White City as places to live.
60 Read on...
ownership home. Sebastian Paulo, Director & Head of Staircasing at Owen Paulo, explains how staircasing works.
118 Finance
Kay Hill offers hints and tips for keeping removal costs down.
120 Market
Now is the perfect time to sit and relax in the sunshine with a good book. Lynda Clark talks to author Alex Dahl, who has written six exciting novels and has a couple of TV series adapted from her books in the pipeline.
110 First home, rst meal
Heat pumps have long been touted as the answer to the climate crisis, but is the roll-out programme going to plan? Ginetta Vedrickas looks at the current situation.
122 Agony Agent
All your property questions answered by our panel of experts.
109 Competition
Win a selection of Morphy Richards kitchen appliances worth over £400
Theo Michaels, chef, presenter and award-winning author, creates a delicious recipe for Cypriot Lamb Shanks in a Sticky Sauce, perfect for all the family.
111 Know how
We all try to live a sustainable life, buying used, recycling household waste and using re lls where we can. Big companies are helping by offering schemes and initiatives allowing the customer an opportunity to save with a discount on their products. We discover what is on offer.
112 The lowdown on fees
125 Buyer’s Guide
Check out FTB’s Buyer’s Guide, which walks you through the property buying process.
130 Common questions from a rst time buyer about conveyancing
Coralie Phelan, Partner and Head of Resales and Staircasing at Prince Evans Solicitors LLP, looks as the common questions asked by rst time buyers during the conveyancing process.
132 Directory
Stephen Ward, Director of Strategy and External Relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, explains what fees are involved in the conveyancing process when buying your rst home.
114 Staircasing in a Shared Ownership Lease!
Staircasing is the process of buying more shares in your shared
Check which scheme is right for you, plus some useful contacts.
138 20 Questions
We ask 20 quick- re questions to a property expert and in this issue Sam Jones, Client Account Manager at Edward Thomas Interiors, is in the spotlight.
I am a first time buyer and there’s lots of advice out there about what to do when looking to buy your first home. Do you have any advice for things not to do?
Michela James
FTB says: There are most definitely things you should not do when looking to buy your first home. These include making hasty decisions and getting over excited, so you should always keep your options open until you are completely happy. Don’t look above your budget, as this will only lead to disappointment, and don’t end up not saving enough for hidden costs (and there can be quite a few of them). And finally, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and try not to go through the process alone, as every bit of support will make it all that little bit easier.
This issue’s star letter prize wins a copy of Cypriana, the latest recipe book from celebrity chef Theo Michaels, featuring over 80 vibrant recipes inspired by the traditional cooking of Greece and Cyprus. Presenting a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, the delicious recipes are organised into chapters entitled Meze, Sea, Land, Fire and Sundowners, evoking a Greek way of life. Cypriana by Theo Michaels, published by Ryland Peters & Small (£22)
Turn to page 110 for one of Theo’s delicious recipes for Cypriot Lamb Shanks in a Sticky Sauce!
DECISION IN PRINCIPLE
After enquiring about a property I liked and putting an offer in, I was told that I need a Decision in Principle to go any further. What is this and how do I get one?
Oliver Ford
FTB says: Obtaining a Decision in Principle (DIP) shows all parties that you are a serious buyer. This is the first stage of the mortgage application process. At this point, you
WRITE TO US!
Please send us your questions, comments and suggestions concerning property, or the articles in First Time Buyer magazine.
lynda@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk
BAD CREDIT
I recently applied for a mortgage but was rejected due to a poor credit rating. Do you have any advice on improving my score and how long it might take? I have fairly large credit card debt and have been making minimum payments to save for my deposit. I also had a couple of missed payments three or four years ago, which likely impacted my credit score.
Fiona Gray
FTB says: Firstly, obtain a copy of your full credit report to identify any issues. There are a number of ways of doing this online. To improve your credit score, reduce your debt utilisation – for example, £4,000 on a £5,000 limit uses 80% of your credit, which can really impact your score. Lowering this percentage, either by increasing your credit limit or paying the balance, can help. Also, ensure all bill payments are made on time. Setting up direct debits can prevent missed payments, which stay on your credit file for six years. If you find errors on your report, you can appeal to have them removed, but always seek professional financial advice before making significant changes. Specialist mortgage lenders work with clients who have imperfect credit scores, and a whole-of-market broker is best suited to find the right lender for your situation.
WHICH MORTGAGE BROKER?
will need to provide basic information to a lender, who gives a preliminary decision on your mortgage application, after conducting a credit check. Getting a DIP is straightforward; you just need to contact a reputable broker who can help you. After the DIP is secured, the broker will provide a certificate from the lender indicating its willingness to move forward with a full application. You should then be good to go.
I’m a first time buyer seeking help with a mortgage. I’m waiting to see how mortgage rates and house prices change this year, but I’m eager to research my options. Should I speak to a local mortgage broker or find a specialist for first time buyers? How do I choose a broker?
Adam Reddison
FTB says: Finding a mortgage broker will help you secure the best rate, and we advise first time buyers to talk to an independent mortgage adviser before starting their search. You can get recommendations from family, an estate agent, or look online. Estate agents often refer
clients to in-branch advisers or trusted local companies. You can approach your bank to speak with its mortgage adviser, but keep in mind they only offer the bank’s products. It’s best to choose a whole-of-market broker, who can access rates from high street and specialist lenders. Check reviews on sites like Trustpilot to see what previous clients thought. For advice on savings, your bank can guide you on interest rates for savings accounts to determine the best place for your money.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
For everything you need to know about buying for the rst time, go to rsttimebuyermag.com
ALL THE GEAR… GREAT IDEA!
Grab your tent because this summer it’s time for a staycation in the great outdoors! With the cost of holidays on the rise, the number of people deciding to holiday at home is growing year upon year, and spending time in the beautiful English countryside has a number of benefits, minus the backache! FTB has rounded up our favourite glamping essentials to make your staycation one to remember
In atable lounger, £77.82, Camping Boutique, campingboutique.co.uk
Boho Garden 12 ag bunting, £3.50, B&M, bmstores.co.uk
INTO THE DEEP
Dive into the soothing world of blue interiors and discover how to bring the tranquillity of the sea into your home. Whether you’re looking to create a breezy beach house vibe or a sophisticated retreat, our guide to all things blue will inspire you to transform your living space into a serene seaside sanctuary
Cotton Candy votive candle, £5, George Home
Plant table, £14.99, Homesense Homesense
Lobster cushion, £12, George Home
Outdoor/indoor washable rug, £40, George Home
Crab plate, £3, Dunelm
Candle holders, £16, Dunelm
Beach towel, £9.99, H&M Home
Glass jug, £19.99, H&M Home
Portable barbecue, £79.95, Annabel James
Deck chair, £29.99, Homesense
Outdoor tablecloth, £12.99,
» Annabel James annabeljames.co.uk » B&M bmstore.co.uk
» Dunelm dunelm.com » George Home direct.asda.com
» H&M Home hm.com » Homesense homesense.com
» Wayfair wayfair.co.uk
Decorated glass set, £13, Homesense
Scallop cushion, £10, George Home
Food cover, £10, B&M
Mug, £7, Dunelm
Lobster double oven glove, £10, Dunelm
Compact bedside table, £79, Dunelm
Pouffe, £49, Dunelm
Plant pot, £22, Dunelm
Green mushroom two light table lamp, £45, Dunelm
Woodwick oud and Italian bergamot candle, £10, Dunelm
Beach bag, £12.99, H&M Home
12 Piece dinner set, £46.99, Wayfair
At home with: David Moore
“THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A SENSE OF HOME AND GETTING YOUR NAME ON THE TITLE DEEDS”
David Moore is the founder and owner of Michelin-starred restaurant Pied à Terre, in London’s Fitzrovia. With a lifelong career in the hospitality industry, his 42 years of experience include the retention of a Michelin star for 31 years, which is the longest any restaurant has held it. He is regularly on TV and radio including The Restaurant with Raymond Blanc for BBC2 and Masterchef the Professionals. He talks to Lynda Clark about his fascinating career, his first and current home and has some great advice for first time buyers
FTB: Tell us about your first step on the property ladder
DM: I worked at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for six years and I rented for three years and then decided to buy. It was in the late 80s and property prices had really taken off, so it seemed to make sense to buy somewhere. I bought a two bedroom apartment in Abingdon for £64,000. Then, in 1991 I opened my restaurant, Pied à Terre, in London and there was a big hike in interest rates and I was marooned with the apartment. I held on to it for five years and rented it out very successfully. Eventually I got engaged to Val, now my wife, and I decided to start afresh and paid off the negative equity and walked away.
FTB: Tell us about your current home?
DM: I got married in 1998 and we lived above the restaurant while we saved for a deposit. It was tough living there, but after about a year we had enough money, together with the help of family. The restaurant is in Fitzrovia, so we drew a circle round the area where it would only take 20 minutes to walk to work. We eventually found a one bedroom apartment, which was in the right area, but it was too small. The estate agent told us that a new show home had just opened and asked if we would like to take a look. We knew it would be outside of our budget and Val decided not to go in. But when I saw it I loved it, as it had beautiful large windows, a conservatory on the roof terrace, and two good-sized bedrooms. I knew we had to buy it, and decided to go and have a chat with the
bank manager. I didn’t tell Val about my plan as I wasn’t sure if it would all work out. At that time, a good friend, restaurateur Conrad Gallagher, came over from Ireland for a visit. I told him about the situation and he said, “I have opened four restaurants this year which I couldn’t afford, but just do it!” When it came to getting a mortgage it was different times back then and I had some telephone calls with the bank manager and after a few questions he agreed to help. We got married in May 1998 and on return from our honeymoon in June 1998 we moved into our new apartment in Bloomsbury, an 18-minute walk to the restaurant.
We are in a block of eight apartments, all with the same footprint over each floor – our neighbours above us were in the music business. It was quite normal to have celebrities walking in and out, but they could be very noisy, especially late at night. I spoke with our neighbour asking to have first refusal if they ever sold.
So, in 2004 we bought the place upstairs and then decided to knock both apartments into one! If we sold and moved to a bigger place we would have a major Stamp Duty implication. It was a huge building job and we had to move out for the summer while it was being done. Luckily, Val and my two daughters always spent the summer at our mobile home in Ireland, so they were away. It was a very difficult time, the build was to be finished by the first week of September but they eventually handed over on Christmas Eve, but we now have a four bedroom home with a roof terrace, which we love, but actually we are now thinking we should embark on another project!
When Covid ended, we visited Margate and have had a love affair with the town since, having bought an apartment with a beautiful sea view. Sadly, we had to let the mobile home in Ireland go.
FTB: Tell us about your career?
DM: I always wanted to be a chef and I got a job when I was 17 in a hotel in Blackpool cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner. It made me realise that it just wasn’t for me, so I decided to go to college and study Hotel Catering. During my work experience I got a job for 26 weeks at The Box Tree and I really caught the bug and loved it! I then saw an ad in The Caterer magazine for an Assistant Head Waiter at Le Manoir and decided to apply for it. I was still living in Blackpool and a friend came with me to the interview and shared the petrol costs. I decided that we should have lunch there first, which was pretty expensive at £17.50, especially when I was only earning £25 a week. Looking back I was so cheeky as I called the head waiter over and said I would like to invite the person who was interviewing me to join me at my table. I
“WHEN I SAW IT I LOVED IT, AS IT HAD BEAUTIFUL LARGE WINDOWS, A CONSERVATORY ON THE ROOF TERRACE AND TWO GOOD-SIZED BEDROOMS”
did get a job there but not the one which I applied for as I wasn’t qualified enough, but as a Chef de Rang (station waiter) and the promise I would get promoted in a year. I had no idea what the salary was until I opened my pay packet and found there was enough for me to live on, which was a relief.
FTB: Tell us about your restaurant Pied à Terre?
DM: I left Le Manoir in November 1991 and opened my restaurant in December 1991. It was a plan I had been working on for three years. I had to find investors and had lots of contacts so I wrote letters to them every three months to see if they were still interested in investing. Raymond Blanc was very helpful and joined the Board of Directors, and also brought in some investors too. One of them was a lawyer who was slightly older and he contacted me to say he had found an Indian restaurant in Charlotte Street that might make the perfect premises. I went along and saw masses of potential and a great location. Still there 34 years later, we are London’s longestrunning Michelin-starred restaurant, which is quite something.
FTB: You are also involved in many other different projects, tell us about them?
DM: I am a trustee of Cockpit Studios, which is an award-winning social enterprise that supports 160 independent craft makers
and businesses. I am an ambassador/ speaker for “Speakers for Schools”, visiting schools to talk about hospitality and to paint a picture of the possibilities in our industry. I’m collaborating with New Horizon Youth Centre, a charity that supports young people who are homeless or unsafe in London, supporting and offering work experience opportunities were we can.
This last winter saw me helping my daughter cook at a women’s refuge, while she was studying for A-levels at St Cuthbert’s in Earls Court. We served up dinner to 40 or 50 homeless women every Monday evening for the coldest five months. My daughter is passionate about this and we enjoy our time together there.
FTB: What are your plans for the future?
DM: We have a new Head Chef, Phil Kearsey, who is amazing, and our aim is to get our second Michelin star back.
FTB: What advice do you have for first time buyers?
DM: Just do it! There is nothing like a sense of home and getting your name on the title deeds. If it is within your grasp, go for it as you will never regret it.
pied-a-terre.co.uk
@david_pied
@piedaterrerestaurant speakersforschools.org
The HOUSE HUNTER
This month FTB goes on the hunt with Anna Walker and Marcus Bellingham who are looking for a one bedroom apartment in or around the area of Lewisham, south east London
Names Anna Walker, 37, Marcus Bellingham, 38 Occupations Team administrator, policy adviser
Maximum budget £200,000
Requirements A one bedroom apartment in or close to Lewisham, with some outside space, a community feel, good access to public transport links and shopping facilities
What they wanted…
Marcus and I are both from south London originally and – apart from us both moving away to attend our respective universities – neither of us has moved very far. We love living in London and have seen our local areas such as Lewisham, Peckham and Brockley really ourish in the last few years. There’s such a good, young vibe in the area and we have family fairly close by in both south east London and in Kent, which is really easy to get to by train or car. I work at Lewisham hospital, while Marcus works hybrid at his of ces in Victoria. We’ve been renting for years but really would love to nally get our own place. We’ve seen lots of our friends buy ats and houses in the area and we feel like now it’s our turn. We’ve been saving as much as is possible – which is tough when rents are so high – and we nally have a deposit of £30,000.”
What we found…
THE LEAFY LOCALE THE WILDCARD
Excalibur Catford, south east London
The Quarry Erith, south east London
Set in a leafy, residential area in blossoming Catford, these new one and two bedroom homes enjoy an envied location. There are green spaces and shops within a 10-minute walk, while Catford town centre and a choice of four stations are around 20 minutes on foot or a short bike ride away. Residents have a fantastic area to explore, including popular Ladywell Fields and Hither Green. The contemporary apartments feature open-plan living spaces, private balconies, utility room and built-in wardrobe. Parking and cycle storage are also available.
lqhomes.com
*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £316,000
This popular eco-friendly development is breathing life into the Erith Quarry site. Homes range from one and two bedroom apartments to three bedroom terraced houses. The houses are arranged over three storeys, with an open-plan kitchen and dining area downstairs, and three bedrooms and a living room on the top two oors. There are fantastic local facilities, including gyms, shops and parks. From Erith station, a 10-minute walk, trains to London Bridge take under 40 minutes. The River Thames is around a 15-minute stroll away.
lqhomes.com
What they thought…
What a lovely, green area these homes are in. It’s so pretty around this way, and it’s nice that this development is set slightly away from the town centre, as it means you’re really going to be able to escape city life. It’s still very well connected, too, with so many public transport options, which is great. I’d probably choose to cycle to work from here, as it would only take about 10 minutes. We really do like Catford and have friends in the immediate area, so living around here would certainly be plenty of fun.”
*Shared ownership available
This area takes us closer to some of Marcus’ relatives in Dartford, so that would be a positive. It’s a little further out than Lewisham, but the train connections are impressive. What we do like is the proximity to the Thames. We both love spending time on river walks, so being so close would be a dream come true and I know my friends would love to come and explore the area. The properties are really stylish – we adore the sleek kitchens and bathrooms, and it’s great that there are on-site sports facilities, perfect for outdoor workouts.”
THE LAID-BACK LIFESTYLETHE NEW COMMUNITY
Southmere Thamesmead, south east London
Kidbrooke Square Kidbrooke, south east London
Set alongside a lake with a pretty outlook, residents at Southmere enjoy a taste of laid-back living. The development is already very popular, and a new phase of shared ownership properties is in the works. The site will eventually be home to more than 500 properties, including one, two and three bedroom apartments. With a range of on-site amenities, everything you could need is on the doorstep. Inside, homes have an open-plan living area opening to a balcony or terrace. The Elizabeth Line at nearby Abbey Wood offers great connections.
peabodynewhomes.co.uk
This truly is a stunning location – and the on-site facilities are a real draw for us, too. There are new shops and restaurants as well as a brand new gym, which is pretty exciting. The homes here are stylish and well designed, with plenty of natural light –ideal for when we are working from home. The development is well positioned in terms of getting to work and visiting family, and the whole area near Abbey Wood is being regenerated, so we’re really looking forward to seeing what happens here in the future.”
These new homes are positioned opposite Kidbrooke Village – an area that has bene ted from regeneration and features brand new shops, local amenities and an award-winning park. The studio, one and two bedroom homes here are sleek and contemporary, with thoughtfully designed living spaces – which lead to private outside spaces – along with stylish, neutral decor. Blackheath and world-famous Greenwich are comfortably close, while Kidbrooke railway station is seconds from the front door, for trains to London Bridge in 15 minutes.
nhghomes.com
We hadn’t thought about Kidbrooke, but we’d de nitely consider it. It’s close to some of the places we love to spend time at, including Greenwich Park and Blackheath. The Kent countryside is on the doorstep, too, so it would be easy to visit family as well as getting into town. Getting to work from the nearby station would be simple for both of us. The properties are lovely. We really like the kitchens, with great open-plan living areas, which are super sleek! Cator Park is on the doorstep and would be perfect for enjoying the sun.”
First choice!
THE
ONE WITH IT ALL
Square Roots at Riverside Quarter Lewisham, south east London
This superbly located collection of one to three bedroom apartments sits within the popular Riverside Quarter development. The 131 new properties lie within easy reach of a multitude of everyday amenities, including an extensive high street, supermarkets, cafes, railway stations, good schools, and health and tness facilities. The development itself features landscaped gardens, a communal roof terrace, play areas and retail space. Inside, the apartments are ooded with natural light via the oor-to-ceiling windows, and feature private balconies accessible from the bright, open-plan living spaces.
squareroots.co.uk
“We are so excited about the idea of living at Square Roots, it really does have the right mix of everything for us. We’ve already spent some time with a mortgage broker to arrange our Mortgage in Principle, as well as registering with Square Roots, so we’re all ready to go once we get the go ahead!”
There’s not a single thing we don’t like about this development: it ticks every one of our propertysearching boxes. The location is excellent for both of us –I’ll be able to walk to work from here, while Marcus’ commute will be so easy, as Lewisham station is only a seven-minute walk away. The apartments are so stylish and we’d certainly be proud homeowners. We’re really keen on the shared outside areas and imagine they provide a great chance to enjoy the outdoors and get to know the new neighbours. This is also such a great spot for getting around to some of our favourite areas such as New Cross and Peckham, and one of the highlights for us is that the train into London Victoria only takes 23 minutes, so it’s so easy to get into town for work and nights out!”
THE NEXT STEP
Olubukola Abiiba is the Head of Leasehold Sales Services at Newlon Housing Trust. A specialist residential conveyancer and chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), Olu has accumulated an impressive 16 years’ experience in leasehold sales transactions. She has a strong passion for delivering quality services for existing homeowners and meeting the aspirations of first time buyers through following best practice, regulatory and statutory requirements, combined with a commitment for prompt communication and a helpful approach
QWe are a couple in our early 30s planning to start a family. We have found a lovely two bedroom shared ownership resale apartment in our local area and have been offered the property. Our vendor has a related purchase and as first time buyers we don’t know what this means for us. How long can we expect the process to take?
AThe process can vary and is dependent on a number of factors. Once you have confirmed acceptance of the offer you will be required to instruct solicitors to act on your behalf and will be issued a Memorandum of Sale (MoS). This MoS confirms the agreement of sale between you and the vendor; it summarises the details of your purchase and effectively kick-starts the conveyancing process. This is the legal process that transfers the ownership of a property from one person to another and sets out when the vendor begins to plan their move to another property, allowing enough time for you to give notice to terminate your tenancy.
You should at this stage work together with your mortgage adviser to arrange a mortgage valuation. Simultaneously, your solicitor will be reviewing draft documents and carrying out property searches. These searches are necessary as they may highlight issues you need to be aware of before you take ownership of your new home.
An important part of the process is for the housing association to reply to enquiries raised by your solicitor. There is no set number of enquiries that can be raised, they are usually questions focused on the property itself, such as service charge, buildings insurance, fire safety, and restrictions on title, to ensure that a buyer has a full picture of the property they intend to purchase. Mortgage lenders can also have varying requirements and your solicitor will be obliged to obtain satisfactory responses to satisfy the lender before mortgage funds are released, as it needs assurance that the home it is lending on can be considered a good risk.
At Newlon, our leasehold sales team works
to ensure the process runs smoothly, however, it is important to be aware that collating and exchanging information between solicitors can take some time. In your case, where your vendor also has a related purchase, it can have a significant impact on how long it will take to complete the process, as the vendor may require funds from the sale of their property, with solicitors arranging to complete transactions simultaneously. Generally, the length of time between the MoS and completion can typically take anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks.
The great thing about choosing to buy a resale shared ownership property is that it gives you the opportunity to speak to the vendor and ask questions. You also have the chance to see how they have used the living
space for their furniture and understand their current outgoings such as costs for gas, electric and council tax.
Finally, my advice would be to let your solicitors know of any issues that may delay your move so they can act quickly to notify all parties to ensure the process runs smoothly. I would encourage regular communication between you and the vendor so you are fully aware of the progress of their corresponding purchase. It also allows both parties to work towards a common goal of agreeing a mutual completion date and helps you plan moving into your new home.
For more information about our shared ownership homes, please visit newlonliving.co.uk
In the heart of Oakwood, a charming north London suburb just over 30 minutes from the buzz of central London, lies Cassia, a contemporary new build development by Newlon Living. Now offering a collection of one and two bedroom apartments available through the shared ownership scheme, this is an exceptional opportunity for rst time buyers to secure their rst home in a perfect location.
Seamlessly blending with the established houses, Cassia has been crafted to offer community-focused homes in a peaceful location. Architecturally inspired by the Georgian era but reimagined for 21st-century living, each apartment boasts its own outdoor space, high-speci cation xtures and ttings, and up-to-the-minute environmental credentials.
Embrace the Cassia Lifestyle
Oakwood,Cassia,N14
Every home has been designed to be energy ef cient, meeting modern standards while providing comfort and peace of mind. You’ll nd an open-plan living area and your own outdoor space, complemented by a stylish tted kitchen with integrated appliances, a contemporary bathroom suite, and quality carpets in each bedroom.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, indulge in the area’s natural beauty, and experience
One bedroom apartment, monthly outgoings from £1,275 pcm: £105,000 for a 30% share. Full market value: £350,000.
Two bedroom apartment, monthly outgoings from £1,555 pcm: £127,500 for a 30% share. Full market value: £425,000.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, indulge in the area’s natural beauty, and experience the perfect mix of city living and suburban calm.
To register your interest in Cassia or for more information please visit cassia.london
Olubukola Abiiba, Head of Leasehold Sales Services, Newlon Housing Trust
"I HOPE IT INSPIRES PEOPLE AS I REALLY ENJOY GIVING UPDATES ON THE LATEST DECORATIONS AND WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING"
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!
Olivia Bowen is well-known for coming second on Love Island in 2016 with her now-husband Alex Bowen. The pair were the first couple from the show to get married. She is passionate about property and interiors and has over 750,000 followers on Instagram, @thebowenhome, where she updates and gives inspiration on her latest renovation projects. Lynda Clark caught up with Olivia again to find out what she has been doing since we last spoke to her
Photos: James Rudland
When I last chatted to Olivia, she had recently bought what they thought was their dream home in the countryside. She said, “I absolutely loved the house, which was built around 20 years ago, and it was in the area where I grew up. I always looked at the house when we drove by and could imagine us living there. Eventually it went on the market and our offer was accepted, so it felt like it was really meant to be."
But Olivia and Alex had a baby, Abel, who is now nearly two years old, and they discovered that the house didn’t quite work as well as they had imagined. “We spent four years there renovating it, and it was a beautiful home. But it was on a main road with no proper paths and there was no feel of a community at all. When you have a child you need things around you, like shops, cafes, playgroups and a park, and it wasn’t near many of my friends. It was also quite dangerous with no paths and a noisy road.”
So, they made the huge decision to sell it and move on, and decided to buy a selfbuild new home on a lovely development. She explains, ”You basically buy a plot of land that comes with planning permission from the council, but you have the option to change it if you wish. We bought in our own builders and kitchen specialists as we wanted to make it special and unique to us. While all the work has been carried out we have moved into a 600-year-old rented house, which is totally different to anything we have lived in before. It has worked well except for Alex, who is well over six foot and struggling with all the low beams! I’m not that tall and even I can just about stand up in the bathroom!
"The new house is in a town we have always wanted to live in, and already there is a strong sense of community. My friends are close by too, and there are some great restaurants and pubs. We are hoping to move next month and we are very excited. The house is a little smaller than the previous one, but it has a lovely openplan sitting room, four bedrooms all with an en suite, and the main bedroom also has a dressing room, and there is a family bathroom and a cloakroom downstairs. The garden is just the right size and I know Abel will love being outside and enjoying the fresh air.”
When it comes to the interiors, Olivia has
been having lots of fun. “I have gone with my heart and not my head and it’s colourful, playful and very different to the rather beige look we had before. I have just finished Abel’s room, which has a sea theme with a gorgeous underwater mural on one wall. It took a couple of days to complete and is really calming. Abel is obsessed with sharks, so I know he will adore it. I have really enjoyed planning the house this time round and I have taken my time and not rushed into anything.”
As well as designing her dream house, Olivia has also been busy with another side hustle, “We started our property investment venture a few years ago now as we wanted to build a solid foundation for our future. We currently own two properties that we now rent out, but we loved the process of renovating them so much that we are planning to expand further. The aim is to buy two more properties to flip this year. This is where my passion for interiors really comes through. I love seeing the process and transforming something into a beautiful new place for someone else to enjoy.”
Olivia is very enthusiastic about everything she does and her life story is fascinating. She said, "I have a brother and we had a wonderful childhood. My mum and dad were together until I was 11 and they then split up but it was totally amicable. We went on super holidays, and I was very close to my brother growing up. I did my A-levels and was planning to go to university to study fashion.”
Olivia got an unconditional offer, but she was then offered a job as a visual designer for American Apparel, which was her dream come true, but sadly the job didn’t quite work out the way she had planned and she decided to leave and get another job. She said, “I found another job in fashion but I really didn’t get along with the managers and I really hated being there. I watched the first series of Love Island with my exboyfriend, who I lived with, but it turned out he was a awful person who eventually cheated on me and we split up.”
After Olivia and her ex-boyfriend broke up, she couldn’t go back to live with her mum so she had to rent her first flat on her own. “It was very, very hard and I had no money, so I lived on chicken and rice from a can! It was quite an experience though, and because I was young and had so much freedom it really made me grow up! After
"DON’T BE AFRAID OF COLOUR AND MAYBE TRY ONE WALL IN A STRONG COLOUR AND IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT THEN SIMPLY PAINT OVER IT"
that I ended up moving in with a friend in Chelmsford and six months later I applied to go on Love Island. I needed a total change and I had to get out of the job I was doing."
While she was on Love Island she met Alex, who later was to become her husband, and they came second in the competition. Three days later, after the end of Love Island, Alex moved into Olivia’s flat. They then rented a house together and bought their first home in 2017, which they lived in for two years until they eventually bought what they thought was their dream home in the countryside. In the meantime, Alex proposed to Olivia, and they got married in 2018 and then had little Abel.
She is passionate about riding and has a horse called Dolly. She said, “When I was little I went horse riding all the time but it became too expensive for my mum, so I worked at the stables to earn my rides, but with school and everything it became too much. So, a few years ago I decided it was time to start riding again and I got Dolly. I ride her as much as I can. We recently got a little pony for Abel and the other children at the yard, who is called Sausage. Abel loves riding and says ‘go, go, go' and 'trot, trot'. He has really good balance even though his little legs barely stretch round Sausage!”
Olivia has some excellent advice for first time buyers and said, “When you buy a house take your time and follow your heart and not trends. A home is really an extension of your personality, and you should really go for it! Don’t be afraid of colour and maybe try one wall in a strong colour and if you don’t like it then simply paint over it. Live within your means and don’t stretch yourself as you still have to live and pay the bills. I think it’s a good idea to knuckle down on the numbers to make sure you can actually afford the home. It can be stressful, but try to enjoy it as there is no better feeling than owning your home.”
With over 750,000 followers on Instagram, @thebowenhome, Olivia keeps her followers up to date with what they are planning and doing with their exciting new home. “I hope it inspires people, as I really enjoy giving updates on the latest decorations and what we are currently doing.” Apart from leading a very hectic life, Olivia is also in partnership with Glade and loves its range of candles and air fresheners and is enjoying all her various projects. Finally, I ask her if this is going to be their forever home? “Oh no, ultimately I would like to move to an older property in the countryside and retire my horses on my own land, but that won’t be happening until Abel is much older. But it’s always good to dream!”
Follow Olivia on @oliviadbowen and @thebowenhome
"WE SPENT FOUR YEARS THERE RENOVATING IT, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL HOME. BUT IT WAS ON A MAIN ROAD WITH NO PROPER PATHS AND THERE WAS NO FEEL OF A COMMUNITY AT ALL"
WHY FIRST TIME BUYERS SHOULD CONSIDER BUYING MORE SUSTAINABLY WITH A NEW BUILD HOME
Are you an eco-conscious buyer? Then why not invest in a new build property? New homes are incredibly energy efficient and are fitted with a whole host of smart technologies. This means not only cheaper bills, but energy-efficient properties also open doors for Green mortgage deals. Not forgetting, buyers of new homes are playing a vital role in creating a zero carbon future for the UK, says Natalie Daniels, Sustainability PR Director at Building Relations
Living in a more energy-efficient new build home doesn't necessarily mean spending more. In fact, new build homes often boast far lower running costs than many existing homes. That’s because they need to meet high energy-efficiency standards, and as a result they're both eco-friendly and cheap to heat and run. New builds often have heat pumps, smart water meters, double (or triple) glazing, wall and roof insulation and photovoltaic (PV) panels. They are also fitted with the latest energy-efficient appliances and heating.
So, if you’re looking to take the first step on to the property ladder, it’s worth knowing the benefits that buying a new build home can bring.
According to the Home Builders Federation, around 84% of new builds are rated A-B for energy efficiency, while just 3% of existing stock reached the same standard in the year to September 2021.¹
GREEN MONEY
For first time buyers, investing in a more energy-efficient property could help unlock green financing solutions. Green mortgages can offer attractive interest rates, cashback or free energy-efficiency reports.
Many mainstream mortgage lenders including Barclays, NatWest, and Virgin Money are now offering Green mortgages as part of new funding models for homes that have an Energy Performance Certificate rating of A or B.
SMART DESIGN
The more energy efficient your home, the lower the bills are going to be. That’s because new homes are built to retain heat – they are well insulated and also designed to optimise airflow and ventilation, rather than damp, drafty homes, making them healthy places to live and work.
The hidden details lie in the fabric. As a first time buyer, the "fabric first" approach of a new property means you benefit from airtight cavities within the walls to keep as much of the heat within the building, and this does its job seamlessly without future operation or maintenance.
As well as energy-efficient fabric, fittings such as appliances, including dishwashers, washing machines and fridge-freezers, will also be new, energy-efficient models. Lighting is a consideration too, and new homes will often boast low-energy LED lights throughout. Some also come with electric car charging points as standard.
Speaking about the benefits to first time buyers, Ben Holden, Managing
Director at Ethical Compass, comments, “There are several benefits for first time buyers, not only will it lower bills and running costs of a home, but it will also provide buyers with a healthier home, with less risk of damp and draught, making it safer, more resilient and longer lasting. Also, those who are climate conscious and aware of buying behaviours will also be doing the right thing in terms of lower carbon emissions and footprint.”
James Pritchett, Communications Manager at Greencore Homes, believes in making sustainable living accessible, especially for first time buyers. He comments, “Investing in a sustainable home means not only contributing to a healthier planet but also benefiting from the economic advantages of lower energy consumption."
With great energy efficiencies and even greater environmental credentials, for eco-conscious buyers it’s time to take the leap into new build and help protect our planet.
Weston Homes has developed its apartments to incorporate some or all of the features saving energy, water and bills.
BARKING
Abbey Quay
From £330,000 (open market sale) or from £338,400 (Discount Market Sale – price includes 20% saving)
Weston Homes pride itself on building budget-conscious and sustainable homes. At Abbey Quay, it combines the best of traditional construction methods with newer technologies to ensure its homes meet the highest level of energy ef ciency. At all points in the production process, Weston Homes looks at reducing heat loss, energy use and, in turn, carbon emissions. This means better levels of insulation and homes that are cheaper to maintain and run. So as well as being better for your pocket, it is better for the planet too. On offer are one, two and three bedroom apartments through shared ownership and one and two bedroom apartments at full market value, plus there are a few three bedroom apartments left for Discount Market Sale. The River Roding ows past the west side of the development and Abbey Quay, with its tree-lined avenues, combines modern living with on-site shops, cafes and restaurants. The Resident’s Hub is home to a concierge and it provides a great space to meet for a coffee or plug your laptop in and work, or just meet friends and socialise with neighbours. It is available for both residents and members of the wider community. The homes feature open-plan living areas, designer kitchens complete with integrated appliances and luxurious bathrooms, and all apartments have their own private balcony or terrace. Barking station is a 10-minute walk away, from where you can reach Canary Wharf or the City in less than 20 minutes.
weston-homes.com/abbey-quay
greencorehomes.co.uk/project/hook-norton FROM £72,500*
*Based on a 25% share with a full market value of £290,000
OXFORDSHIRE
Hook Norton
Greencore has launched 12 climate-positive homes in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire. Greencore manufactures closed-timber frame panels, which are insulated with natural materials and are built into a timber frame superstructure that locks up more carbon than it emits. Homes are also highly energy ef cient and powered by electricity rather than gas, utilising renewable energy sources for every home and supplying 100% of the energy required in use. The homes comprise two one bedroom houses, four two bedroom apartments and two three bedroom houses for affordable rent, plus four two bedroom apartments for shared ownership. The development bene ts from a smart grid installed by SNRG with solar PV, a 100KWh battery and EV car chargers. The solar PV on the roofs of the homes, community centre, and the nearby sports club is fed into a smart grid on site. Any excess electricity that is generated is stored in the battery. The scheme will have low carbon travel through an electric car club, with EV charging points provided.
Heny Debebe, an accountant, had been renting in Ladbroke Grove for several years when he decided it was time to think about purchasing his own home. Having become fed up with paying high rents in the capital, buying a property had been on his mind for a few years.
Heny knew that saving to buy a home took time, and so gradually started to get his nances on track. He explains, “I’d been thinking about buying for a while, but it was never quite the right time. Of course, when purchasing a home one of the biggest factors is your deposit, which can often be a bit of a struggle. When I initially decided I wanted to own a home I didn’t have any savings, but over time I managed to save just over £20,000, which put me in a good position to start my property search.”
Heny, who lives with his wife and three children, purchased a three bedroom house at The Quarry in Erith, with just a 5% deposit of £22,750. A landmark development by L&Q and Anderson of more than 800 homes on the site of a disused quarry, The Quarry is a family-friendly neighbourhood which is home to plenty of on-site amenities, including Lime Wood Primary School and a Sainsbury’s Local.
He adds, “As soon as I had my deposit together, I started thinking about my checklist. Pretty quickly, I knew I wanted to purchase a new build, as the thought of moving into something that was brand new really appealed to me. I was really keen on nding somewhere that was ready to live in from day one, which is exactly what I’ve found here. I also knew that an apartment wasn’t something I wanted to purchase, given the size of my family and the fact that we wanted the space along with a garden. I started speaking to some friends who had already recently purchased a home through L&Q in an earlier phase at The Quarry and they couldn’t have sung the development's praises any higher.”
Having been told about the popularity of the family homes available through private sale at The Quarry, Heny knew he’d need to act quickly to secure his home. He explains, “Once I saw the homes that were coming to the market, I registered my interest immediately. I phoned the sales team and asked about the levels of demand they were seeing. They said that the houses were really popular and that they’d already started receiving offers, so I took the chance then and there. I reserved my home while I was still on the phone to the sales team, and we got the ball rolling that day. I hadn’t been to the development or seen my home in person, but it just felt right.”
Now rmly settled into his new house at The Quarry, Heny explains, “My family and I truly feel at home here. We have this huge garden that the children love spending time in, and the fact that we purchased a new build meant that we had appliances included and ready to go from the day we moved in. In terms of the area, it’s so peaceful and family friendly. The opening of the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood has also made life so easy, as it’s under a 10-minute drive from the development.”
ERITH
The Quarry
5% deposits are available from £12,500
In the heart of Erith is The Quarry, a landmark development comprising 849 homes delivered by L&Q and Anderson on the site of a disused quarry. This new neighbourhood has been designed as a beacon for sustainable urban living by maximising fabric ef ciency, adopting low or zero carbon renewable technology and developing green spaces that increase biodiversity.
Each home continues to adopt sustainable design measures to signi cantly reduce CO2 emissions by 73% over the Government’s Part L 2013 document. These measures include an energy-ef cient building fabric including thick insulation to the oors, walls and roofs, double or triple glazing in the windows, low-energy lighting, and ef cient heating and ventilation systems.
All homes are provided with heating and hot water via air source heat pumps, a system that signi cantly cuts reliance on fossil fuel heating by absorbing heat from the air outside and transferring it to heat inside the home. Alongside the pumps, all houses come with photovoltaic panels, which convert light into ready-to-use energy, drastically reducing carbon emissions.
The 50-acre site will establish high-quality living, along with educational and community spaces to build on the ecology of the site. Creating a family-friendly streetscape, walkways across the development will encourage pedestrians and cyclists to travel through it instead of around it, and there will be no through access for cars, promoting a sense of countryside living.
As part of the site’s Grade 1 SINC status (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation), a dedicated ecology area retaining existing grassland and shrub habitat is allocated to protect and safeguard species such as slow worms, common lizards and other reptiles. The ecology area will eventually be accessible to the public via a raised boardwalk and viewing platform, for residents to enjoy this unique ecosystem while minimising disturbance to the habitat. A series of green corridors and a village green will link the ecology area to the wider development, providing new landscaping along with further tree planting to complement the existing dense woodland belt.
lqhomes.com/thequarry/
AYLESBURY
FROM £235,000 FROM £231,500
Canal Quarter, Kingsbrook
Plus an IKEA furniture package worth up to £8,500
The newest launch of one and two bedroom apartments at Canal Quarter at Kingsbrook from Barratt Homes is part of a multi-phase development of 2,450 new homes, three new schools and community infrastructure. Partnering with the RSPB, sustainability is at the heart of this development, with a 250-acre area of wildlife-rich space, the installation of a number of bat and bird boxes and the creation of more than 100 allotments.
The partnership has seen a number of conservation concerned species increase in numbers such as house sparrows, starlings and whitethroats. Homes are just a short walk from the travel hub, with regular bus services to Aylesbury station from where it takes just under an hour to reach London.
barratthomes.co.uk
Wildbridge
YAPTON, WEST SUSSEX
The second phase of contemporary, EPC A-rated homes from award-winning developer Hyde New Homes meets the growing demand for supply of affordable, energy-ef cient homes in the county – the launch of the second phase at Wildbridge marks an exciting chapter for the region. Comprising 67 two, three and four bedroom houses, The Aldwick Collection also delivers on the UK Government’s bid to ensure as many homes as possible have an energy ef ciency rating of C or higher by 2035.
Through shared ownership, a two bedroom house in The Aldwick Collection starts from £108,500 for a 35% share of the home, and will require a minimum deposit of just £10,085. What's more, homes at Wildbridge combine affordability and energy ef ciency. With its ease of access to a multitude of amenities and transport links, as well as its wide selection of homes, Wildbridge is providing a lifeline for growing families and young professionals looking to take a step on to the property ladder.
Each house has its own charm, with highspeci cation xtures and ttings, modern kitchens with integrated appliances, bespoke ooring throughout as standard, and light- lled rooms, perfect for family life and entertaining. The properties also offer buyers their own piece of private green space, laid to lawn with sheds and environmentally friendly water butts, as well as a parking area or driveway. The homes have been built with the environment at the forefront, guaranteeing their EPC rating of A, with superior insulation provided by double-glazed windows, extract ventilation, LED downlights, Vaillant Eco t combi boilers or System boilers and the addition of solar panels, providing eco-friendly and renewable energy. All homes come with an LABC Buildmark warranty, and selected properties will also bene t from electric car charging points.
In keeping with Yapton’s traditional village feel, homes at Wildbridge have community at their heart, set amid a bevy of green spaces, including a new play area and park for all residents to enjoy. Yapton’s offering of local shops, cafes and pubs are within walking distance, as well as an abundance of destinations to explore throughout the changing seasons, such as the Arundel Wetland Centre and the iconic East Beach at Littlehampton. hydenewhomes.co.uk/wildbridge
DRIGHLINGTON, LEEDS Spring Meadows
purehaus.co.uk
BARROWFORD, LANCASHIRE
Keld
A contemporary collection of 239 family homes in the picturesque village of Barrowford, Lancashire, Keld is being delivered by Northstone, with shared ownership homes exclusively available through Home Reach.
Often reported as one of the key priorities for families searching for their dream home, sustainability is especially valued at Keld. Every home is eco-friendly, with the intention of helping families to keep their energy bills down and lower their carbon footprint.
Spring Meadows by PureHaus offers 20 state-of-the-art low carbon and low energy homes offering advanced renewable energy systems, climate control, smart home technology and cuttingedge ventilation systems that provide fresh air while ltering out pollutants and allergens.
The triple-glazed, full length insulating windows maximise thermal ef ciency while minimising outside noise. An intelligent heating system, Wondrwall, has been installed, using smart technology to reduce environmental impact. Over time, the integrated home assistant learns how homeowners live, and specially adapts lighting and heating needs to help residents save on energy bills. This includes features such as the facility to automatically turn off lights when homeowners leave, a smart burglar alarm that listens for intruders, as well as a Sonos music system and voice-controlled home automation. Hyperfast broadband and SKY are already installed, and an iParcelbox is tted to every home. This system is an external post box that is controlled via smartphone, ensuring that busy households never miss a delivery again.
Postcards from some of the North of England’s most interesting towns and cities reveal the best places to find picture-perfect settings, burgeoning industries and truly balanced lifestyles, as well as some top properties
PRESTON, LANCASHIRE
POSTCARD
We’re in the historic city of Preston in Lancashire! It’s a true jewel in the North West of England. The city centre sits around the River Ribble, making for some stu ing sights and great options for activities. The Ribble is an ideal place to start a day out: from here you can walk to the stu ing Avenham and Mi er Parks for a taste of grand Victorian landscapes, with a natural amphitheatre (where you can catch shows or enjoy a picnic), a Swiss chalet and a Japanese Garden. Immerse yourself in history at the Harris Museum and Art Ga ery, while the Ribble Steam Railway is perfect for family days out - with a ride on a steam train being the highlight of the day. The city centre is vibrant, with a great o ering of quality
f d and entertainment. There are some seriously g d places to eat: head to cobbled Hinckley Str t or Fishersgate for a number of options, or try favourites such as Lost Bar and Pizzeria on Market Str t West or The Rabbit Hole on Lune Str t.
If you love ge ing outd rs, there’s just so much to do: Brockholes Nature Reserve, Turbary W ds, or the simple and changing beauty along the riverside are a perfect throughout the seasons.
PRESTON, LANCASHIRE
Centurion Village
This collection of three and four bedroom homes sits within a wider development that has proved extremely popular with local buyers. The family homes form part of a brand new community, with the convenience of town life within a short drive, while also being surrounded by natural beauty. Located just outside of Leyland, Preston’s thriving city centre is around a 15-minute drive away. The properties are available in a range of styles, including a three bedroom semi-detached home, which features a private driveway, bright open-plan living areas, downstairs WC, en suite from the main bedroom, and plenty of storage space.
This city is so we co ected, t . There are multiple trains every hour heading to Wigan (10 minutes) and Manchester (40 minutes), as we as frequent services to Liverp l (60 minutes).
SKIPTON, NORTH YORKS
POSTCARD
Skipton in North Yorkshire is our next stop. It’s known as the southern gateway to the stu ing Yorkshire Dales - and this market town is not short of natural beauty! Tourists are drawn to the four-times w kly market (which dates back to medieval times), along with the town's magnificent castle, intriguing covered a eyways and cobbled walkways.
of which rea y help put Skipton on the map. Meanwhile, the Yarndale creative event and the Skipton Puppet Festival a ract visitors from around the world.
But it’s not just a pre y face - it’s also a great place to live. There are amazing rail and road links to L ds and Bradford and plenty of opportunity for ge ing outd rs and ge ing close to nature.
Enjoy picturesque walks with refreshment stops at the many quality country pubs and cafes in the area; peruse the independent shops or indulge in the vibrant nightlife - a
This is a friendly town, with residents boasting a proud Yorkshire spirit. Visitors are made to f l most welcome, and residents love that it’s a town of "perfect balance". Locals cite the great mix of chain and independent retailers, community-driven events and spaces, and fantastic range of job opportunities - both within the local area and in the nearby we -co ected cities - as their highlights. For commuters, L ds, which has become an international business hub in its own right, is just a 40-minute train ride away.
CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE
Live here:
WYVERN PARK
Skipton, Yorkshire
POSTCARD
We’ve made our way to the market town of Chorley, and it’s easy to s why it’s such a popular location with visitors and homebuyers alike. There are fine historic sights, a bustling centre and beautiful countryside at every turn - ensuring there’s always so much on o er.
Chorley’s markets date back to 1498 - and remain a key part of the town’s shopping o ering to date. They include some popular pop-up style eateries, ideal for indulgent lunches with friends and co eagues.
There are a number of beautiful historic houses, including Ashley Ha - complete with museum, stu ing gardens, w dland, playing fields and cafe. Hoghton Tower is a must-visit location! It’s an impressive ancient building that te s its 1,000-year history to visitors via its themed days, venue o ering, open gardens and farmers' markets.
With so much history, the town centre is fu of character, including interesting architecture to be s n, along with a comprehensive high str t o ering that combines big-name staples and interesting independents. Su y b r gardens, cosy real ale pubs, live music venues, cinema and theatre ensure a lively atmosphere, come rain or shine.
This part of the country is certainly growing in popularity with homebuyers. For example, the vi age of Brinsca was recently named as one of the most sought-after places to live in Lancashire, with a huge surge in interest in this quaint part of the county.
Residents also enjoy a varied calendar of events throughout the year, including a flower festival, regular comedy event run by Jason Manford, outd r theatre and much more.
CHORLEY, LANCASHIRE
Saxon Fields
This best-of-both worlds location provides stunning rural views out over the West Pennine Moors, combined with excellent commuter links to surrounding towns including Bolton,
snugghomes.co.uk
and
homes here are thoughtfully designed with open-plan living/dining areas
and a separate reception room for harmonious
laurushomes.co.uk/new-homes/lancashire/saxon- elds/ FROM £66,000*
and
Within the local area, supermarkets, a
eateries, sports facilities, historic sites and a railway station all lie within easy
Positioned to the south of sought-after Skipton, this collection of two and three bedroom homes is perfectly placed for enjoying the very best of Yorkshire life. The semi-detached and mews-style homes feature contemporary design, with open-plan living spaces and French doors that open to a private garden, plenty of natural light, and added storage space. The pretty town centre is just a mile away – there you can take a walk along the canal towpath, visit the castle and explore the many options for eating out and shopping. A leisure centre, superstore and railway station are all a two-minute drive away.
Preston
Manchester. The new two, three
four bedroom
opening to a private garden,
living.
hospital,
reach.
DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKS
POSTCARD
This postcard comes from Doncaster in South Yorkshire! There’s a burgeoning cultural and entertainment scene here, and together with its Roman r ts and rich history, it’s a truly vibrant and eclectic place to visit and live. The heritage of this large town is reflected in landmarks including Norman Doncaster Castle and the impressive Mansion House - one of only thr of its kind left in theThecountry. busy town centre is ideal for big- ticket shopping, eating out and a -things entertainment. There are two great theatres (Doncaster Li le Theatre and Cast), which ensure a rich array of entertainment, from comedy and sma plays to big acts and musicals, plus a couple of cinemas.
Heading out to eat? For easy lunches, try A abel’s or Back in Time Cafe, while La Boca and La Rustica - both in the town centre -
are great for m ting up with friends. For a things outd rs, visit Yorkshire Wildlife Park or tranquil Sanda Park - while the beauty of the Peak District can be reached in 40 minutes by car for endless rural pursuits, including some great walks. Family days out are easy, with Boston Park Farm, Danum Museum, South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum a perfect o erings.
Doncaster railway station is a key stop on the East Coast Main Line, providing direct links to major cities such as London, Edinburgh, L ds, and York. Additiona y, Doncaster She ield airport o ers a variety of international travel options.
Doncaster is so confident in its o erings that it has recently applied for city status - though a status change is yet to be achieved, it’s easy to s why it’s aiming so high.
POSTCARD
What a city Manchester is! It’s a truly metropolitan area, bustling with energy, diverse populations and absolutely everything to o er homebuyers and visitors.
With four universities in Greater Manchester, the high number of students means that the whole area has a youthful energy and a drive to be on the cu ing edge.
Residents love Manchester for its great transport links, world-class shopping, impressive selection of restaurants and bars and its vibrant cafe-culture districts – as we as the easy access to the beautiful fe s and vi ages in the Peak District.
Locals love Ancoats - an increasingly popular enclave in the city centre known for its independent f d and drink outletssome of which have enjoyed huge success. Don't miss, for example, Manchester’s first community-supported bakery, Companio,
which o ers a delicious range of artisan breads, pastries, and Vie oiserie, or the hearty f d at 80s-inspired Hip Hop Chip Shop. Another big hi er drawing diners to the area is Japanese Chaology, somewhat of a local phenomenon for performing a unique tea ceremony. Restaurant culture is big in this city, which has the fastest growth of new restaurants in the country.
DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKSHIRE Dominion
Located just 10 minutes from Doncaster city centre, these new two bedroom homes make for ideal starter properties for those looking to put down roots somewhere with every convenience on the doorstep. The contemporary apartments feature bright open-plan living spaces which open to a private balcony, en suite from the main bedroom and a stylish family bathroom. There’s also plenty of off-road parking. Local highlights include the beautiful Potteric Carr Nature Reserve (a ve-minute walk), as well as Lakeside Village outlet shopping centre, large supermarkets, a golf course, parks – and even medieval Conisbrough Castle – all well within a 15-minute drive or closer.
placesforpeople.co.uk FROM £38,250*
The Northern Quarter, Spi ingfields and Gay Vi age are also we -established destinations for both daytime and nigh ime entertainment. Ind d, come evening time, Mancunians are truly spoilt for choice. Live music is a key part of the city’s identity and is easy to come by, while theatre and art are taken care of at the magnificent Lowry Centre, Royal Exchange, Opera House and Palace Theatre.
MANCHESTER
CHESTER, CHESHIRE
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Here we are in Chester! With its cu ing- edge theatre and entertainment spaces and thriving economy, this North West city definitely rivals nearby Manchester and Liverp l when it comes to enjoying a high quality of life.
co scene s ms to grow every w k, and there’s a huge range of new and established cafes, bars and restaurants. Want your f d seriously on-trend? Artisan co can be found at Jaunty Goat; unpretentious (and delicious) tapas at Porta; and bistro joy at Sticky
The bustling city se ing a ows for a busy social life, while the surrounding Cheshire countryside is perfect for pursuing an active outd rs lifestyle. These things combined, make for an ideal best-of-both situation. The Roman influence, cobbled str ts and rows of striking black and white Tudor buildings create an unforge able city centre, and there’s a slice of history on every corner. Alongside that, you' find great co shops, quality restaurants and fantastic shopping facilities. For days and evenings out, head to the Storehouse Arts Complex, which o ers theatre, cinema, arts, library and events. The f d and
Live here:
TheWalnut.famous z , farms, cathedral, Roman city wa s, museum, castle and river cruises are a great options for days out. Alternatively, some of the country’s best rural and coastal o erings - and key cities - lie a short drive away. What's more, a range of sandy Welsh seaside resorts can be reached in around 40 minutes by car and thriving Liverp l is around the same distance.
WINSFORD, CHESHIRE
Stonecross Vale
Cross-country trains from Chester run direct to major hubs including Liverp l, L ds and London.
These contemporary, energy-ef cient two, three and four bedroom homes sit in the thriving town of Winsford in the heart of Cheshire. Residents here have access to the wonderful cities of Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent – for a huge variety of cultural experiences. Winsford itself is well-equipped, while the picturesque countryside trails of Whitegate Way and majestic landscape of Delamere Forest lie close by. At home, the properties feature a large living/dining area and lounge and have well-proportioned bedrooms and contemporary bathrooms – there’s plenty of space for modern families to live and grow.
snugghomes.co.uk
*Shared ownership available
STRETFORD, GREATER MANCHESTER
Edgewater
Located in up-and-coming Stretford, these new one and two bedroom apartments are just perfect for rst time buyers looking to soak up Manchester’s nest sights. The properties sit along the water’s edge within easy reach of Old Trafford and Media City at Salford Quays. The homes lie along the canalside, so pretty views and car-free cycle and walking routes are literally on the doorstep. The two bedroom homes feature open-plan living areas with dual-aspect windows for plenty of natural light, French doors to a private balcony, separate utility areas, and an en suite from the main bedroom.
geckohomes.co.uk
*Based on a 40% share of the full market value of £173,000
SHOW STOPPER!
Award-winning interior designer Pandora Taylor has just unveiled the exciting new one bedroom show home at The Auria, by Peabody New Homes in Notting Hill. Lynda Clark caught up with her to find out all about her fascinating career and where her inspiration comes from, and she gives some excellent advice to first time buyers on how to furnish your first home
Pandora has always been creative and very hands-on and she started her career working in auction houses. She said, “I always had artistic tendencies but not the skills.” She visited a friend’s studio and loved what she saw, which inspired her to do a course at the KLC School of Design followed by doing a couple of internships. She then got a job at Kitesgrove, which she loved. She said, “It was a great grounding for me. They did work which was authentic and characterful and I could really relate to it.” Eventually, Pandora took the plunge and five years ago she opened her own studio and has worked in both London and abroad.
She said, “I like to embrace a project and my designs are based around the location and the story around the property. Each one is different and has its own identity – everyone is very special and means a great deal.”
She has just finished designing the new show home for Peabody, where she displays her unique design for the new generation of buyers. She said, “I loved how Peabody wanted to create something that spoke to the area. They were really considerate about who we were designing this space for and how they wanted to live, and this meant we could create something with real authenticity.”
“CONSIDER WHERE YOU MIGHT BE LIVING IN SAY FIVE YEARS’ TIME AND DON’T JUST BUY FOR NOW ,BUT FOR THE FUTURE”
Applying her signature style, which blends contemporary and more traditional perspectives to enrich everyday lives, Pandora brought her energy to the home with a lively colour palette, rich materials and meticulous attention to details. She introduced sustainable materials with natural timbers, a natural patina and quality, durable and tactile textures which can be seen throughout the home with the choice of furniture.
The dining and living areas feature barklike rust oranges, mossy greens and golden straw tones grounded by sky blue walls. Sunshine yellow curtains frame the large windows, maximising the light that flows into the space, and art from emerging artists is mixed with strong black accents, giving an urban edge to reflect the character of the local area.
Mossy greens continue into the bedroom to connect the two spaces and burnt umber
tones create a relaxed mood. Textured wallpaper offsets a metal-framed bed and unexpected elements like ceramic table lamps and a green framed mirror complete the look and keep the overall tone light and surprising.
Pandora, who has more than 6,000 followers on Instagram, is now working on a house in Ireland which is going to be a second/holiday home. She describes it as being “a characterful, cosy retreat”. She has also recently completed the interior for a home in Battersea Power Station, which in contrast was new, vibrant and brought some interesting Britishness into the iconic location.
“I love the whole scope of interiors that I work on. I thought The Auria for Peabody was a real highlight and being in Notting Hill I wanted to create a sanctuary from city life and bring a village-like feel from the neighbourhood into the apartment.”
Located in the heart of the extensive Portobello Square regeneration, homes there form part of the 1,000 new homes being developed, alongside new public realm and a range of commercial opportunities. On offer is a collection of one and two bedroom apartments, two bedroom duplexes and three bedroom mews houses for private sale, and one bedroom shared ownership homes starting from £168,750 for a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment with a full market value of £675,000. Residents will eventually be able to enjoy a co-working space, a courtyard garden, residents’ gym and concierge service.
Pandora has some excellent advice for first time buyers when planning the interiors of their first dream home. She said, “Allocate what money you have carefully and my advice would be to spend more on bigger pieces like a sofa so they stand the test of time. Consider where you might be living in say five years’ time and don’t just buy for now, but for the future. The key pieces should have longevity and with the cost of living as it is, you really can’t afford to re-buy. Have some fun with accessories and look around the high street for some budget-friendly pieces.”
For more information on The Auria, please visit theauria.london/ For further information about Pandora Taylor go to pandorataylor.co.uk
“I LIKE TO EMBRACE A PROJECT AND MY DESIGNS ARE BASED AROUND THE LOCATION AND THE STORY AROUND THE PROPERTY”
BUYING A NEW HOME OFF-PLAN CAN OFFER THE BEST DEALS
Buying your first home is a big step. Buying your first home off-plan, when all you can see is a set of drawings, might seem even more daunting. But take courage – it can be a clever way to purchase with many advantages. However, only buy off-plan from a reputable builder with a first-class reputation. Study its history, the style of homes it builds, its sustainability policy and its reputation
Weston Homes is an award-winning, family-run company that has been delivering luxury homes at affordable first time buyer prices for three decades. The company builds with care and precision in its own high-tech factories and has one of the best packages of luxury interior products included in the price – and if you buy early you can choose all your colours, fixtures and fittings and personalise your home from scratch.
FIRST-TIME SECUREBUY
Weston Homes also offers a unique buying plan. Its First-Time SecureBuy scheme means that, with a solicitor, you do the initial paperwork and only put down a £500 reservation fee and a 5% deposit when you exchange contracts. Should the value of the property increase during the build, you will still only pay the price given on the day you secured your property. Six months before completion, you can start to apply for a mortgage. If, for any reason, you cannot obtain a mortgage, Weston Homes will refund your reservation fee and deposit money.
Weston Homes builds close to transport links and local amenities in a wide variety of urban or countryside locations. So, first of all, choose your development and visit the friendly sales team who can help you through the process. This is your chance to get in first and buy the best property to suit you, which is what these happy Weston Homes’ customers did:
NICOLLA
When Nicolla bought her first apartment from Weston Homes at Watford Cross, Herts, she studied the plans forensically. She works for a high-tech interiors lighting company and was used to room plans. She looked at where the light fell during the day, she measured her balcony – balconies
can differ in size – and she considered the amount of square feet she was buying and how she would use the space. “I initially wanted a two bedroom flat but I worked out that I got more value for money, and a better position, if I bought a one bedroom flat.”
ELIZA
When engineer Eliza found 1023 West, in Brentwood, she bought off-plan. “At first, the idea of buying something that was not built scared me, but it made sense. It was fabulous. I chose my entire colour scheme
– my creamy Shaker-style kitchen, all my floor coverings, tiles and even kitchen door handles. I was able to make it my home.”
ANNIE
Annie bought off-plan at The Venue in Hayes, with her partner David. “We never found this package anywhere else. The spec included everything – a large fitted kitchen, branded integrated appliances, a boiling water tap, fabulous bathrooms with smart tech, a big wardrobe with mirrored doors and carpet in our bedroom.”
Weston Homes builds new and converted one to five bedroom luxurious homes across London and the South East from £217,995. Every development is in a commuter hotspot, just 15 minutes to a tube or railway station. To book your private viewing call 01279 873 300, or visit weston-homes.com. Marketing suites and show homes are open daily from 10am to 5pm
Nicolla
Annie
Eliza
ACTION-PACKED LIVING IN ACTON
Connections. Connections. Connections...
For aspiring homeowners, effortless connectivity is all part of the allure of London living. Whether looking for rapid links across the city and beyond, hotspots to hang out with friends, or opportunities to relax and connect with nature, finding the right spot in the city means there is no need to compromise.
With its bustling market, extensive regeneration and diverse community, the west London town of Acton is quickly becoming a thriving destination for the capital’s aspiring homebuyers. Providing the opportunity to start climbing the property ladder in Acton, Peabody New Homes is excited to be launching its latest collection of shared ownership apartments at The Verdean on Saturday 7 September.
RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP
The London lifestyle is synonymous with easy access to a wide range of amenities and leisure opportunities, and Acton is no exception. Bordering one of the largest regeneration projects in west London, The Verdean is ideally placed for residents to enjoy the best of contemporary living just moments from home. With the neighbourhood continuing to transform, now is the time to become part of this growing community and shape its evolution. Complementing the facilities on offer locally, The Verdean also boosts an exceptional array of on-site amenities, making it even easier to work, live and play without leaving home. From a business lounge to a gym and cycle hub powered by Peloton, buyers can work hard and
train hard in expertly crafted facilities, while a screening room and multi-purpose entertainment space is the perfect setting to relax and play. Providing a customisable experience, shared ownership buyers at The Verdean can choose to opt into these amenities, only paying for what they want and saving where they don’t.
GREENERY ALL AROUND
Appreciating the value of green spaces, Ealing is one of the greenest boroughs in the capital, meaning buyers at The Verdean are in easy reach of numerous parks.
Acton Park, North Acton Playing Fields, Gunnersbury Park and Wormwood Scrubs are all within walking distance of the development, providing spaces for picnics with friends, smashing fitness goals or simply enjoying a breath of fresh air away from the vibrancy of the city.
Bringing a connection to nature even closer to home, beautifully landscaped gardens at The Verdean have been expertly designed in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In addition to over 200 new trees across the development, set to create new habitats for wildlife, the gardens provide spaces to meet and socialise with neighbours, relax and unwind in the sunshine or even grow food.
HERE EVERYTHING CONNECTS
Whether heading further into the city for the morning commute or looking to get out and about to explore at the weekend, The Verdean benefits from exceptional
transport links across the city and beyond. With an impressive seven stations nearby, a wide range of services are in easy reach including Overground, Central, District, Piccadilly and Elizabeth Line services.
COLLABORATIVE DESIGN
Capturing the power of connections, The Verdean showcases the very best of building in partnership.
With both Peabody New Homes and Mount Anvil committed to establishing thriving neighbourhoods, this joint venture project is working with the existing community to transform the development over three phases, with new homes, green spaces, and a range of on-site amenities.
This latest phase of new homes marks the first shared ownership one and two bedroom homes being delivered at The Verdean. Providing an enticing opportunity for aspiring homeowners, a tenure-blind approach at this development ensures these shared ownership properties come fully equipped with all the best features and details of Mount Anvil’s neighbouring private sale homes.
Discover more about The Verdean at peabodynewhomes.co.uk/TheVerdean
SO FLEXI –THE WAY FORWARD
London Living Rent and Rent to Buy schemes:
is this a turning
point for the rental crisis in the UK?
As we have passed the midpoint of 2024, it has certainly been an interesting year in terms of proposed new housing policies and ideas to get first time buyers on to that allimportant housing ladder. There is also the small change of a new Labour Government and the aftermath of a General Election with Sir Keir Starmer now in charge – but how does this leave us for the rest of the year?
Although rental rates have decreased somewhat since their peak in late 2022, rental prices in the capital are still at an average of £2,121 according to property portal Zoopla¹. “It is no secret that renting can pose a range of disadvantages in security and stability for potential buyers, and one of our main priorities is to put homeownership in reach with our pioneering SO Flexi schemes,” says Kevin Sims, Director of Sales and Marketing at SO Resi.
Recent data has revealed that two decades ago, the most common situation for young adults (18-34) used to be living as a couple with children. Today, however, the most common is living with parents –standing at a shocking 40% ². This reveals that we are failing a whole generation of
SO Flexi Acton
young people aspiring to get a foot on to the property ladder – and one of the biggest barriers is the rental sector.
Renting poses a host of issues for first time buyers and those looking to escape the rental trap, as it is extremely difficult to build up a suitable deposit alongside high rental costs. Our SO Flexi scheme offers residents the flexibility to pay into savings alongside their rent. New residents can live and save in high-quality, brand new housing, without the stress, insecurity and financial strain that private renting often brings, knowing that they have been given the tools to afford to purchase their home.
Our newest development, SO Flexi Acton, which launched in February, comprises 57 one, two and three bedroom apartments all available on the London Living Rent scheme. The scheme provides rents at a discount of approximately one third of the medium household income, with the tenants using their savings to buy the property through the shared ownership scheme at the end of the three-year contract.
This scheme has seen unprecedented demand with over 1,000 enquiries from
The development will be located in the north pocket of the Acton Park Conservation Area. The site comprises 57 one to three bedroom apartments from £1,107pcm available to those who live or work in the London Borough of Ealing. Each apartment bene ts from its own balcony or terrace, carefully designed interiors to maximise space and natural light, and integrated Zanussi appliances to kitchens. There is a plethora of train links, with a 10-minute walk to East Acton (Central Line), a 10-minute walk to Acton Main Line (Elizabeth Line) and a 10-minute walk to Acton Central Overground station. soresi.co.uk/so exi/acton
SO Resi Canning Town
Coming soon – a selection of 37 one, two and three bedroom apartments available with shared ownership in the heart of Canning Town. SO Resi Canning Town recently launched off-plan, with the properties ready to move into at the end of 2024. Perfect for new families, solo buyers, or young professionals – SO Resi Canning Town is suitable for anybody. Plus, with brilliant nearby facilities like Billingsgate Market, the O2, ExCel London and Royal Riverside Dock, the apartments are in a prime location for a sociable lifestyle.
soresi.co.uk/ nd-a-property/so-resi-canning-town
those who live or work in the London Borough of Ealing, showcasing the demand for affordable rent schemes.
Our SO Flexi Slough site also launched last summer, with over 400 enquiries in the first phase and the whole site having been full reserved in just three weeks, again demonstrating the value of adapting the housing product to meet market needs.
Our SO Flexi brand offers solutions to one of the major obstacles in the housing market of today, people unable to save alongside costly rental prices and therefore unable to build suitable deposits. We will be working alongside our residents throughout their tenure to help them achieve homeownership at the end of the contract.
Through its SO Flexi brand, SO Resi has invested in London Living Rent and Rent to Buy schemes to help future buyers and open up as many avenues as possible. Our upmost desire is to offer a variety of options to cater to the needs of the market effectively.
This forms part of the wider Hendon Waterside development – situated next to the scenic Welsh Harp reservoir, a Site of Special Scienti c Interest, where residents can enjoy exploring the surrounding woods, trails and footpaths. Available here are 42 studio, one and two bedroom apartments, and two and three bedroom duplex homes, all available using the shared ownership scheme. Prices start from £84,375 (5% deposits from £4,219).
soresi.co.uk/ nd-a-property/hendon-waterside/
Kevin Sims, Director of Sales and Marketing, SO Resi
AUTUMNAL VIBES? SIX TIPS FOR SEASONAL STYLING
Autumn will soon be here. Mornings will become crisper, logs sit neatly stacked by the fire and the pumpkin spice latte turns 21! But how do we translate this change in the seasons into our home interiors? Steve Hird, Director and Co-Founder of showhome interior design specialist Edward Thomas Interiors, shares six simple styling tips to swap spring/summer chic for autumn/winter comforts…
The transition between summer and autumn is a great opportunity to refresh your interior design, and my advice is not to overthink. Restyle organically and as you feel inspired, not because you feel you should. Perhaps repurpose items you already own in new ways or reorganise rooms to give them a new function. To enjoy the best of summer and autumn, read on for my six top styling tips.
1. COLOUR CO-ORDINATION
One of the most straightforward changes is to swap any accent colours. This doesn’t involve a complete redecoration, so is easy to manage, but can have a big impact. Consider switching cushion covers, bedding, lampshades, throws, blankets, decorative vases, even picture frames to create a cosy and welcoming aesthetic.
Warming shades such as burnt orange, deep red, ochre, chocolate, caramel and
olive green will all provide a timeless autumnal feel, but if you want to keep your decor light and bright, opt for blush pink, mustard or cream tones. For a more wintry illusion, a strong mix of blues, greys, silver and black works well. Don’t forget about lighting here too – switch out bright white lights for warmer yellow-ish hues.
2. LAYER UP
One of last year’s biggest trends that looks set to stay is “comfortcore”, where comfort precedes style. Layering is a superb way to achieve this trend. Let’s face it, we do it with our wardrobe by adding jumpers and coats, so why not our homes too?!
To create somewhere cosy to hibernate as the temperature drops, your styling should seek to create richness and warmth. Throws and blankets are a given, but you could also introduce deeper fabrics such as velvet, tweed and wool by reupholstering. Or what
about adding a log burner or indoor fire pit?
Textured wallhangings or macrame might instantly add that autumnal, hygge vibe and don’t neglect underfoot either, a sumptuous fluffy or deep pile rug ensures cosy toes!
3. SWITCH SCENTS
Home fragrances can have a strong impact, so in the cooler months pick candles, room sprays and reed diffusers with a spiced scent such as cinnamon, wild pine, vanilla, cedarwood or musk to generate feelings of warmth and security.
4. NATURAL CONNECTIONS
For many people, the change in seasons also brings a renewed connection with nature and the outdoors. Rambling at the weekend, country hikes with the dog, fell walking, camping, and that’s before the main ski season of course! All these activities can provide excellent inspiration for decor.
You could keep it subtle and add new artwork or accessories to build your theme, or be bolder and opt for a patterned wallpaper or hand-painted mural. Outdoor pursuits can be a playful way of adding personality to spaces like children’s bedrooms, hallways, landings or the downstairs cloakroom.
Another, perhaps more budgetfriendly way to bring the outside in, is through seasonal greenery. Add foliage to decorative vases or flower stands for a completely new look.
Think dried flowers, ferns, moss, eucalyptus, even some winter berries or pine cones. Swap any indoor plant pots for those with more autumnal shades or textures such as terracotta or rattan.
5. REORGANISE ROOMS
One of my favourite ways to refresh a room is simple reorganisation. Try re-positioning your furniture, rearranging your wall art, or swapping any floor or side lamps around
by Edward Thomas Interiors
to create different light patterns. It’s also important to think about how you enter and use your home as autumn approaches. In the summer, we all tend to embrace indoor/ outdoor living; doors and windows are thrown open and we walk around barefoot. But autumn is a different story. Wet and windy weather calls for more layers and footwear that require storage.
If you have a utility room, could this be transformed into a “bootility”, aka boot room? You could add shelving, a coat stand, bench seating, anything to make it somewhere snug to contain muddy feet (or paws!). If you live in an open-plan apartment, many high street stores have slim hallway stands or tidies that would be equally effective.
6. HOBBY HAVEN
Part of the “comfortcore” trend I mentioned earlier is all about creating a sense of nostalgia, and indulging in simpler activities such as reading, crocheting, painting, listening to music or a podcast. Find a corner in your home where you can switch off the screen, curl up and escape. This could be a “forgotten” space like a landing or hallway, or a new “zone” in an existing room. Add a cosy chair, side table, some task lighting and decor that means something to you. One of the big TikTok trends this year is “bookshelf wealth”, where homeowners add displays of curated clutter including knick-knacks, collectibles from travels and of course, books!”
DEMAND FOR NEW BUILD HOMES RISES AS GUINNESS HOMES LAUNCHES A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN BRENT
A home in the capital may currently feel out of reach for many house hunters, with demand for new build homes in London steadily rising. A recent report from Knight Frank revealed that there have been 17% more viewings of new build homes in London this year compared to 2023, and a 9% increase in offers made. Competition among first time buyers is undoubtedly growing, and more homes are desperately needed in the capital to keep up with demand
Introducing The One Hundred, a brand new development from Guinness Homes, situated in the heart of north west London and launching in summer 2024. This mixedtenure development will bring an attractive range of 100 one, two and three bedroom apartments to Alperton, Brent. In total, 51 homes will be available to purchase through shared ownership, giving first time buyers the chance to secure an affordable new build apartment in a central Zone 3 location.
London Sales Manager at Guinness Homes, Hellyn Fairbrother, comments, “We’ve seen a real influx of potential buyers looking to purchase a home in London since the start of the year, and so we’re really excited to be bringing new affordable homes to market this summer. A rare offering for shared ownership homes, The One Hundred is situated next to one of London’s most desirable waterways –the iconic Grand Union Canal – providing hopeful buyers with a more accessible route on to the property ladder without having to compromise on location.”
Inside, apartments at The One Hundred
are finished to a quality specification throughout. Contemporary kitchens are fitted with integrated Zanussi appliances, while bathrooms are complete with sleek chrome features. Acting as an extension of the living space, the apartments offer private balconies or terraces, with some featuring expansive views over the Grand Union Canal – the perfect spot for an al fresco morning coffee.
For those buyers seeking a bustling local area, The One Hundred is situated close to a broad range of amenities. BOXPARK Wembley can be reached in less than a 25-minute bus ride, where residents can enjoy a diverse range of street food and onsite events. Those in search of some retail therapy can reach Brent Cross shopping centre in a 30-minute cycle or Westfield Shepherd’s Bush in under 35 minutes from Stonebridge Park underground station, with over 350 shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars to enjoy. Ideal for picnics in the park, Fryent Country Park is located a 25-minute cycle from the apartments at The One Hundred, offering over 200 acres of rolling fields
and woodland to unwind in. Set close to the Grand Union Canal, the apartments’ desirable canalside location not only offers peace and quiet, but also means residents can enjoy tranquil strolls and bike rides along the river towpath.
Ideal for daily commuters and weekend explorers alike, apartments at The One Hundred are just a 15-minute walk to Alperton and Stonebridge Park underground stations, with direct services into central London in under 30 minutes. Nearby road links offer direct journeys to London City airport and out of the capital, while a plethora of local shopping and cultural destinations can be reached on foot or bicycle along the river towpath.
Pricing information is available on Guinness Homes’ website.
To nd out more and arrange to visit, call our sales team on 020 3819 0000 or go to guinnesshomes.co.uk/the100 to book an appointment
Shared ownership terms and conditions apply
LAMPTON PARKSIDE: A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Hounslow is emerging as a new hotspot for Londoners looking to get on to the property ladder
Green, well connected to central London and with a town centre benefiting from increased investment in recent years, Hounslow also offers homes available at accessible prices.
A growing and vibrant community is being created at NHG Homes’ Lampton Parkside, where first time buyers can find a place to call home.
Named after neighbouring Lampton Park, the development is already proving popular with those renting locally and professionals living across London.
A total of 780 high-quality new homes are being created over a period of 10 years. In the latest phase, 72 shared ownership homes are being made available, starting from £83,125 for a 25% share, requiring a minimum 5% deposit of £4,156 (full market value is £332,500).
In recent years, Hounslow and the surrounding areas have enjoyed investment from all ends. From the arrival of the Elizabeth Line at nearby Hanwell, Southall and Hayes, to the creation of a 17,250-capacity stadium for Brentford Football Club, vibrant new public centres are being created across west London. Closer to Lampton Parkside, £3.7m has also been injected into Hounslow town centre, boosting the high street’s retail and leisure offer.
and open-plan living space to relax, work and socialise at home. There are plenty of things Srekanth loves about his home, and the development. Having lived in various cities, access to greenery was a priority, “I look at it as a luxury, living next to a huge park – you leave the house and you are already inside it.”
“The hall is large, the kitchen and bathroom are well-fitted, and I have a spacious balcony. You can really see that NHG Homes has paid a lot of care and attention – everything has been done really well. The concierge is what really caught my eye. It’s not just about collecting deliveries, the space feels like a really valued and central part of the development.”
For many buyers, shared ownership has offered a way for them to get on the property ladder without having access to a large deposit. Srekanth, 27, who bought a two bedroom apartment at Lampton Parkside in February 2023, described shared ownership as “a blessing”, noting that he wouldn’t have been able to purchase without it. “It meant I could buy my own home, and have my family visit me in London as soon as possible.”
Lampton Parkside offers a collection of stylish, well-designed apartments available with shared ownership. Each of the apartments on offer comes with soughtafter features for first time buyers, including a private balcony, integrated appliances,
Residents seeking outdoor space can take advantage of the 40 acres of trees, walking trails, tennis courts and a rose garden, while the development’s own landscaped communal gardens and leafy streets offer the chance to immerse in green surroundings on their doorstep. Local nature reserve Hounslow Heath is also close by, providing 4,000 acres of open space for all to enjoy.
Apartments come equipped with a range of integrated appliances including a washer-dryer, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, and microwave. There are touches of luxury throughout, with matt-finish handleless units in the kitchen, built-in mirrored wardrobes, energy-efficient underfloor heating, and Amtico flooring to living areas and carpets in the bedrooms. The development also includes the convenience of a dedicated concierge and secure cycle storage.
Commenting on his home, Srekanth said,
Alongside the tranquillity of abundant green space, Lampton Parkside also gives residents the convenience of urban living. The development is a five-minute walk from Hounslow Central underground station which sits on the Piccadilly Line, and residents can enjoy easy links into central London – for work or pleasure – in half an hour.
For those looking to travel further afield, Heathrow airport is just an 18-minute tube journey from the development, making business and holiday trips hassle-free. Excellent transport links are just one of the reasons Hounslow is seeing a revival among younger buyers.
With neighbouring areas such as Southall, Brentford, Hayes and Ealing all undergoing similar regeneration, now is a great time to invest in this up-and-coming area of west London.
For further information visit nhghomes.com/ lampton-parkside or speak to the sales team on 020 3944 3957
SHARED OWNERSHIP: BREAKING DOWN THE COSTS
Over 200,000 households in the UK currently own a shared ownership home.
The scheme is quickly becoming one of the only viable routes to homeownership for many first time buyers, especially in London. With shared ownership, buyers purchase a share of the property and pay subsidised rent on the remaining value. A much smaller deposit is required than when buying on the open market, and with rents in the capital also rising at record pace, the monthly costs
associated with shared ownership are often cheaper than renting in some postcodes.
At Lampton Parkside, estimated monthly costs on a typical one bedroom apartment are £1,154, based on purchasing a 25% share of a one bedroom home. This includes £571 rent on the unowned share, £402 for the mortgage (based on a 5.0% interest rate), and service charge of £181 (based on an example rate of £4 per square foot).
For NHG Homes, which understands the journey to homeownership can feel overwhelming, transparency around costs is key. Digital tools available on NHG Homes’ website include a monthly cost calculator, giving buyers the knowledge to decide which route to homeownership is most suitable for them.
At the purchase stage, all fees are clearly set out in the lease, including itemised charges and estimates, how much rent you will pay on your unowned share, and caps on how much your rent can be increased by over time.
Srekanth took out a mortgage on a 25% share of a two bedroom apartment at Lampton Parkside in February 2023.
The property was on the market for £430,000, so a 25% share equated to £107,500. Srekanth bought with a deposit of £25,000 and his monthly costs are £1,303. Of that, £414 goes on his mortgage and £739 on rent for the part he doesn’t own, plus a £150 service charge.
With a 10% deposit of just £8,313, estimated upfront costs are £10,813, factoring in typical fees and moving costs of £2,500. By comparison, average monthly rent for a one bedroom in Hounslow is £1,300 per month, while purchasing the same property on the open market would require a 10% deposit amount of £33,250, contributing to a monthly cost of £1,787 based on a 5.0% mortgage interest rate.
*Service charge included below is an example rate only.
AS GOOD AS NEW…
Annington focuses on the restoration of former Ministry of Defence properties, enhancing them to meet modern standards, for a new generation to create a home
While it may be tempting for first time buyers to exclusively consider new homes, have you explored the alternative of investing in an older property that has been restored, updated, and redecorated to provide the ideal living space?
Visualise the appeal of residing in a tranquil rural environment without the additional expense of a new-build premium. Discover the newest developments offered by Annington.
LANCASTER PLACE, WITTERING
Annington launched Lancaster Place, in Cambridgeshire, in May, and the homes there are already selling fast, with prices starting from just £180,000. The three bedroom houses have been carefully refurbished, with new front doors; and specific units with half-height external wall insulation, new timber fences around the rear gardens, and new floor coverings throughout the property.
Every home now boasts an energyefficient EPC C rating, having undergone gas and electrical testing, and offers the added convenience of allocated parking. Furthermore, each property has been redecorated, ensuring a clean and bright atmosphere that rivals the freshness of a brand new home. The layouts encompass open-plan living and dining areas, along with generously proportioned bedrooms with built-in storage.
Lancaster Place is within easy walking distance of all the amenities that the village of Wittering has to offer, including a primary school, convenience stores, takeaways, cafe, parish church and busy village hall which hosts a variety of activities including fitness classes and Scout groups. Wittering has a strong sense of community and plenty to offer. It has its own league-playing bowls club and both adult and junior football teams, while Wittering Sports and Social Club provides members with entertainment and a space to meet others in the community. A few miles away, the market town of Stamford offers shopping, restaurants, and cafes, along with additional schooling possibilities and further education.
Situated just 13 miles from the city of Peterborough, Wittering has great road connections via the A1, plus train services from Stamford station, four miles away, connecting with Stansted airport, London,
Cambridge, Peterborough, and Birmingham New Street, making it a great location for those who need to commute for work or even for those weekend trips away.
For more information about homes available at Lancaster Place, visit lancasterplace.co.uk
WORTHING FIELDS, SWANTON MORLEY
At Worthing Fields, Annington has embarked on an impressive programme to revitalise former military houses and recreate a thriving neighbourhood. These houses have been carefully transformed into comfortable and energy-efficient homes, with solar PV panels, 300mm of loft insulation, and low energy lighting; as a result, they have achieved an EPC C rating. Thorough testing has been conducted on the electrics, water, and lighting systems. Included in the property are new front doors, updated floor coverings, smart new blinds for all windows, timber fences surrounding the rear garden, and a complete redecoration, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of these homes.
Houses have a variety of layouts, offering ample open-plan living spaces, sizable bedrooms, and in certain instances, an extra room suitable for a separate study or playroom, with each property enjoying the accessibility of allocated parking. Worthing Fields is on the outskirts of Swanton Morley, a small Norfolk village where residents will find various amenities on their doorstep, including a primary school with an Ofsted
“Good” rating, GP surgery, convenience store, butcher, delicatessen, two country pubs, a village green, a 14th century church and three commons.
There’s a frequent bus service to nearby Dereham, only three miles away, which hosts a regular farmers’ market and has a variety of shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy. The beautiful cathedral city of Norwich is around 20 miles away, from where trains to London Liverpool Street take just over an hour and a half.
Homes at Worthing Fields are available this summer, with prices from £170,000.
For more information, or to arrange to visit the new marketing suite, see worthingfields.co.uk
Louise Saunders, Head of Sales and Marketing for Annington, said, “Both of these locations offer fantastic opportunities for first time buyers to get on to the housing ladder, avoiding the premium on new build homes while knowing that they are moving into somewhere that will be fresh, clean, and that they can call home.”
To find out more about Annington and the benefits of buying refurbished homes, and properties available around the country, visit annington.co.uk
Worthing Fields, Swanton Morley
Lancaster Place, Wittering
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FIRST TIME BUYER HOUSES BY HOME REACH
Shared ownership provides a stepping stone on to the property ladder, and with one of the largest homeownership programmes in the UK, Home Reach is proud to partner with over 130 housebuilders across 200 local authorities – enabling house hunters across the country to realise their homeownership dreams
A key part of bringing affordable homes to buyers across the UK is to offer a broad range of homes, from apartments through to familysized houses.
Melissa Toomey, Director of Sales at Heylo, explains, “We don’t want to just offer one bedroom apartments for shared ownership, because we know there are families looking for three and four bedroom houses who can’t afford to buy in their areas at full market value. We want to make a diverse range of homes available, to make buying affordable to everyone who wants to do so and to work closely with some of the highest quality housebuilders to make this a possibility.”
of greenery and pedestrian-led paths, Keld, by Northstone, is surrounded by the Lancashire countryside and close to the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Home Reach has two varieties of three bedroom homes – recently shortlisted for Best Family Home in the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards. In addition to clever design, quality finish, electric car charging and a turfed garden, every home is ecofriendly, with the intention of helping families to keep their energy bills down and lower their carbon footprint.
through Home Reach, offering families plenty of storage, separate utility room, off street parking and a double garage. There is also an en suite in the two bed homes! Prices start from £196,000 for a 40% share of a four bedroom home (FMV: £490,000).
OAK FARM MEADOW, STOWUPLAND
Family homes currently available through Home Reach span the whole of the UK, from Lancashire to Devon and Hampshire to Kent. Home Reach has a diverse range of options available, ensuring every customer can find their perfect place to call home.
KELD, BARROWFIELD
Built around traditional family-friendly streetscenes interspersed with pockets
Prices for three bedroom Home Reach homes at Keld start from £139,000 for a 50% share (FMV: £278,000), a staggering 44% less than the Barrowford average of £315,408 for a detached home according to Rightmove.
THE OAKS, CHUDLEIGH
A picturesque development by Linden Homes, The Oaks blends the tranquillity of village living with city convenience, with great connections into nearby Exeter. Four bedroom homes are available to buy
A collection of four bedroom homes in Stowmarket, Stowupland, Suffolk, the properties at Oak Farm Meadow have certainly been designed with families in mind – from the versatile layouts through to off-street parking and a good-sized garden. Perfect for both commuters and weekend explorers, Stowmarket railway station is located a mile away and offers regular services into Ipswich in under 15 minutes. Homes start from £212,498 for a 50% share of a four bedroom home (FMV: £424,996).
For more information on family homes available with Home Reach, visit homereach.org.uk
Oak Farm Meadow
Keld
Oak Farm Meadow
SPRING INTO SHARED OWNERSHIP WITH SNUGG HOMES
Abbey Springs, one of Snugg Homes’ outstanding developments located in the heart of West Lancashire, has been nominated at the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards –and your vote can make a difference.
NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR FAMILY LIVING
Abbey Springs is a unique find, nestled in the thriving community village of Burscough, so it’s no wonder it’s a contender in the Best First Time Buyer Family Home award category.
The Hewitt is a three bedroom, fiveperson property, designed to the highest standard with affordability in mind. These homes boast modern, open-plan fitted kitchen/diners and separate utility areas, with French doors opening to private gardens, creating functional spaces for everyday living.
One of Abbey Springs’ highlights is its expansive yet serene ecological pond, designed to encourage local biodiversity and offer a generous communal space for all residents to roam, explore and rest by.
The First Time Buyer Readers’ Award voting deadline is 16 August at midnight. Visit ftbawards.com and cast your vote for Abbey Springs today!
Snugg Homes is the shared ownership specialist that is dedicated to helping first time buyers across the country find their dream homes
GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Snugg Homes has a variety of stunning shared ownership developments available across the North West that are ideal for first time buyers to settle in to.
In the picturesque town of Winsford, Cheshire, lies Stonecross Vale, a stylish development featuring an elegant collection of two, three and four bedroom homes, all thoughtfully designed with modern living in mind.
These energy-efficient homes boast a spacious kitchen, dining area and lounge, along with well-proportioned bedrooms and contemporary bathrooms that seamlessly blend comfort and sophistication.
WIND DOWN IN WINSFORD
Winsford’s prime location, just 17 miles from historic Chester, offers excellent transport links to the vibrant cities of Manchester and Liverpool, ensuring that
convenience is always at your fingertips. Residents can also enjoy the picturesque countryside trails of Whitegate Way and explore the magical landscape of Delamere Forest – a perfect way to spend a pleasant summer’s day.
Plus, Winsford town centre, less than a mile away, offers a variety of supermarkets, restaurants, bars, takeaways and local stores, all within walking distance.
HERE TO HELP
The Snugg Homes team is on hand to answer any of the questions you may have about Stonecross Vale or any of our impressive developments and will support you every step of the way in your journey to homeownership.
To register your interest, please visit our website snugghomes.co.uk. You can also follow us on @SnuggHomes on X/Twitter or @snugghomes on Instagram and TikTok
Stonecross Vale, Winsford
SETTLE INTO COMMUNITY LIVING AT LINMERE
Linmere is situated in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire – a desirable location combining the convenience and excitement of community living with beautiful green landscapes surrounding the town and an easily accessible location with amazing travel connections
A stylish collection of one and two bedroom apartments, two bedroom coach house and two and three bedroom houses, the homes at Linmere are set in a beautiful new locality with a brand new school, community facilities, shops and open spaces. Homes here have all been designed to enhance the experience of daily living, and spacious interiors allow for natural light to flow freely, creating a bright and airy atmosphere.
Living at Linmere allows residents to explore nature within the neighbourhood, the perfect setting for leisurely strolls, energetic jogs and bike rides, or peaceful moments of reflection.
Outstanding design and superior craftsmanship combine to craft a home ideal for modern living, marking the perfect beginning of your homeownership journey. Featuring natural materials and designed to have its own distinct character and style, from industrial chic to traditional architecture, Linmere homes are built to last a lifetime, adhering to a strict design and sustainability code to ensure quality.
Set in tree-lined neighbourhoods, and surrounded by green open spaces, the mixed properties range from apartments to family houses, offering a range of achievable housing options for families of all sizes.
The sleek kitchens have a range of integrated appliances, and the bathrooms are contemporary and elegant. House types come with a garden and apartments with
a balcony. There are plenty of street and residents’ parking spaces, plus communal green spaces to enjoy.
LIFE IN LINMERE
Linmere is a vibrant new community, designed to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings, offering a haven where people of all ages can find joy and fulfilment.
Here, the great outdoors isn’t just an escape; it’s a lifestyle, a place to connect with nature and each other. Within this exciting new community, residents will find
a selection of shops, a children’s adventure playground, and a cafe, as well as a new school and leisure facilities for all to enjoy.
At the heart of the development is the Farmstead and everyone is welcome! It houses a community hall, where you can hold celebrations, attend classes or have business meetings in a comfortable and welcoming setting. There are plenty of safe footpaths and bridleways leading on to rolling countryside, nature reserves, and country pubs close by.
Linmere isn’t just a place to live; it’s a place to thrive, in a community that values health, happiness, and the wellbeing of all.
WHY BUY FROM SETTLE?
As the name suggests, we want to help you settle in a new community – by delivering new homes that meet local needs and creating diverse new neighbourhoods that let you live the life you choose. At settle we are proud providers of high-quality, affordable homes across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. We provide a variety of tenures to suit everyone’s needs, including offering social rent and shared ownership options.
For more information, including prices, floor plans and to arrange to view the show home, visit settlesales.co.uk/linmere
HOME FROM HOME
The buzz you can hear in the development world is coming from Greater Manchester and the work Hive Homes is doing in reinventing what it means to be a Joint Venture Partnership
For those who don’t know, Hive Homes – led by Edward Milner – is funded by 10 Greater Manchester-based Registered Providers (Great Places, Salix, Onward, Irwell Valley, Mosscare St Vincents, Bolton at Home, One Manchester, Southway, Wythenshawe Community Housing and Trafford Housing Trust) together with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Homes England to deliver 800 new homes across 10 sites.
The partnership’s mission is not only to build great new family homes, primarily for first time buyers, but the profits are ringfenced and recycled back to investors to deliver much-needed additional affordable housing across the conurbation.
Since its formation in 2018, the partnership has four major developments across Rochdale, Middleton, Bolton and Bury – more than 300 new homes – with more in the pipeline.
And Hive’s efforts have already been noticed after winning multiple awards over the past couple of years and with many happy customers already in its beautiful new homes.
Take Karim and Marta, who decided to put down roots at Osprey Place in Middleton, Rochdale.
Police Officer Karim and Branch
Manager Marta decided they wanted to settle down after Covid struck and it stopped them from travelling with their son. So after renting a new build for a couple of years in Heywood, the family started to look seriously for a home of their own. They liked Middleton and had visited other developments in the area, but a wrong turn took them to a sign advertising the new homes at Osprey Place.
Marta said, “We had been renting in Heywood and decided we wanted to throw down some roots. We had travelled all over the world with our son and when Covid hit, we weren’t able to travel so we thought we should look to buy. We went to see one development near to Osprey Place and we took a wrong turn and got lost. That’s when we saw the Hive Homes sign and my husband decided to investigate.
“We wanted a new build so everything was modern and up-to-date, so my husband Karim got online and started to research the
site. As soon as the plan was available, he picked our plot as it gave us the privacy we wanted, with room for our cars and visitors and a huge garden. We reserved as soon as we could and started to think about our new home. When the show home was available, it was everything we dreamed of.
“We got some good ideas about how we would furnish and decorate our home and it gave us reassurance that we had done the right thing. He was absolutely right that Osprey Place was the right spot for us.
“I would recommend Hive Homes to my family and friends because they have been fantastic. We have the home we always wanted at a good price. A similar home we looked at close by was around £40,000 more expensive and not in as good a position as our home, so we are very happy.”
So for more details on Hive’s ever-growing portfolio of developments, visit hive-homes.co.uk or call 0161 484 3229
Hastings HOTspot
The seaside resort of Hastings and neighbouring town of Battle offer everything from expansive beaches to ancient monuments – as well as some remarkably affordable housing options
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
5 REASONS WE LOVE… HASTINGS
1 The beautiful local beaches
2 Historical buildings at Battle
3 The fascinating Old Town
4 Riding the funicular railway
5 The award-winning pier
Hastings, a seaside town and borough in East Sussex, has a long and colourful history – it was already a busy port when the Romans arrived in 55BC, and its iron-rich rocks led to the town having the third largest mine in the Roman Empire.
It was here that the Norman Conquest began, with the Battle of Hastings taking place in October 1066, just up the road in what is now called Battle. King Harold ended up dead from an arrow in his eye, and William the Conqueror went on to build Battle Abbey as a penance for the bloodshed of the Norman victory. In the Middle Ages, Hastings grew in importance and became one of the Cinque Ports, alongside Sandwich, Dover, New Romney and Hythe. And while Battle’s in uence gradually waned after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, a few centuries later its fortunes improved when it became a centre for gunpowder production.
At Hastings, while shing was the main industry, smuggling also became big business, with natural caves being dug out further to hidden illegally imported luxuries – you can visit some of the caves at Smugglers Adventure. In the end, it wasn’t the Revenue men who put a stop to smuggling, but the in ux of tourists to the bays and beaches once the railway arrived in Victorian times.
OUT AND ABOUT
Today’s Hastings has a population of around 92,000 and a slightly older and less ethnically diverse demographic than in England as a whole. While road connections are somewhat slow, the borough is served by four different railway stations, West St Leonards, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings and Ore, offering services to Brighton, Ashford and London. Direct services from Hastings to London Bridge take around 1hr 38m.
It’s no wonder that this areas is popular with tourists – there is so much to see and do. First and foremost is Hastings beach, a wide expanse of sand and shingle with soaring cliffs to its back. A walk along the shore heading west will take you past the fishing quarter and the Old Town, the amusement arcades of Pelham Place, the renovated pier, the marina area of St Leonards, all the way to Bulverhythe Beach, part of the Combe Valley Countryside Park. Here you can see remnants of a submerged prehistoric forest at low tide, while at the very lowest of tides, a remarkably intact, 260-year-old Dutch East India Company cargo ship can be seen in its final muddy resting place.
Baldslow, Blacklands, Hollington and St
As you might imagine, properties in the quaint Old Town and those with sea views are always going to command a premium, but there is plenty of more affordable accommodation around, especially in the centre of Hastings, northern districts including Baldslow, Blacklands, Hollington and St Helen’s, and in nearby St Leonards. The miles of large terraced Victorian houses in Braybrooke and Bohemia also offer plenty of converted maisonettes and apartments, as well as substantial family homes. Some of the nearby villages, such as Fairlight, are popular with holidaymakers and second home owners, so tend to be more expensive.
converted
A few miles inland from Hastings lies Battle, where the Norman reign began in 1066. A visit to ruined Battle Abbey is a must – William the Conqueror commissioned the building with the high altar on the spot where King Harold is said to have died. There’s a well-preserved gatehouse and you can stroll across the grassy
stroll across the grassy battlefield site with an audio guide to bring it to life.
Back in Hastings, the picturesque Old Town is packed with narrow alleys and passages leading to
FACT FILE
Average property price in Hastings (March 2024) – £256,000
Property breakdown*
Detached – £489,000
Semi-detached – £342,000
Terraced – £261,000
Flat – £158,000
*According to the Land Registry House Price Index
FAMOUS RESIDENTS
• Comedian Jo Brand
• TV presenter Paul Merton
• Inventor of TV John Logie Baird
• Novelist Dame Catherine Cookson
• Mathematician Alan Turing
independent shops, antiques dealers, old pubs and quaint churches. Down by the beach you can still buy locally caught fish, while the Fisherman’s Museum and Shipwreck Museum will explain more about the area’s history. For everyday shopping, Priory Meadow Shopping Centre is a short walk away from the seafront and has more than 40 shops including Marks & Spencer, WHSmith, Primark, Superdrug and Boots as well as a variety of places to eat and drink.
For a traditional seaside town, Hastings is cosmopolitan in its tastes – popular restaurants include Remy’s Cafe Kulinarya, serving authentic food from the Philippines, Yaaze Cafe Bistro & Meze Bar for Greek cuisine, fresh Lebanese dishes at Liban Coast, and Monellis Sourdough Gourmet Pizza. For locally inspired fare head to The Stag Inn, with the Old Town’s largest pub garden, where you’ll find Hastings skate wings and Rye Bay scallops on the menu, alongside Sussex cheeses and homemade sourdough – plus live music at weekends. If the sun is shining, take a walk along the pier, which won an RIBA Stirling Prize for its refurbishment, stroll through Alexandra Park with its gardens, woods, bandstand and cafe or explore ruined Hastings Castle. The more energetic could hike the Saxon Shore Way, a long-distance footpath that stretches 163 miles to Gravesend, or follow National Cycle Network route NCR2 all the way from Dover to St Austell. On a rainy day, explore the museums or Hastings Contemporary, a gallery focusing on Modern British art.
HOMES ON THE MARKET...
HOLMSHURST GARDENS Battle
The Meadow Collection at Holmshurst Gardens, from Southern Housing, is a stylish development of shared ownership homes conveniently located in the suburb of Baldslow, midway between the Hastings seafront and historic Battle, site of the 1066 Norman Conquest.
The rst phase of The Meadow Collection features 21 two, three and four bedroom houses, now followed by a further 23 two and three bedroom houses in phase two. Light, bright and spacious, the carefully designed homes have a fantastic speci cation throughout, with allocated parking, private gardens and eco-friendly heating.
Every property enjoys a contemporary Paula Rosa kitchen in Fjord colour – an attractive pale blue/grey shade, complemented with bronze handles, a graphite sink and white worktops and upstands. A range of integrated appliances, including a washer-dryer and fridge-freezer, is included. The bathrooms have high-quality contemporary ttings from Duravit, Kaldewei and Roca, and come complete with a large mirror and heated towel rail. Main bedrooms have a built-in wardrobe. With a mixture of Amtico Luxury Vinyl ooring and wool mix carpet in the bedroom, the homes are ready to move straight in and make yourself at home.
Both phases have a range of different house types, starting with the two bedroom terraced Mason, which includes 70.4 sq m of space. Downstairs, there’s a lounge/diner, a spacious separate kitchen, WC and storage, while upstairs includes a double bedroom with tted wardrobe and cupboard, a single bedroom and a family bathroom. The unusual design of the three bedroom end-terrace Hallows house type is bound to be a talking point, with its angled separate kitchen and master bedroom. A large living/dining room, WC and storage complete the downstairs, while upstairs there are two more bedrooms and a bathroom. The three bedroom Utopia house type has a long kitchen/diner and a separate lounge, plus WC and storage downstairs, and a main double and two single bedrooms and a family bathroom upstairs. The largest house type, Hare, is spread over three storeys, with the main bedroom on the rst oor.
Southern Housing has ensured that the new homes are sustainable, with ground source heat pumps, HIVE active thermostats and electric vehicle charging points to every property. Initially, these beautiful shared ownership homes can only be bought by those with a local connection to the Borough of Hastings.
shnewhomnes.co.uk/holmhurst
READ ON...
With the holiday season in full swing and time to relax in the garden or on the beach with a good book, Lynda Clark talks to author Alex Dahl, who has written six exciting novels and has a couple of TV series adapted from her books in the pipeline
Alex is half American and half Norwegian and was born in Oslo. With a novelist grandmother who wrote many books, Alex always wanted to follow in her footsteps and become an author. She said, “I loved going to my grandmother’s house as a child as she had a wonderful library filled with all her books. Writing came easily to me and at school I loved the creative writing classes, although the rest of the class didn’t agree with me! I was fascinated about understanding the structure of stories and I was lucky enough to have an English teacher who was very encouraging and told me that I would become an author when I was older. My family are very artistic and creative too and they encouraged me, so that really helped.”
She went on to do her degree in Russian and German linguistics with international studies and then went to Paris to do a summer programme in creative writing. She then came to London and went to Bath Spa University to do her MA in creative writing. “It was 2005 and I was only 23, and in hindsight I think it was a little premature to do an MA as I really didn’t have any life experience at that age. While I was writing my first novel, I was pregnant with my son and after he was born he had a few health issues so I had to leave writing for a few years. It was painful to be away from the thing I loved doing the most but it was lovely to spend time bringing up my family. It is very hard for women today trying to juggle bringing up children and having a career. You need a level of mental capacity and space which is difficult.
“Eventually I needed to write again and earn money and my first book, The Boy at the Door was published in 2018. I had written several other books before this – they were not published but it was great that I had such encouraging feedback, which spurred me on. I sent off my ideas for The Boy at the Door to an agent and they loved it but they wanted to see the whole
OUT NOW
“THE STORY CAME TO ME VERY QUICKLY AND I HAD A STRONG IDEA ABOUT THE PLOT AND CHARACTERS AND MY INSTINCT TOLD ME IT WOULD WORK”
thing and I was only half way through, so I had to turn it round very quickly!
“My first agent was based in London and was wonderful. It was such a game changer when she managed to sell the rights to my books all over the world. She is retired now and I have signed with a lovely new agent. I then got a two-book deal and wrote The Heart Keeper, which was very well received, and then Playdate. It’s really exciting because that book is being made into a five-part TV series for Disney. I am the Executive Producer and it will be shown worldwide later this year.
“The story came to me very quickly and I had a strong idea about the plot and characters and my instinct told me it would work. It’s a thriller about child abduction – a little girl goes on a playdate with a new girl in her class. Her mother drops her overnight things round and the next morning her father goes to pick her up but the house is empty – no family, no furniture and no daughter. So it’s a missing person story with a twist as it turns out it’s all about revenge. I am fascinated about the whole idea of abduction and parts of the idea came to me several years ago on a plane going from the UK to Spain. We were over the French Pyrenees and I looked out of the window and saw a really remote farmhouse, high up in the mountains. It made me think that if you wanted to hide anything or a person this would be the perfect location.
“During the pandemic it was the strangest time, especially in Norway which is quiet at the best of times. It was so odd as I used to go out walking and there was
literally nobody around. But during that period Playdate went straight into Apple Books Top 10 and had excellent reviews in The Guardian and Financial Times, which was a real gamechanger. It was then that Brightstar Productions and Quay Street Productions saw this and got in touch about making a TV series. Later on, Disney+ greenlit the series and it finished filming last autumn.”
Alex has just published her latest novel, Girl Friends. “I wanted to write a book which was a little different to the others. A holiday read that you might pick up at the airport. I have recently been spending some time in Spain and wanted to set the story there. So it all takes place in Ibiza, and though I usually write thrillers which are quite Scandi-oriented, this book has elements of real fun and looks at female friendships and how women relate to their girlfriends. It does, however, turn quite dark – in the first chapter, two of the characters find a dead body but they have no idea what happened and they have to get rid of the body and not tell the authorities. I had lots of fascinating conversations with my own girlfriends to get a feeling of what they would do in the same circumstances – it was really interesting.”
The future looks very bright for Alex and she is currently Executive Producer on a French TV series in development, based on her first novel, The Boy at the Door. She is also writing a TV series from scratch, which will be set in France. She is planning another novel too and said, “It’s a constant balance though – I have three children and I have to attend lots of events, book signings and travel all the time so it’s important to get a work-life balance just right. I can’t imagine a life without writing and I am always buzzing with ideas.”
As we finish our chat I am delighted that I will soon be on holiday and will have time to read her books – I’m hooked and come away with the feeling that Alex’s grandmother would be very proud of her!
Girl Friends by Alex Dahl, published by Head of Zeus
Playdate by Alex Dahl, published by Head of Zeus
“PLAYDATE WENT STRAIGHT INTO APPLE BOOKS TOP 10 AND HAD EXCELLENT REVIEWS IN THE GUARDIAN AND FINANCIAL TIMES, WHICH WAS A REAL GAMECHANGER”
SHARED OWNERSHIP AT THE PICTURE HOUSE PROVIDES HOPE FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS
East London-based housing association Gateway Housing Association is gearing up to unveil its latest limited collection of one, two and three bedroom shared ownership homes in the London Borough of Newham. Conveniently nestled in Upton Park – equidistant between East Ham and Plaistow – The Picture House is set to launch imminently with prices starting from £83,750, and will support buyers keen to get on or move up the property ladder in a thriving east London postcode
Located nine minutes’ walk from Upton Park station – on the District and Hammersmith & City London Underground lines – The Picture House is ideally located for convenient commuting into central London.
Promoting sustainable travel around the city, The Picture House also offers residents convenient cycle parking. The development is well placed for daily essentials, with a pharmacy, Post Office, coffee house, bookshop and numerous eateries all just steps from the front door. Residents can also take advantage of the gym and swimming pool located in the retail space below.
The average first time buyer deposit has risen by 67% in the past 10 years, while the average salary has risen by 30%.¹ According to Halifax, in 2023 first time buyers put down an average deposit of an eye-watering £53,414. That’s £21,000 more than a decade ago. In London, the notoriously expensive property market raises the barrier higher still for first time buyers. Even in Barking and Dagenham, which was last year named the cheapest place to live in London², the average property price over the past 12 months stood at £373,192.³
Thankfully, this is where organisations such as Gateway Housing come in, offering
carefully structured solutions to support first time buyers to take that all-important first step on to the ladder. Gateway Housing has been supporting communities to thrive since 1926. Nearly a century later, the award-winning housing association is continuing to support buyers on to the ladder through shared ownership, with a collection of one to three bedroom apartments at The Picture House.
Shared ownership involves a buyer purchasing a share of a property – often in increments of 25% – and then
paying a subsidised rent on the remaining share. When the buyer can afford to do so, they can purchase additional shares in the home, with the goal being to “staircase” their way to full ownership in their own time. The key advantage for first time buyers is that they only need a deposit based on the share they are purchasing.
The Picture House showcases how this works. The high-specification apartments are available for purchase through the shared ownership scheme, with prices starting from £83,750 for a 25% share
of a one bedroom property. A buyer would therefore need a minimum 5% deposit of just £4,188 to be eligible to purchase the property.
The Picture House has been designed to suit a wide range of buyers who would otherwise be priced out of the local property market. Yet while the homes are affordable in terms of deposit, no compromises have been made in terms of quality.
The emphasis on quality continues within the individual homes. Kitchens feature Zanussi integrated appliances as standard, along with stylish wood-effect flooring. That flooring extends into the hallway and living areas, while bedrooms are fitted with soft, quality carpets and good storage options for a relaxed, clutterfree lifestyle. Many homes also come with private outdoor space in the form of an inset balcony or terrace.
Homes at The Picture House are available for buyers to register their interest now at newhomes. gatewayhousing.org.uk/ developments/the-picture-house
SOVEREIGN NETWORK GROUP SHORTLISTED FOR FIRST TIME BUYER READERS’ AWARD
Sovereign Network Group (SNG) is proud to be shortlisted for the highly acclaimed Affordable Housing Provider of the Year award at this years First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards
As one of the UK’s leading housing associations, SNG is passionate about giving everyone the opportunity to eventually own their home. Offering a wide range of properties through shared ownership, London Living Rent and outright sale, SNG supports first time buyers across the South of England on to the property ladder. From studios in central London to fivebedroom houses in Devon, and everything in between, SNG delivers high-quality homes in desirable places.
A HOUSE BUILDER WITH A DIFFERENCE
Every pound of profit SNG earns is reinvested into its new and existing homes and services, so that its customers, now and in the future, have a sustainable home in a thriving community. Answering the need for new affordable housing across the South of England, SNG delivered over 2,000 new affordable homes last year, of which 800 will help buyers on to the property ladder with shared ownership.
SETTING THE STANDARD
Paving the way for affordable housing, SNG demonstrates a market-leading approach to quality and sustainability through its trailblazing Homes and Place Standard. Created in collaboration with its customers, this standard will help deliver warmer, healthier, and cheaper-to-run homes with a greater consideration to their long-term environmental impact.
CUSTOMERS AT THEIR HEART
From moving in to moving on, SNG’s experienced teams are there to help you
with every part of owning your home. For instance, those buying with shared ownership can expect help and advice on:
9 Finding the share of their home that’s affordable for them
9 Staircasing towards full homeownership
9 Selling their share and moving up the property ladder.
IT WAS A SMOOTH, EASY PROCESS
First time buyers Daniel and Djuly-ane bought at Arc, in Wembley, and were impressed with the straightforward buying process. They explained, “It was a very smooth, easy process. It took just three to four months from our first contact with SNG to having the keys to our home in our hands. We were very organised in our approach – we read about the shared ownership process first and made sure we had everything we needed in terms of paperwork. Then it was simply a matter of completing all the different stages of the process.”
HELPING BUYERS ON TO THE PROPERTY LADDER IN LONDON
The average deposit for a first time buyer in the UK currently stands at a whopping £54,116, according to research by Halifax. In contrast, shared ownership apartments at Arc, Wembley, are available with deposits from just £4,469*.
Ideal for first time buyers, Arc offers a
choice of one and two bedroom apartments which ooze cosmopolitan charm and urban convenience, with prices starting from £89,375 based on a 25% share. Enjoy the best of 21st century urban living with a choice of shops at the London Designer Outlet, restaurants, and other fantastic entertainment on your doorstep.
Located beside Wembley Stadium overground station, you can arrive at Marylebone in just nine minutes, or take the tube from Wembley Park and head to central London via the Jubilee or Metropolitan lines and reach Baker Street in 12 minutes.
Plus, providing a much-needed boost for homebuyers, SNG is offering £500 towards legal fees, a £500 Love2shop Voucher, and £500 towards a local gym membership when they reserve at Arc**.
To find out more about SNG’s homes across London and the South of England visit networkhomessales.co.uk or sovereignliving.org.uk
*Shared ownership T&Cs apply. The 5% deposit figure is based on buying a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment at £89,375 with a full market value of £357,500
**T&Cs apply
Sovereign Network Homes is a charitable organisation and a subsidiary of Sovereign Network Group
First time buyer Daniel
Arc, Wembley
GO EAST!
Here are three reasons why we think you should buy in east London...
1. AQUA GARDENS –ROYAL DOCKS E16
Aqua Gardens by One Housing is perfectly situated in east London’s impressive Royal Docks regeneration area, which boasts of being London’s next hub of culture, business and opportunity along the water’s edge. Aqua Gardens is a threeminute walk to Custom House station, offering fast options on the Elizabeth Line to Canary Wharf, central London and beyond. The IFS Cloud Cable Car provides sky-high travel to Greenwich Peninsula via London’s only cable car, meaning the O2 Arena can be reached in just seven minutes with stunning views along the way.
Aqua Gardens is such a special development which creates a sense of immediate peace when you arrive due it being surrounded by 5,000 sq m of landscaped communal gardens, and not forgetting the ample amounts of open parks within reach. The development is now in its second phase, and each apartment is built to the highest standard of specification that One Housing has sold, with integrated appliances, en suites and openplan living. Each apartment has its own private outdoor space with some boasting amazing skyline views of central London. When you buy at Aqua
Gardens you can opt into having access to a wealth of amenities on site such as the Peloton spin studio, gym, rooftop running track, heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam, and more, all for as little as £40 a month.
Apartments start from £98,750 for a 25% share and with a deposit of as little as £4,937.50*, so why not speak to a sales consultant today on 020 8821 6599?
2. MAKERS YARD –CANNING TOWN E16
Canning Town has seen considerable regeneration in recent years and now finds itself home to a number of new shops, restaurants and developments. Makers Yard is one of these new developments, right in the centre of this exciting transformation of the historic Docklands.
One Housing, part of Riverside, is now in its third phase with Makers Yard, offering a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments and duplexes. Each apartment is built to the highest standard of specification there is to offer, with integrated Bosch appliances, spacious living areas, light interiors and outside space. The development is built around landscaped communal courtyards with many apartments offering
stunning views across east London and the City.
Canning Town station is a stone’s throw away from Makers yard and offers a five-minute commute to Canary Wharf and Stratford, while the City, London Bridge and Westminster can all be reached in 15 minutes or less. London City airport is only six minutes via the DLR, and with the Elizabeth Line available from Custom House you will be able to access faster connections into central London and beyond.
Prices start from as little as £98,000 for a 25% share of a one bedroom home with a deposit of as low as £4,900*, so why not make London’s up-and-coming postcode your home? Contact SiteSales on 0344 892 0124.
3. SHARED OWNERSHIP AT HEPWORTH PLACE E17 – WALTHAM FOREST TOWN HALL
One Housing’s newest addition to the east London family is a monumental development in partnership with Countryside Homes at the iconic Walthamstow Town
Hall redevelopment. Shared ownership at Hepworth Place is a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments located at the very heart of E17.It has been designed to embrace the historic culture of the location, while providing a modern and well-connected lifestyle, built to the highest standard of specification with integrated appliances and spacious open-plan living.
Hepworth Place offers residents an eclectic mix of shops, bars, cafes, galleries, parks and fantastic travel connections on their doorstep. In addition, there’s open green space as soon as residents step out of their new home, with Chestnuts Field located adjacent to the development. Walthamstow High Street is a short bus ride away giving access to a wealth of amenities including Walthamstow Central station connecting to central London and beyond.
Prices start from £136,500 for a 35% share, with a deposit of as little as £6,825. Contact a sales consultant today on 020 8821 4897.
*T&Cs apply
Aqua Gardens
Hepworth Place
Makers Yard Makers Yard
NEW HOME, NEW LIFESTYLE
Greenwich Millennium Village offers all the benefits of being in London, while enjoying nature on your doorstep
A perfect example of an urban village, Greenwich Millennium Village, which opened in 2000 and is expected to complete in 2032, offers the unbeatable combination of being in one of the best-connected areas of the city while enjoying the peace and quiet of being surrounded by parkland, wetland and wildlife-rich riverside scenery.
This thriving development, close to the iconic O2 leisure and entertainment centre, is a joint venture between Countryside Partnerships (part of the Vistry Group) and Taylor Wimpey, in association with the Mayor of London, that will eventually see 2,800 new homes built in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Constantly growing and developing, new amenities and facilities are opening here all the time – this spring has seen both a new community centre and a nursery open their doors. The impressive two-storey community centre has three separate spaces, all differently sized, available for community use, while the nursery, run by N Family Club, is a purpose-built, modern space with five naturally lit rooms and a specialist garden for each age group. These new facilities add to the convenience of the area, which already has the Millennium Primary School, rated as Outstanding by Oftsted, along with shops, a hairdresser, spa and pharmacy.
One of the highlights of living at Greenwich Millennium Village is the Ecology Park, a four-acre freshwater wetland site with two lakes, marshes, meadows and moorland. With wooden boardwalks, bird hides where you can spot some of the 85 species of birdlife, and an extensive eco play area with a climbing tower and exciting equipment, you might almost forget that you are living in the city.
Everywhere in London is easily accessible, however, thanks to the area’s excellent transport options. North Greenwich station, Zone 2/3, is a few minutes’ walk away, offering DLR and Jubilee Line services, with trains reaching Canary Wharf in just two minutes, Stratford in nine minutes and London City airport in 15 minutes. From Canary Wharf, the Elizabeth Line opens up transport across London, whisking commuters to Liverpool Street in six minutes, Paddington in 17 minutes and Heathrow airport in three quarters of an hour. The area is well served by buses, and you can also catch the IFS Cloud Cable Car across the Thames from
the Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks or go along the river on the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers service that heads from North Greenwich Pier to London Bridge, Waterloo and beyond.
The latest release of homes at Greenwich Millennium Village is The Galleria, a collection of superb apartments and maisonettes in a stunning setting alongside the green expanse of the Southern Park, leading to the ecology park. Homes currently available to buy there include one bedroom apartments from £449,995 and two bedroom apartments from £530,000, all with private outdoor space. The internal finish is extremely high, with ceramic tile flooring in bathrooms, engineered timber in kitchens and living areas, and carpet in the bedrooms. The contemporary kitchens feature stone worktops and glass splashbacks, and come complete with Bosch appliances including oven, hob, integrated microwave, dishwasher and fridge-freezer, and a washer-dryer in
the hall cupboard. Main bedrooms have attractive fitted wardrobes, and bathrooms feature a mirrored, lit vanity unit and a heated towel rail. With underfloor heating and built-in cooling, the homes will be comfortable whatever the weather.
Greenwich Millennium Village offers a number of schemes to make life easier for first time buyers, including its popular 5% deposit contribution offer (T&Cs apply), which enables qualifying buyers to put down a deposit of their own, while Greenwich Millennium Village boosts it by a further 5%. Some properties are also available using Own New Rate Reducer, a scheme whereby Greenwich Millennium Village makes a payment to a participating lender allowing it to offer a lower rate mortgage on the property.
For more information about homes at Greenwich Millennium Village and available special offers, visit greenwichmillenniumvillage.co.uk
LYON QUARTER, ACTUALLY
This summer, Guinness Homes will unveil a new show home at its new development on the south coast – Lyon Quarter in Hove. An attractive and affordable collection of apartments, the first launch has already brought 42 studio, one, two and three bedroom shared ownership homes to market in one of the UK’s most sought-after seaside towns. Quickly proving popular, over half of the homes are already sold out – with 26 apartments currently reserved
A major new development for the Sussex resort, Lyon Quarter will ultimately offer 154 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments across four contemporary blocks, as well as landscaped podium gardens. Ideally positioned for young professionals to families alike, Lyon Quarter is set in the heart of Hove and bordered by buzzing Brighton – with Hove’s artisanal streets offering serene seafront walks, sprawling green spaces and vibrant independent shopping.
Providing an alternative route on to the property ladder, shared ownership is a scheme which allows first time buyers to purchase a share in a property (typically between 25% and 75%) and pay subsidised rent on the remaining portion. This means that buyers typically need a much smaller deposit and mortgage than buying on the open market, and can purchase more shares over time, as and when they can afford to, until they ultimately own 100% of the property.
Tim Seward, Director of Marketing & Sales at Guinness Homes, comments, “Lyon Quarter is a significant new project for Guinness Homes; our flagship shared ownership development in Brighton & Hove. This is an area which is hugely popular, but rising house prices are increasingly pushing renters further out of the city in order to afford to purchase a home.
“Our shared ownership apartments at Lyon Quarter will offer stylish properties at a much more accessible price point, meaning local buyers can own a share in a
home without needing to compromise on a buzzing seaside location.”
Apartments at Lyon Quarter are finished to a quality specification throughout. Sleek kitchens are fitted with an integrated fridge-freezer, dishwasher and oven, while bathrooms offer contemporary white sanitaryware. Amtico flooring is fitted in living rooms and kitchens, while plush greige carpet lines bedrooms. All homes are complete with a private balcony or terrace, and residents also have access to the attractive communal gardens.
The ultimate seaside retreat, there is so much for buyers to do on their doorstep at Lyon Quarter. Nearby George Street offers an impressive array of trendy interior design, fashion and homeware boutiques alongside a range of upmarket eateries, organic greengrocers and independent coffee shops. For those looking to while away a weekend, the world-famous Brighton Lanes are less than a 30-minute walk away, home to narrow winding streets lined with quirky galleries, jewellers, antique shops and world-class restaurants.
Lyon Quarter is set just a four-minute cycle or drive from Hove station, and less than a 15-minute walk. From here, commuters can reach Clapham Junction, London Victoria and London Bridge in about an hour. Travellers can also enjoy
direct 32-minute journeys to Gatwick airport by rail.
A marketing suite and show home will open at Lyon Quarter in summer 2024.Prices start from £59,375 for a 25% share of a studio apartment (full market value £237,500), £80,000 for a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment (full market value £320,000), £104,375 for a 25% share of a two bedroom apartment (full market value £417,500) and £132,500 for a 25% share of a three bedroom apartment (full market value £530,000).
Call 01273 920 450 or visit lyonquarter.co.uk to book an appointment
Shared ownership terms and conditions apply
CANALSIDE LIVING IN MANCHESTER FROM JUST £43,250 – YOURS WITH SHARED OWNERSHIP
Meet Edgewater – a contemporary new build development on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal, just minutes from the up-andcoming Manchester market town of Stretford
Perfect for couples or young professionals wanting to get their first foot on the housing ladder, these one and two bedroom apartments give you the best of all worlds: a brand new affordable home, with city and countryside on your doorstep.
WHY BUY A NEW BUILD IN STRETFORD?
Recently ranked among the coolest neighbourhoods in the UK by The Sunday Times, Stretford is rapidly becoming one of Manchester’s hottest suburbs. With plenty to do, smart indie places to eat and drink, and a multi-million pound investment in the town centre, it’s no wonder properties get snapped up.
Just 16 minutes by Metrolink from Media City, 19 minutes to Piccadilly, with Trafford Park railway station close by and the M60 ring road a few minutes’ drive, Stretford is ideally placed for a quick commute. And you’ll have easy access to countryside, with Risley Moss, Dunham Massey and leafy Cheshire all just a short hop away.
Stretford isn’t short of green spaces itself, being home to South Manchester’s largest park, Longford Park, plus Victoria Park, which both have great sports facilities on top of wide, open spaces to enjoy.
WHY EDGEWATER?
A new build development on the banks of the Bridgewater Canal, these high-spec apartments are built to last. With dualaspect kitchens, integrated appliances, open-plan living and dining spaces plus one or two bedrooms, there’s all the space you need.
Featuring a contemporary design, allocated parking and views over the canal, shut the door behind you and find peace in a home you can call your own.
ASPIRATIONAL
There’s always plenty happening in Stretford, and the recent multi-million pound investment in the town centre will bring even more to the area. Nearby there’s the Trafford Centre, plus Old Trafford for cricket and gigs – it’s no wonder The Sunday Times named Stretford as one of the coolest places in the country.
At Edgewater you’ll have everything on your doorstep. Why not join in with poker night (Wednesdays) or dancing (Fridays) at BrewChimp, the biggest in the local chain? Or grab a fixed price meal out at Stretford Canteen, which also serves bar snacks, small plates, beers and cocktails. You’ll find it featured in the Good Food Guide and boasting a five-star Tripadvisor rating for its unfussy fine dining vibes.
HAPPINESS
Whether your version of happiness is a home full of mates or a solo night in, you’ll be able to craft your life just the way you want it in your contemporary Edgewater home. If you’re playing host, hop on the tram to Salford Quays for some food inspiration at Kargo, host to more than 20 independent kitchens. Or bring yourself something home from Stretford’s Bakehouse 42 – famous for its wood-fired pizzas.
SPACE
South Manchester is popular for its local green spaces and idyllic walks. Find wide open spaces in both of Stretford’s parks, or stroll down the Bridgewater Canal towpath, which will be right outside your window.
You’ll also be a few minutes’ drive from Chorlton Water Park, a nature reserve with lake, great for a wander around and a picnic on a sunny day. Manchester does get some of those, you know!
CREATIVITY
Head down to Stretford Public Hall to check out the range of creative classes, theatre and music nights it hosts. You’ll soon feel part of the community.
Alternatively, browse the independent makers attracted by the monthly Stretford Socials held in the town centre. And with a home that’s all yours, you can get creative with the decorating, with no landlord to veto your plans.
At GECKO Homes we build and sell affordable homes across Manchester and Cheshire. Shared ownership means you can get on the property ladder with just £2,163 as a deposit (based on a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment and subject to the usual affordability criteria).
You can bank on Edgewater for a home where you want to live, so get in touch to register your interest today.
geckohomes.co.uk/find-a-home/edgewaterstretford
WHITE CITY HOTspot
White City is a district of London, in the northern part of Shepherd's Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It got its name from the white marble cladding used on buildings during several exhibitions when the area was first developed, between 1908 and 1914
Ready to make the move to west London? With so many areas to pick from, it can be a difficult choice to find the right spot for you.
Moving to White City could be a great choice for those seeking a lively and dynamic living environment in the capital. Situated in the heart of west London, White City is an exciting and vibrant place to call home, with modern amenities and a choice of transport links. White City station is positioned on Wood Lane and is served by the Central Line, but it is very near to Wood Lane station, which is on the Circle and Hammersmith & City lines. One of the area's key attractions is its proximity to Westfield London shopping centre, which is home to over 350 shops and restaurants. White City is also home to the iconic Television Centre, which is an exciting
feature for TV and history buffs alike. The area is also a great spot for a range of good educational facilities for all ages, including the Imperial College campus.
There are plenty of attractive spaces nearby, including open and green areas such as BBC Gardens and Hammersmith Park, which make White City a beautiful place to live. And residents will certainly be spoilt for choice with all of the dining and entertainment options, such as Bluebird Café and White City House, which add a touch of glamour to the area.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WHITE CITY IS FAMOUS FOR ITS RICH AND VIBRANT HISTORY?
In fact, the area is well-known for serving as the host for the 1908 Summer Olympics and for holding various international exhibitions. Today, the area is still a vibrant and exciting place to call home, as it is packed with activities and attractions catering to a range of interests. Foodies and those looking to try a new type of cuisine have endless options nearby, with a dynamic culinary scene that could make other areas of London jealous!
For the more academically inclined, the Imperial College White City campus often holds public lectures and events. For leisure, White City offers opportunities for boutique shopping at L Maison, Cowshed, The Cross, and Summerill & Bishop. Those seeking relaxation can treat themselves at White City’s notable spa, while for a spot of culture, the Bush Theatre hosts a variety of shows and performances.
HOMES ON THE MARKET...
WHITE CITY
Acer Apartments
Have you always dreamed of living in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham? If so, we have the perfect summer treat to show you – a brand new and extremely modern shared ownership apartment in the heart of White City! Set within eight acres of parks and gardens, surrounded by world-class retail, entertainment, education and culture… the Acer Apartments at White City are waiting for you.
Experience what life could be like in this west London community and discover all that these modern homes and residents' amenities have to offer, while discovering how you could get on the property ladder with shared ownership from just £126,250 for a 25% share.
Imagine yourself living at Acer Apartments, within this 22-storey, ultracontemporary building where every home is equipped with a sleek, handleless Euro Cucina kitchen with integrated appliances. You will also enjoy open-plan layouts with oor-to-ceiling windows and ooring throughout; cosy carpets to the bedrooms and Karndean wood-effect ooring everywhere else.
Just minutes from some of the capital’s greatest shopping, arts, entertainment and culture, each apartment has been built to the highest speci cation, with contemporary layouts and generous windows to allow in plenty of natural light.
Legal & General Affordable Homes is offering a unique opportunity to purchase a home here through shared ownership, allowing you to own your new home with subsidised rents and a lower deposit than is required to buy outright or with other buying schemes.
Shared ownership allows you to buy an initial share in your new home and rent the remaining share. As you’ll only need a mortgage for the share you own, the amount you’ll need for a deposit is typically much lower than you’d need for buying outright, which means that getting on the property ladder in west London could be more achievable than you may think.
NEW RIVERSIDE QUARTER WITH STYLISH NEW AFFORDABLE HOMES AT SQUARE ROOTS LEWISHAM
The Waterway Building at Square Roots Lewisham has been unveiled in the new Riverside Quarter – with a selection of exceptionally well-designed sleek apartments on offer – ready for a great city lifestyle at an affordable price
Square Roots Lewisham is offering shared ownership, with a minimum 25% share from £103,750 for a one bedroom apartment.
Becky Boden, Head of Sales South, said, “Square Roots Lewisham offers an amazing opportunity to live close to central London in a beautifully designed, highquality new home that’s affordable. Square Roots Lewisham is part of an extensive regeneration of the town centre, where significant investment is being made. This is excellent news for buyers who are looking for a home they can afford in a great location in the capital.”
The collection of 141 one, two and three bedroom affordable apartments all feature a private balcony or terrace. Residents on the upper floors will have outstanding views across the London skyline or over the development’s landscaped grounds below, part of the new riverside quarter next to the Ravensbourne River, with landscaped grounds, play areas, a communal podium terrace, plus retail and office space.
The apartments are high specification with open-plan living areas, beautifully designed kitchens and bathrooms, plus space for working from home stations with high speed Wi-Fi. There is cycle storage, wireless door entry via a handheld device, a 10-year NHBC warranty and a two-year Square Roots Customer Service Warranty with its award winning team. Square Roots Lewisham is a sevenminute walk to both Lewisham railway station and the DLR, with excellent links to Canary Wharf taking 18 minutes and Greenwich in just six minutes. Southeastern offers rail links into London Bridge taking eight minutes and Charing Cross and Cannon Street take less than 20 minutes.
Lewisham has lots of green spaces across many local parks, and a cycle route which follows the Pool and Ravensbourne
Rivers, or cycle to historic Greenwich Park. The town centre has a thriving food and drinks scene, good shops with high street brands and independent stores, and a strong cultural scene with Lewisham Arthouse, independent theatres and cinemas and nearby Ladywell Village, with its independent cafes and shops.
HOW DOES SHARED OWNERSHIP WORK?
You start by buying a share of the property (usually between 25% and 75%). This helps to reduce the deposit and mortgage amounts you need to pay to get on the property ladder, as you are only borrowing what you can really afford. Your deposit will be 5-10% of the share value you decide to buy, not the full market value of the whole shared ownership property. You pay rent on the remaining share of the property you have not yet bought, at less than the rate charged on the open market.
You can gradually increase the share you own in your home until you own it outright. You need to be earning less than £90,000 in London and you will need to be a first time buyer or be in the process of
selling your home before buying your new shared ownership home. Our expert team will guide you through every step of the buying process.
THE SQUARE ROOTS STORY
Square Roots, the independent affordable housing provider established two years ago by award-winning residential property company London Square, plans to deliver 3,500 homes over the next five years to help address London’s housing shortage. London Square is the developer, in partnership with Square Roots. Square Roots now has 1,000 homes under construction across five London boroughs. Its first development, Square Roots Kingston, won two major accolades – the Evening Standard New Homes Awards for Best Shared Ownership Scheme and the First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards for Best Medium Development.
Now, Square Roots Lewisham has been nominated for Best Large Development in the 2024 First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards.
To visit the show home and find out more, call Square Roots Lewisham on 0333 666 2535 squareroots.co.uk
LAST CHANCE TO OWN AT HARROW & WEALDSTONE HEIGHTS WITH ORIGIN KICKSTART
As the final nine apartments remain at Origin Housing’s flagship development, Harrow & Wealdstone Heights, first time buyers have a limited opportunity to secure their dream home through the Origin Kickstart initiative
Origin Kickstart is a campaign designed to support aspiring homeowners in overcoming the challenges of purchasing a property in the capital. With carefully crafted incentives on two bedroom homes, including up to £2,500 towards costs such as legal fees, rent, and broker fees*, the scheme provides a personalised approach to help buyers take that first step on to the property ladder.
Harrow & Wealdstone Heights, now over 90% sold, comprises a collection of 81 shared ownership apartments in a prime location just minutes from Harrow & Wealdstone station and the high street. Residents can enjoy a variety of shops, restaurants, cafes, and fitness facilities, as well as several award-winning green spaces nearby, including Canons Park, Harrow Recreation Ground, and Pinner Memorial Park.
Each home at the development showcases Origin’s exceptional standard of finish, with thoughtfully designed open-plan living spaces that cater to both working from home requirements and entertaining. Fully integrated appliances, including a stainless steel electric oven, a ceramic electric hob, a fridge-freezer and a dishwasher, come as standard, allowing buyers to move in without the added expense of fitting out their new kitchen. All homes also benefit from a private balcony and access to a communal roof terrace, perfect for enjoying the summer months.
Resident Diego, who was drawn to the development because of its convenient location, comments, “I knew the road links were good when I first found the development, but I’ve also been impressed with the nearby public transport – we have Harrow & Wealdstone station on the doorstep where you can get trains to Euston, and the Bakerloo Line runs to Paddington and Waterloo.”
With the final nine apartments now available and ready to move into, first time buyers can take advantage of Origin Kickstart and secure their new home at Harrow & Wealdstone Heights with a deposit as low as £4,469.**
Don’t miss this last chance to own a shared ownership apartment in this sought-after development. Visit originhousingsales.co.uk/ harrow-wealdstone-heights for more information and to book your viewing today
*T&Cs apply. Only applicable on selected developments. This offer includes legal fees, rent charges, and broker fees; it cannot be used with any other offer. Incentives are redeemable upon completion, and are limited to one per household. Please speak to a member of the sales team for more information
**Prices at Harrow & Wealdstone Heights start from £81,250 for a 25% share of a one bedroom shared ownership apartment (full market price: £325,000)
EMBRACE THE FUTURE AT KENT’S POPULAR RIVERSIDE DESTINATION
Nestled along the banks of the River Medway, Hyde New Homes at Rochester Riverside offers an exceptional opportunity for first time buyers. A collection of new homes, available to buy through shared ownership and set to launch this autumn, these one and two bedroom apartments form part of this award-winning waterside neighbourhood
A BLEND OF HERITAGE AND CONTEMPORARY LIVING
Hyde New Homes at Rochester Riverside’s unique location fuses historic charm and contemporary convenience. With Rochester’s splendid cathedral and castle on the doorstep, coupled with its many amenities, which include Cineworld, Hollywood Bowl and The Little Theatre, residents will enjoy a lifestyle rich in culture, entertainment and leisure. A huge choice of popular restaurants from familyrun eateries to the delicious delights of delis and cafes, mean locals have a plethora of options for dining out.
With the rolling North Kent Downs as a green backdrop to all of this, offering picturesque views and easy access to stunning countryside, this town provides the perfect balance of natural beauty and urban convenience.
TRANQUILLITY AND CONVENIENCE
Rochester Riverside itself boasts breathtaking waterside views. With 10 acres of open green space, residents at Rochester Riverside can indulge in outdoor activities, leisurely strolls, or simply relax while enjoying the scenic beauty. Wide, open skies and ample green spaces create a sense of freedom and relaxation, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
At the heart of the development lies a landscaped central plaza, already forming part of the vibrant hub of the community. The plaza features a variety of shops, including a Co-op and a Costa Coffee, catering to everyday needs and offering convenient options for socialising and shopping. From the new primary school within the development to the various shops and recreational facilities, every aspect of modern living is within reach.
Another standout feature of Rochester Riverside is its excellent transport links. Whether you’re commuting to London for work or exploring the picturesque landscapes of Kent, the development’s location makes it simple to get around. Within easy walking distance, Rochester railway station offers frequent services to London within 37 minutes, making it a perfect choice for those who work in the city but crave the peace of suburban living.
POLISHED STYLE FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS
Making the lifestyle here attainable for everyone, shared ownership allows you to buy a share of a property at Rochester Riverside, for which you pay a mortgage. Subsidised rent is then paid to Hyde for the remaining share.
Style and comfort have been prioritised. With two different layouts to choose from, the one and two bedroom homes are beautifully designed, with plenty of space to breathe and unwind. Sleek flooring throughout, coupled with modern kitchens, integrated appliances and tiled bathrooms included at no extra cost, creates impressive interiors from the moment you move in.
Guide prices for the shared ownership homes at Rochester Riverside start from £94,000 for a 40% share of a one bedroom apartment, based on a market value of £235,000. Guide prices for two bedroom apartments start at £77,750 for a 25% share, with a full market value of £311,000.
To register for advance details please visit: hydenewhomes.co.uk/rochester-riverside
Typical Hyde show home interiors
IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN!
With its soaring chimney and historical clock tower, Horlicks Quarter, an inspiring new development in Slough, is creating a wonderful new community where refurbished historic buildings and new homes sit side by side, surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and tranquil water features. It doesn’t get better than this!
I am not usually lost for words – in fact I’m known to be a chatterer – but when I recently visited Horlicks Quarter I ran out of adjectives to describe this exciting new development. I was totally inspired and these lovely apartments by Abri Homes are also affordable through shared ownership, so they tick every box.
Many of you will know of Horlicks, the bedtime drink; well this is where it was made for many years and the development has not forgotten its great history. The iconic chimney and clock tower still stand, proud and tall, and the development blends seamlessly into this bygone era.
Aquifer House brings a collection of 104 one and two bedroom apartments spanning 10 floors, and all come with outside space –either a large balcony or terrace (the terrace is about the same size as my garden –incredible!), and many have stunning views. With such a high specification, the homes are light, spacious and beautifully fitted out with Bosch integrated appliances in the kitchen. The open-plan kitchen/diner is big enough to easily take a table and chairs, and some apartments have a built-in breakfast bar. Bedrooms have a fitted wardrobe and the hotel-style bathrooms and en suites
are luxurious and even have a large rain shower plus a smaller shower – it’s luxury living at its best!
Horlicks Quarter boasts some very exclusive residents’ facilities too, including a 12-hour concierge, fully equipped gym, games room with a pool table, private dining area, cinema room complete with reclining chairs, perfect to watch the latest blockbuster, and a lovely rooftop garden where I was amazed I could clearly see Windsor Castle in the distance. For those who work from home and want the ideal work-life balance, then the co-working space offers the perfect environment to work and socialise.
I really need to know the name of the landscape gardeners as their choice of plants and flowers is exquisite and throughout the development the tranquil water features complete the picture perfectly. The Factory Café, which looks out on to some pretty coloured fountains, is at the heart of the development and the perfect spot to meet the neighbours and socialise and do try the coffee and cakes – yummy!
There is a real sense of community here and at Clocktower Place, the focal point for all the activities on offer here, there will
be artisan markets, art exhibitions, music events and much, much more, so something for all the family to enjoy.
Located only half a mile from Slough railway station and the Elizabeth Line, it only took me around 20 minutes from central London to get there, so ideal for a quick commute. Slough’s town centre is a short eight-minute walk away where you can find a range of shops, supermarket – I was tempted to pop into the huge Tesco, which is the largest in Europe – and a selection of pubs and restaurants.
So, if you think this all sounds way out of your budget you will be mistaken. Prices for one bedroom apartments are from £100,625 for a 35% share with a full market value of £287,500 – the monthly rent is £428 and £149 for the service charge. A two bedroom apartment is from £127,750 for a 35% share with a full market value of £365,000 – the monthly rent is £544 and £207 for the service charge.
I really was buzzing after I visited Horlicks Quarter – it’s so near to London but I felt I was in my own quiet oasis. It’s home from home, but offers so much more.
abrihomes.co.uk
NEW HOMES IN WATFORD
OFFER BEST OF BOTH WORLDS FOR FTBS
For those looking to step on to the property ladder in a well-connected location near London, while also enjoying access to the countryside, Regal London’s development The Clarendon is the perfect choice. Located in the popular town of Watford, The Clarendon’s collection of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments will be ready to move into later this year, with prices starting from £300,000
WATFORD – A HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER LOCATION
Having been crowned the top location to live and work in the UK in Lambert Smith Hampton’s 2024 UK Vitality Index¹, it is no wonder Watford is proving a popular choice for first time buyers. And with its close proximity to London, town centre amenities, surrounding countryside, employment opportunities, and a recent £1.5bn investment into the town, it is only continuing to grow in popularity as a destination to settle down.
Located in a prime position on Clarendon Road, moments from Watford’s high street and railway station – which offers direct trains to London Euston in 15 minutes – residents are able to enjoy the town’s growing social scene, retail offering and green open space on their doorstep.
LANDMARK LIVING AT THE CLARENDON
Designed by Fraser Brown Mackenna Architects, The Clarendon is a striking 25-storey building comprising 168 private homes. The first of their kind in the area, the apartments feature a video entry smart panel, with engineered oak flooring throughout the hallway, living and dining areas and high-quality fitted carpet in the bedrooms. Kitchens are contemporary in style, featuring quartz stone worktops and fully integrated Smeg appliances, while principal bedrooms include fitted wardrobes, designed to perfectly complement luxury living.
Adding to the appeal, residents also have access to an impressive range of private residents’ facilities including two sky gardens on the 7th and 25th floors, a stateof-the-art gymnasium, cinema, as well as a cafe and 24-hour concierge service. These facilities, reminiscent of a five-star hotel, are unlike anything else on the Watford market.
PERFECTLY PLACED HOMES
For those seeking a break from the city buzz, Watford boasts numerous green spaces within walking distance from The Clarendon. The county’s wider offerings are also plentiful, with Hertfordshire’s rich history boasting more than 300 listed buildings, eight Michelin-rated restaurants, golf courses, Cassiobury Park and the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – offering all-year round activities and catering to all interests.
Beyond being home to Championship football club Watford FC, Watford has also attracted large companies to the area, including PwC and KPMG. The head offices of TK Maxx and Ralph Lauren UK are also nearby, while Epson UK and National Lottery Operator, Allwyn, will be calling The Clarendon Works – 140,000 sq ft of Grade A office space located on the same site as The Clarendon – home in the coming months, bringing fantastic employment opportunities to the area and further making The Clarendon an attractive choice for young professionals and first time buyers looking to purchase their first home and settle down.
Watford is renowned for its proximity to world-class education, thanks to its location in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Centred between Oxford, Cambridge and London, residents are within easy access to some of the finest universities in the world, including the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, University College London, King’s College London, in addition to the nearby highperforming primary and secondary schools. While just moments from Watford Junction station, Watford Underground (Metropolitan Line) and Watford High Street Overground stations are also just a short walk away, meaning residents are well positioned to access the whole of London. By road, the M1 and M25 motorway routes are minutes away, offering easy and fast links further into the British countryside, while for those looking to travel abroad, Heathrow airport is just a 25-minute drive away.
Prices start from £300,000 for a studio apartment. For further information, visit theclarendonwatford.co.uk
THIS AWARD WILL BE LOOKING FOR SMALL DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE USED THE BEST DESIGN AND QUALITY TO CREATE DESIRABLE, AFFORDABLE AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH PEOPLE WISH TO SET UP THEIR FIRST HOME. THIS AWARD IS FOR SCHEMES OF UP TO 80 HOMES.
NHG HOMES | CASTLE & VICTORIA
Bringing a piece of historic London back to life, NHG Homes’ Castle & Victoria is a boutique collection of 28 apartments set across four charmingly restored Victorian buildings. Offering homes through shared ownership, the development presents a unique opportunity to get on the property ladder in Westminster – one of London’s most sought-after areas. Attention to detail underpins the high-quality features of the open-plan apartments, including brushed gold kitchen taps and solid core timber flush doors. These are homes designed for the modern buyer, with style and quality at the forefront. Much of what makes London an iconic global city is right on the doorstep: Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, leafy Hyde Park, Westminster, the illustrious Royal Albert Hall and much more. The Zone 1 location and excellent transport connections mean that Castle & Victoria provides a pocket of tranquillity within grasp of the city’s boundless charms and magical history.
SETTLE | ORCHARD CLOSE
Situated in the quiet, desirable village of Upper Gravenhurst in Bedfordshire, Orchard Close comprises 53 affordable homes.
Thirty-five two and three bedroom shared ownership and 18 socially rented homes combine to offer a close community feeling. All homes were designed to complement the local landscape and make the most of the views of the rolling countryside. The traditional brickwork exterior and canopy entrance details, with some homes incorporating quoin detailing, create a neighbourhood that complements the existing homes in the village. Each home has something special to offer for those looking to be part of a community; the three bedroom houses are ideal for families, while the two bedrooms are perfect for both professional couples starting out and the more mature residents. Not only did Orchard Close improve the local community by adding 53 much-needed affordable homes to the area; the village school benefited from its outdoor areas being refurbished.
PEABODY NEW HOMES | HONEYBROOKE
With views across the rolling countryside, Honeybrooke by Peabody New Homes is nestled within the quaint Buckinghamshire village of Stoke Hammond. Comprising two, three and four bedroom shared ownership homes, Honeybrooke is expertly designed with sustainable and contemporary living in mind. An unmissable opportunity for aspiring first time buyers, this development is now fully reserved. Taking advantage of the sloping landscape, homes at Honeybrooke are carefully positioned to capture exceptional views of open countryside. For quintessential country living, breathtaking green spaces and traditional village pubs are moments away, while nearby Milton Keynes means buyers are not far from shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities. More than just an affordable route to homeownership, Honeybrooke is creating a dynamic new community. New landscaped gardens mirror the surrounding greenery and establish space to meet and socialise. With families in mind, a new children’s play area means parents don’t have to venture far to entertain their children.
SOUTHERN HOUSING | OLD PORTSMOUTH ROAD
Old Portsmouth Road from Southern Housing is a boutique development of 12 beautifully designed two and three bedroom shared ownership houses, set in the heart of Guildford, one of the most affluent parts of the country, and surrounded by swathes of idyllic Surrey countryside and rolling hills. Sympathetically blending with Guildford’s historic architecture, all homes have been designed in the style of nearby 20th century properties. A rare offering for this expensive commuter town, shared ownership homes at Old Portsmouth Road launched off-plan at the end of September 2023, with five of the homes reserved in one day. Within just a few months, all shared ownership homes had been fully sold off-plan. Priced from £155,750 for a 35% share of a two bedroom house, the development has provided local first time buyers with a much-needed, affordable route on to Guildford’s property ladder, with all units going exclusively to local buyers.
Best Partn ship
THIS AWARD CATEGORY CELEBRATES A COLLABORATION OF TWO OR MORE COMPANIES WHICH HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO DELIVER BOTH QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS. IT WILL HIGHLIGHT BEST PRACTICE OF PARTNERSHIP WORKING WITHIN THE HOUSING SECTOR AND CHAMPIONS THE ETHOS OF WORKING TOGETHER TO DELIVER MORE.
HIVE HOMES
Hive Homes is a joint venture between 10 Greater Manchester-based registered providers (Great Places, Salix, Onward, Irwell Valley, Mosscare St Vincents, Bolton at Home, One Manchester, Southway, Wythenshawe and Trafford Housing Trust) together with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). This established a traditional housebuilding company selling high-quality new family homes primarily for entry level open market sale, the profits from which are ring-fenced and recycled back to our investors to deliver much-needed additional affordable housing across the conurbation. Hive Homes has been working exclusively in partnership with various local authorities across Greater Manchester, as well as Homes England, to deliver high-quality, spacious family homes while delivering a range of socio-economic outcomes, often beyond policy requirements. Hive Homes now enjoys a pipeline of approximately 800 new homes across 10 outlets, working in partnership with Rochdale Council, Oldham Council, Wigan Council, Bury Council, Bolton Council and Homes England.
HOME REACH BY HEYLO HOUSING AND GLEESON HOMES
Bringing much-needed affordable homes to first time buyers across the Midlands and North of England without compromise on specification or service, housebuilder Gleeson Homes and shared ownership provider Heylo first partnered in 2020. With an aligned ethos, strong communication and a combined passion for delivering the best homes possible, the partnership has gone from strength to strength, transforming 348 private sale homes into shared ownership properties in the past four years – almost half of which have launched in the past 12 months, making up around 20% of Home Reach’s pipeline. Heylo offers shared ownership homes through its Home Reach product, allowing buyers to purchase a share of the house and pay rent to Heylo on the unowned portion. One of Gleeson Homes’ key USPs is its dedication to only building in communities where its homes will be genuinely affordable to those living and working in the area.
LATIMER BY CLARION HOUSING GROUP AND BELLWAY
Bellway and Latimer are committed to delivering sustainable communities which provide quality, affordable homes for first time buyers – values that are perfectly embodied at their Springstead Village development in Cambridge. Through a joint vision, Latimer and Bellway have created a development where every home is built with sustainability at its core. Homes are equipped with air source heat pumps and EV charging points, with most offering an EPC A or B rating to help keep energy costs manageable. Springstead Village also offers the affordable routes into homeownership first time buyers need. Latimer’s shared ownership scheme significantly reduces the deposit needed for many homes at the development, while the availability of the Own New Rate Reducer helps make new homes more affordable by offering cheaper initial mortgage term rates. This makes Springstead Village an exemplar of how an ambitious partnership can deliver the high-quality, affordable homes needed for the future.
Best First Time Buy Apartment
THIS AWARD IS FOR AN APARTMENT SUITABLE FOR A FIRST TIME BUYER, WHICH IS AFFORDABLE AND ALSO OFFERS EXCELLENT DESIGN FLAIR, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.
ABRI HOMES | HORLICKS QUARTER
Recognised as the Top Commuter Town in the UK by The Telegraph, the regeneration hotspot of Slough is proving popular with first time buyers seeking London-style living at affordable prices. Part of the creative reimagination of the original Horlicks Factory, Abri Homes’ Apartment 114 at Aquifer House is a spacious two bedroom ground floor apartment, expertly designed to provide bright, open-plan living. Featuring Bosch appliances and high-quality specifications throughout, the apartment also benefits from an outdoor terrace and views over the beautiful surrounding landscaped gardens. Available with shared ownership, residents have access to a range of first-class facilities including a concierge, gym, cinema room and rooftop garden, with the co-working space making working from home a breeze. Just a seven-minute walk from Slough railway station, residents have access to excellent rail links as well as the Elizabeth Line, which reaches London Paddington in just 19 minutes.
CITY & COUNTRY | FACTORY NO. 1
Once a thriving tobacco factory, Factory No. 1 is now a desirable and unique combination of restored historic buildings alongside five new build apartment blocks. Combined, these offer 284 spacious homes in Bristol’s up-and-coming Bedminster district. Leading heritage developer City & Country has converted and expertly restored the Grade II listed Victorian factory. Together with the new apartment blocks, these remarkable city homes are all set around a peaceful communal courtyard garden. With their all-inclusive, high-end specification, these award-winning new apartments are ready to move into. Offering features such as floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies and spectacular views over the Bristol skyline, each apartment has been carefully designed to offer homeowners a luxurious oasis in the heart of this vibrant area of the city.
GUINNESS HOMES | MCARTHUR’S YARD DEVELOPMENT
Situated in the heart of Bristol’s historic harbourside, McArthur’s Yard offers luxury one, two and three bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses. The apartments are sleek and sophisticated, featuring large windows that maximise natural light, spacious open-plan designs for work and relaxation and modern, integrated appliances. The development has a vibrant community on its doorstep. With excellent regional, national and international transport links and a wealth of amenities and cultural attractions including shops, restaurants and museums, McArthur’s Yard is perfectly located for first time buyers looking to live in the South West. The development offers outright sale and shared ownership options, at a range of price points, while not compromising on specification, quality or location. As one of the last remaining spots along the enviable harbourside that offers housing, the apartments provide an opportunity not to be missed.
LATIMER BY CLARION HOUSING GROUP | HIGH DEFINITION
Latimer’s flagship High Definition (HD) development in MediaCity combines bespoke interior design with outstanding build quality as part of a stylish and affordable apartment scheme inspired by hit Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit. Apartments feature open-plan living spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows, which flood them with natural light. The scheme’s The Queen’s Gambit design concept oozes throughout, from chessboard floor tiles to luxurious furniture and statement pieces adorning communal spaces, which include a residents’ lounge and terrace, stylish co-working spaces and a private multimedia room. By working with strategic partner Homes England, Latimer has been able to provide affordable routes into this premium development. One hundred of the 280 homes are available through affordable means, far in advance of the 20% stipulated by Salford City Council. At HD, residents really can have it all. A spectacular home located at the heart of a thriving creative hub – without the need for a large deposit.
NHG HOMES |50 CALICO HOUSE, GADWALL QUARTER
Gadwall Quarter by NHG Homes is bringing contemporary, high-quality homes for first time buyers to this desirable north London neighbourhood through shared ownership. Connecting the great outdoors with the great indoors, 50 Calico House features an open-plan layout and high-quality design that mirrors the local landscape of Woodberry Down. With both a private balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows, the surrounding acres of parkland can be enjoyed whatever the weather. Affordable luxury is key at Gadwall Quarter – with estimated monthly costs of £2,040, the two bedroom apartment doesn’t cut corners when it comes to quality, with integrated appliances, energy-efficient features, custom-built storage space, and a neutral palette to make one’s own. With wetlands and wildlife on the doorstep, residents at Gadwall Quarter enjoy a true haven in the city. The well-established community and fast, easy travel connections to central London and beyond, make 50 Calico House the perfect solution for buyers seeking a first home.
SO RESI | SO RESI BRACKNELL
Not many first time buyers imagine their first home as a penthouse in the Home Counties – but the power of shared ownership and regeneration have combined to put the luxurious top floor apartments at SO Resi Bracknell within reach. Apartment 193, on the ninth floor, offers a superb dual aspect layout with two balconies. The spacious two bedroom apartment is cleverly designed, with ample storage and a high specification, including a boiling water tap and Bosch appliances. The lounge/ kitchen/dining area is oriented to make the most of the views, the main bedroom has an en suite, and there’s a good-sized second bedroom and family bathroom. Residents enjoy car and cycle parking and access to a beautifully landscaped first floor courtyard garden. Centrally located just two minutes’ walk from Bracknell station, with trains to London Waterloo in 55 minutes, the striking tri-coloured brick building is a home to be proud of.
Best Marketing Campaign
THIS AWARD WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MOST INNOVATIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT USING ANY FORM OF MEDIA. THIS CAMPAIGN CAN BE FROM A RANGE OF METHODS THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT IT HAS HELPED FIRST TIME BUYERS START THEIR PROPERTY JOURNEY.
FIRST HOME FEB | COUNTRYSIDE HOMES AND FOCUS AGENCY GROUP
Focus Agency Group partnered with Countryside East to approach the challenge of supporting first time buyers on their journey to purchase. This took place at two of Countryside East’s London developments that were offering apartments tailored to the FTB demographic. During a period of uncertainty in the market, our solution was a month-long series of expert-led events throughout February, with the overall aim of educating and guiding first time buyers through the property-buying process to support them on their journey to homeownership. Financial guidance included help from an independent financial adviser and market insight from the editor of First Time Buyer magazine, through to private show home tours with advice from Countryside’s experts, and a reservation weekend guiding buyers through the process of reserving their dream home. Our strategy delivered a supportive walkthrough experience, mirroring the stages of the buying journey.
A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER | L&Q
A campaign about people, for people, A November to Remember was a hit with first time buyers. During a worrying month of increasing energy bills and rising inflation, leading housing association L&Q created an emotive campaign that offered purchasers up to six months of rent paid at selected L&Q developments and helped more first time buyers on to the ladder than any other campaign L&Q has ever delivered; making it A November to Remember for the people who matter most – its buyers. The multi-channel campaign had a staggering reach – with social media impressions up 250% and a 43% increase in leads year-on-year. High-impact imagery captured the seasonality and sentimentality of the momentous decision of buying your first home, while tone of voice was simple, easy to digest, and concentrated crucially on monthly outgoings – a key focus of the campaign.
COULD YOUR RENT BE BETTER SPENT? | NHG HOMES
Aiming to demystify the process of shared ownership and empower first time buyers to choose their own path to homeownership, NHG Homes launched an innovative marketing campaign called Could Your Rent Be Better Spent? This campaign leveraged a multi-channel approach, using social media content, mailers and advertising on third-party platforms to target renters and first time buyers with a digital monthly cost calculator. This gave buyers the knowledge to decide which route to homeownership was most suitable for them, with the aim of promoting shared ownership. The campaign generated 15,000 website visits and 750 new customer registrations at a 45% lower cost than NHG Homes’ average, while activations on Zoopla boasted two of the three best-performing ad-reach campaigns across the platform. It drove awareness for shared ownership and the developments available through this scheme, providing invaluable insights into buyer profiles that will elevate the effectiveness of NHG Homes’ future strategy.
ORIGIN KICKSTART
Recognising that the journey to homeownership is not a one-size-fits-all experience, Origin Housing launched Origin Kickstart in September 2023. More than just a marketing strategy, the campaign empowers individuals and families to help them achieve their property dreams. Carefully crafted incentives delivered as part of the campaign have been utilised by an impressive 60% of Origin’s buyers since the launch. The campaign exemplifies targeted marketing, utilising a blend of social media adverts, print adverts, and editorial features in renowned publications including First Time Buyer magazine. The imagery used throughout the campaign placed people at the forefront, showcasing the transformative power of shared ownership. A dedicated web page served as a hub of information, presenting the available support in a clear and easily digestible format. A well-thought-out campaign, Origin Kickstart is an example of what can be achieved when a housing association truly listens to its customers – helping them find a home of their own.
FAIRVIEW’S SAVE TO BUY SCHEME | ROOSTER, AF OLIVER AND SPACE AND TIME
For many, renting can feel like a black hole, with ever-increasing accommodation prices blocking their pathway to homeownership. That’s why, in January 2023, Fairview New Homes launched Save to Buy in a bid to help renters save for a house deposit while living in their new home. Under this scheme, an initial 1% deposit is all that’s required and 100% of the fixed monthly payments go towards their final deposit. There’s no doubt about the initiative’s effectiveness as a solution to a desperate first time buyer housing market, but how effectively could messaging be devised that resonated with a target demographic as wide and varied as this? Eighty pieces of press coverage, two million social media views and an upside-down tortoise later, there aren’t many left in the industry who don’t know the concept behind Save to Buy thanks to a creative, targeted and fully integrated PR and marketing campaign.
WAYS TO BUY | WESTON HOMES
When the Government-backed Help to Buy scheme closed in March 2023, first time buyers were left uncertain about the way ahead, with little information about alternatives. Weston Homes and The Media People created a successful social media and paid search campaign and assets that raised awareness of the developer’s reasonably priced new homes and explained the schemes available to help with buying a first home. The Ways to Buy campaign, that ran across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger, used bright colours, positive messages and fun imagery to reassure first time buyers that buying a new home was not only possible, but it could be simple and straightforward as well. The campaign, which started in September 2023, reached more than 1.5 million users on social media, drove a 22% increase in direct traffic to Weston Homes’ website and led to a 76% increase in direct enquiries to one of the company’s developments.
Best Show Home
THIS AWARD GOES TO THE COMPANY WITH THE BEST SHOW HOME ALLOWING BUYERS TO SEE THE PROPERTY TO ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, GIVING THEM A REALISTIC INSIGHT INTO THEIR NEW HOME.
BLOOR HOMES AND FOCUS AGENCY GROUP | WINSLOW PARK
Focus Agency Group collaborated with Bloor Homes to design and style a show home at Winslow Park in Buckingham. With homes from two bedroom to five bedrooms, the objective was to connect with first time buyers, regardless of age. We wanted to inspire first time buyers by emulating the aspirational lifestyle associated with living at Winslow Park through a personable show home. Drawing from its surroundings, the home encapsulates the essence of rural living. Contemporary, attainable furniture sits alongside elements of upcycled/charity shop styling and botanical references to create a welcoming home on a realistic budget. To capture that “lived in feel” we ensured that new was mixed with old. Every corner included a knick-knack that reminded you of your childhood home and we considered sustainable purchasing where possible, capturing childhood memories through home baking set-ups, and mixing traditional florals with modern stripes to create an aspirational home for first time buyers.
EDWARD THOMAS INTERIORS | THE BRIDGET AT WEST WORKS
West Works is a major regeneration of the former MG Rover factory site into a vibrant new community in Longbridge, Birmingham. Its two bedroom, semidetached The Bridget show home was designed by Edward Thomas Interiors (ETI) for St Modwen Homes. At 752 sq ft, it is an ideal first time buyer home and offers an affordable alternative to nearby apartment living. Briefed to attract a millennial/ Gen Z demographic and honour the site’s manufacturing heritage, ETI designed striking, industrial-inspired interiors. Varied styling techniques and impactful colour combinations illustrate how first time buyers can achieve eye-catching, realistic finishes, while furniture and artwork were deliberately sourced from retailers that are established ports of call for first time buyers. ETI installed The Bridget in January 2024. Only two have been released to date, with both selling quickly. A further 15 are due for release and there is a high level of interest from the first time buyer market for these.
GATEWAY HOUSING ASSOCIATION | LUMINESCE
Occupying a prime east London position moments from the River Thames, Luminesce by Gateway Housing brings a collection of nine luxury one and two bedroom apartments to Canary Wharf. A showstopping one bedroom apartment with views of the east London skyline, 401 Vetro Court presents buyers with an insight into exactly what they can expect from a home at Luminesce. Designed to blend this quirky east London district with modern practicality, the show apartment demonstrates Gateway’s attention to detail with open-plan internal layouts and a first-class specification. Thoughtfully dressed by Think BDW, the apartment’s furnishings reflect a first time buyer budget using high street brands that are easily accessible and affordable, such as Habitat, Homesense and Hobbycraft. The price of 401 Vetro Court was £125,134 for a 25% share through the shared ownership scheme, offering a luxury home on an affordable budget, providing a much-needed route on to the property ladder for first time buyers.
BELLWAY HOMES
BY INVESTA | HARBOUR VILLAGE
Working with Bellway Homes, we were asked to create an inspired and innovative show home at the brand new Ebbsfleet Garden City development in Kent. The interiors needed to target a range of first time buyer personas including working professionals, young families and couples planning on extending their family. Speaking to what matters most for first time buyers we reflected the location throughout the design, made space-saving furniture choices, showcased flexible living, and used low-cost yet stylish decor resulting in a show home that encompasses an inviting, homely feel speaking to families, and an elegance and style speaking to the city workers who want escapism.
PEABODY NEW HOMES | HIGGS YARD
At the crossroads of some of London’s most exciting neighbourhoods, Higgs Yard in Loughborough Junction is a landmark development by Peabody New Homes offering stunning shared ownership properties. Collaborating with renowned interior design agency Clare Morton Interiors, apartment two is a beautiful one bedroom show home that does so more much than just demonstrate the development’s quality offering. Showcasing clever furniture placement to maximise space and flattering window dressings that frame urban views, apartment two demonstrates how buyers can create a sophisticated space whatever the budget. With “scroll-stopping”, on-trend limewash walls and stunning aromas also used to dress the space, the show apartment brings a new layer of warmth to anyone who enters and inspires prospective homebuyers with its creative yet replicable vision. Crafted with first time buyers in mind, apartment two serves as a must-see space and masterclass in show home interior design.
ONE HOUSING | MAKERS YARD
Makers Yard, Canning Town, E16 offers one, two and three bedroom apartments and two and three bedroom duplex’s. Buying your first home is a really big deal and a major milestone. So, it’s only natural customers want their new home to look eye catching!
At the same time, the huge expense involved in acquiring a property will also mean finding additional funds for the latest interiors trends may be easier said than done. Etch, our interior designers, have helped create an eye catching show home in a growing area, whilst using affordable products that first time buyers and customers have the opportunity to purchase on the high-street at affordable prices!
Maker’s Yard is part of Hallsville Quarter, an exciting new development that reflects the spirit of change in Canning Town. It’s a five-phase development, with an enviable location directly next to Canning Town station – which makes it instantly appealing to commuters.
Best First Time Buy Fam y Home
THIS AWARD IS FOR A FAMILY STARTER HOME WHICH IS AFFORDABLE FOR A FIRST TIME BUYER. IT SHOULD OFFER A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT, AT A REALISTIC PRICE, WHICH IS IDEAL FOR FAMILY LIVING.
HIVE HOMES | WEAVERS FOLD
Weavers Fold features the wonderful The Hollinwood home, which has everything you could want from a family home. Blending traditional styling and fresh, contemporary features, The Hollinwood provides the perfect space for a growing family, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The living room provides enough space for entertaining guests and socialising with friends and family. The kitchen and dining area more than doubles that space, as well as opening up to the back garden through the French doors to give the perfect fusion of indoor and outdoor hosting. Upstairs offers three spacious bedrooms ideal for resting after a long day, as well as ample room for storage on the landing. An en suite to the main bedroom allows for a fully immersive environment for relaxation, and the sleek family bathroom completes the first floor. All properties are fully turfed front and rear, fully fenced and have a flagged patio area.
HOME REACH | THE TEN50, KELD
Named after its expansive floorplan, the Ten50 is a 1,050 sq ft, three bedroom home at Keld – a contemporary collection of 239 two to four bedroom homes. Built around traditional family-friendly street scenes, interspersed with pockets of greenery and pedestrian-led paths, Keld has been created with families in mind. Priced affordably with no compromise on quality, Home Reach is delivering shared ownership at the Northstone development, meeting its ethos of offering the very best privately built homes for just a fraction of the usual cost, making them more accessible to a range of buyers. Often reported as one of the key priorities for families searching for their dream home, sustainability is especially valued at Keld. Every home is eco-friendly, with the intention of helping families to keep their energy bills down and lower their carbon footprint. Homes feature triple-glazed windows, an intelligent heating system called Wondrwall, hyper fast broadband and SKY, as well as an iParcelbox.
L&Q | THE PENRITH, BEAUCHAMP PARK
Designed with families in mind, L&Q’s Beauchamp Park is a major new residential neighbourhood in Warwick. The development is creating 450 homes here, plus new public open space and children’s play areas, all surrounded by pockets of woodland and lush English countryside, with views towards the historic Warwick Castle. The epitome of a family home, Beauchamp Park’s The Penrith doesn’t compromise on quality or space. A large four bedroom detached house, complete with an exterior garage and a driveway, the impressive property truly offers the breathing space, legroom and privacy every family needs. Most significantly, these larger shared ownership homes offer local families a much more affordable route on to the property ladder in this affluent area – they are priced from £185,500 for a 35% share.
PLUMLIFE HOMES | THE POPLARS
The Poplars in Heaton Mersey delivered 106 new homes, including 54 for shared ownership, with a selection of two, three and four bedroom house types. Alongside the shared ownership homes, a range of homes is being delivered for market sale and for social rent by our parent company Great Places, creating a mixed tenure development in response to the housing needs of the local community. The former golf driving range lay derelict for several years prior to the acquisition of the site and presented an opportunity to deliver a thoughtfully designed development that enhanced its enviable location. With excellent transport links into Stockport and Manchester city centre, and with easy access to the beautiful Peak District, the development is tucked away alongside Heaton Mersey Common. Residents enjoy a pedestrian and cycle path which runs the length of the development, providing easy access to the surrounding area.
SNUGG HOMES | ABBEY SPRINGS
Abbey Springs, Burscough, is at the heart of West Lancashire. Burscough is a popular town served by excellent local amenities – and with Ormskirk´s pedestrianised town centre and historic market on the doorstep, residents can enjoy the vibrant mix of independent retailers, popular high street stores and celebrated restaurants. The Hewitt is a three bedroom, five-person property that offers exceptional affordable quality. Designed to very high standards, these homes include varied architectural styles that have been carefully incorporated to reflect the existing homes in the area. They feature modern open-plan fitted kitchen/diners and separate utility areas, with French doors leading to private gardens, providing functional spaces for daily living. EV charging point, carpets throughout, a garden shed and parking for two cars all come as standard. Abbey Springs’ standout feature is its expansive ecological pond, designed to foster biodiversity and provide a communal space for residents to relax, chat or play. A new footway along Abbey Lane and a pedestrian crossing ensure safe local access.
SOUTHERN HOUSING | THE GREENFINCH, WINGS WOOD
A fantastic property for first time buyer families looking to find their forever home, The Greenfinch at Wings Wood is a high-specification, semi-detached three bedroom house, available to purchase through shared ownership with Southern Housing. The Greenfinch represents outstanding value for money for a family home in southern England, and as such, 12 of the 18 have been sold or reserved so far. Designed by award-winning architect MH Architects Ltd, the development is complete with an open green space, created for community value, which is home to a LEAP space that accommodates a safe play zone for children of early school age. The Greenfinch is priced at £133,000 for a 35% share, meaning families can secure this home with a deposit of just £13,300 and are able to step on to the property ladder for over three times less than the local area average price paid for a semidetached three bedroom house.
Best Large Dev opment
THIS AWARD IS FOR DEVELOPMENTS OF 81 OR MORE HOMES THAT HAVE USED THE BEST DESIGN AND QUALITY TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE, DESIRABLE AND INSPIRATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND THAT HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FACILITIES TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBOURHOODS. THESE HOMES ARE ON LARGE DEVELOPMENTS IN A MIXED-TENURE ENVIRONMENT OR STAND-ALONE DEVELOPMENTS.
CITY & COUNTRY | FACTORY NO. 1
Once a thriving tobacco factory, City & Country’s landmark new scheme, Factory No. 1, comprises a combination of 284 conversion and new build apartments in Bristol’s up-and-coming Bedminster quarter. City & Country has converted and painstakingly restored the iconic Grade II listed Victorian factory, all arranged around an attractively landscaped communal courtyard garden, together with the five new build blocks. With help available on deposits, this high-end scheme offers a fantastic opportunity to first time buyers looking for an attainable way on to the property ladder – whether for a classic period home, or a contemporary one. Factory No. 1 is ideally located for access to Bristol city centre, and has acted like a magnet to a generation of first timer buyers, eager to live in a development that is quite unlike any other in the area.
COUNTRYSIDE PARTNERSHIPS AND TAYLOR WIMPEY | GREENWICH MILLENNIUM VILLAGE
Greenwich Millennium Village (GMV), is a joint venture between Countryside Partnerships and Taylor Wimpey, in association with the Mayor of London. The past 24 years have seen the 300-acre brownfield site transform into a major new sustainable community at the heart of the capital. With more phases to come, once complete, the site will deliver 2,800 new homes. Offering a truly unique residence for first time buyers, 30% of the one to three bedroom homes at GMV are affordable. Offering an opportunity to purchase a home in a prime London location for less, currently private sale apartments in The Galleria start from £449,995, with deposits from as little as £22,500 through Countryside’s 5% deposit contribution. Aiming to reconnect the local community with the outdoors, GMV residents enjoy an expanse of green space including 50 acres of parkland, an idyllic setting beside the River Thames, an Ecology Park and the picturesque Southern Park.
FAIRVIEW NEW HOMES | BRENTWOOD ACRES
Set within green belt woodland, Brentwood Acres by Fairview New Homes is a thoughtfully considered collection of 22 one and two bedroom apartments and 81 two, three and four bedroom houses that capture the essence of a diverse, vibrant and sustainable community. Every home at Brentwood Acres is designed for sustainability and comfort, with features such as electric car charging points, solar panels, air source heat pumps and spacious rear gardens or balconies. These eco-friendly features contribute to an EPC B rating for all the homes and enable homeowners to make long-term savings on their energy bills, while helping to reduce their home’s carbon footprint. As well as providing a wide range of homes for people at all stages of their homeownership journeys, the development frames a brand new 1.7-hectare public park, provides new pedestrian walkways linking key community facilities, and delivers a new state-of-the-art care home.
GUINNESS HOMES | SIGNAL PARK
Guinness Homes’ Signal Park development brings 112 stylish shared ownership apartments to Tolworth, giving first time buyers the chance to own an aspirational property in one of south London’s most dynamic communities. The development was built with affordability in mind, offering one, two, and three bedroom apartments to suit a variety of budgets. Each home is built to the highest standards to provide the very best in modern city living, including ample space for work and leisure. Designed to offer affordable living without compromising on location or interior quality, Signal Park is situated in the heart of Tolworth, blending modern living with the vibrant culture of the area. With quick rail access to central London in just 31 minutes, and a host of entertainment and essential amenities within easy reach, this large development encapsulates the perfect solution for first time buyers looking to get on the capital’s property ladder.
SQUARE ROOTS LEWISHAM
Available from affordable housing provider Square Roots, supported by awardwinning developer London Square, Square Roots Lewisham includes a stunning collection of 116 shared ownership homes. With many homes enjoying sweeping views across the London skyline, the development includes a rooftop terrace and retail and office spaces, while positioned in a new riverside quarter with relaxing spaces, landscaped gardens, play areas and waterside walkways. This modern development stands out due to its striking aluminium-clad exterior design and architecturally selected brick. It has been created to provide buyers with an exceptional first home in a truly up-and-coming area of the city. What’s more, Square Roots not only builds homes buyers want, but also focuses on building and enhancing a sense of community, with exciting ongoing programmes of resident events. Pets are also welcome.
WESTON HOMES | ABBEY QUAY
Abbey Quay is a development by Weston Homes of 1,089 one, two and three bedroom apartments set between the banks of the River Roding and the picturesque ruins of a historic abbey. Perfectly located within a short walk of Barking station, a supermarket and an array of highly rated schools, the homes here are particularly desirable for first time buyers looking for a well-connected location at an affordable price. Just 15 minutes by tube to Fenchurch Street, open market sale apartments start from £262,500, with Discount Market Sale, shared ownership and First Time SecureBuy available. All apartments enjoy a private balcony and access to landscaped podium gardens and the residents’ hub with concierge and workspace. Inside, they feature floor-to-ceiling windows with fabulous views, a range of layouts, and contemporary kitchens with quality appliances including a boiling water tap. Two new public squares with shops, cafes and art exhibitions provide a lively buzz.
Best Law Firm for Conveyancing
THIS AWARD CELEBRATES LAW FIRMS WITH OUTSTANDING CONVEYANCING PACKAGES FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS.
PCS LEGAL
Life is a series of firsts – first steps, first words, first job, first love and among all of these, buying your first home features prominently. Buying a property is more than just an investment, it represents hard work and is often a nest for new beginnings. This is where PCS Legal comes into our own as we guide first time buyers through this monumental “first” in their lives. PCS Legal adopts a forward-thinking approach to simplify the legal process, provide transparent communication and a clear pricing structure incorporating our core values: quality service, personalised experience, valuing family and relationships, achieving results efficiently and sharing our knowledge and expertise. We go beyond the transaction by providing a first time buyers’ guide, podcast series called PCS Pods, and YouTube and TikTok videos to help first time buyers navigate through the buying process in bite-sized pieces with advice and tips along the way.
At PLS Solicitors we are committed to providing excellent customer service to everyone looking to purchase a property, especially first time buyers. Our innovative approach and dedicated teams make us stand out in the sector. We recognise that exemplary customer service is paramount in the conveyancing process, particularly for first time buyers navigating the complexities of property transactions. We understand the delicate balance between legal expertise and customer care and have strategically structured our teams to ensure the highest level of service delivery. Our innovative team, unwavering commitment to customer service, and operational excellence distinguish us as a leader in the industry.
SHARED DIRECTION CONVEYANCING
Shared Direction Conveyancing is a law firm dedicated solely to assisting buyers of new build shared ownership properties. We are hugely successful in this field as evidenced by the number of clients we have acted for and the fact that we are being recommended by so many housing associations, local authorities and mortgage brokers. We feel passionately about affordable housing and are actively involved in a wide variety of groups and campaigns which strive to educate and encourage more first time buyers in to the sector.
PLS SOLICITORS
Best Off-Plan Dev opment
THIS AWARD WILL BE LOOKING TO RECOGNISE A DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN BUILT/ COMPLETED BUT OFFERS GREAT POTENTIAL TO FIRST TIME BUYERS.
BELLWAY NORTH EAST | MODELLO
Modello is an outstanding development which achieves the delicate balance of providing attainable and affordable new housing for first time buyers while also delivering a highquality scheme which respects its historic surroundings within a conservation area. This apartments project will complete the regeneration of a derelict former railway works in the Gateshead Quayside area on the south bank of the River Tyne, with Newcastle city centre just across the water – putting buyers at the heart of everything this vibrant area has to offer. The development has a highly inclusive focus on meeting the present and future needs of residents, with attractive landscaped open space and a children’s play area creating a garden feel within the urban setting, and each home meeting accessibility and adaptability standards for wheelchair users. Modello opened in November 2023 and has seen strong offplan sales, with 13 of the 98 apartments already reserved –seven by first time buyers.
PLACES FOR PEOPLE | CENTURION PLACE
Enjoying a prime position moments from Exeter’s thriving city centre, the upcoming launch of Centurion Place is set to capture the hearts of the city’s first time buyers. Featuring one and two bedroom apartments and two to four bedroom houses, each shared ownership home will enjoy an exceptional finish with a high-quality specification selected for style and durability. Blending spacious interiors with private outdoor space, practical features have been incorporated, from abundant storage to energy-efficient appliances. Residents can enjoy the landscaped setting, including a pond and green open space. At Centurion Place, there’s no need to compromise on location. Whether exploring Exeter’s historic city, unwinding with friends in a waterfront restaurant or hiking across a National Park, homes are in reach of abundant activities. Further enhancing these unforgettable homes, Places for People’s friendly and experienced team demystifies the off-plan homebuying journey.
GUINNESS HOMES | THE ONE HUNDRED
The One Hundred is an attractive collection of 100 one, two, and three bedroom contemporary apartments set within a vibrant waterside community, with 51 homes available to purchase through shared ownership. Located in the heart of Alperton, Brent, these homes have been designed with residents in mind. Offering an extension of the living space, the apartments feature private balconies with expansive views over the Grand Union Canal. The One Hundred is situated within reach of a broad range of amenities, such as BOXPARK Wembley and Wembley Stadium. Ready to purchase off-plan in the summer of 2024, residents have access to a landscaped rooftop garden with views over the canal, creating a calming haven amid the city bustle. The development is situated just a 15-minute walk to Alperton and Stonebridge Park underground stations, with direct services into central London in under 30 minutes. The One Hundred is designed to be 100% you.
PLUMLIFE HOMES | MULINO WALK
The Sunday Times officially named Ancoats as the “best place to live” in Manchester. So, the creation of the Mulino Walk development in this sought-after neighbourhood has delivered a first-of-itskind affordable housing solution for this location. Mulino Walk is a 75-home development, with 23 homes available to purchase through shared ownership and 52 apartments available for affordable rent. This has given first time buyers and young professionals the chance to get on to the property ladder with a deposit of as little as 5% of the share price required. With the level of high-end development in Manchester city centre, the lack of affordable solutions has been a huge issue and shared ownership has become the only affordable option accessible to many first time buyers. Needless to say, Mulino Walk proved to be extremely popular. All plots were reserved at an off-plan launch event with extremely high demand levels.
Best New Dev opment in the South
THIS AWARD IS FOR THE BEST DEVELOPMENT OF ANY SIZE IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND (FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS CATEGORY – BELOW BIRMINGHAM). A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES IS INCREASING, THIS AWARD RECOGNISES AN EXCEPTIONAL RANGE OF NEW HOMES THAT STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD WHILE REMAINING ACCESSIBLE TO FIRST TIME BUYERS.
ABRI | THE OLD BREWERY
The Old Brewery is a collection of shared ownership homes on the historic Ashton Gate Brewery site. Developed and brought to market by Abri, it is a collection of 107 one, two and three bedroom shared ownership apartments with prices starting from £89,250 for a 35% share. In total, 98 homes are available with shared ownership and nine for social rent, supported by grant funding from Homes England. The exciting new mixed-use development has seen the complete transformation of the former brownfield site into a stylish range of contemporary and energy-efficient homes nestled in the heart of Southville. As well as offering residential living for aspiring homeowners, The Old Brewery will include a landscaped courtyard and will bring new commercial spaces to the area, with plans for local businesses to open their doors in early 2025, adding to the thriving independent retail offerings on North Street. Ideally located in the heart of Bristol, it is just a stone throw from the Greville Smyth Park and conveniently located for travel links to Birmingham, Exeter and Cardiff.
GUINNESS HOMES | LYON QUARTER
Guinness Homes’ Lyon Quarter development brings a stylish and contemporary range of studio, one, two and three bedroom homes to Brighton & Hove. These shared ownership properties are designed with first time buyers in mind, from the spacious modern interiors and private balconies or terraces, to the development’s communal podium gardens and easy 15-minute walk to Brighton beach. Combining the best of city and coastal living, Lyon Quarter residents can enjoy all that Brighton & Hove has to offer, from its renowned music scene to its array of independent shops and restaurants. With excellent local schools and fast transport links to London within an hour for commuting or leisure, this development offers a stylish and affordable solution to get more first time buyers on the property ladder in a highly desirable location.
SO RESI | SO RESI BRACKNELL
Designated a New Town in 1949, Bracknell has flourished into a Home Counties utopia and one of the commuter belt’s most desirable locations. SO Resi Bracknell is an exceptional offering – a 100% affordable development comprising 126 one and two bedroom shared ownership and 67 affordable rent apartments. SO Resi has transformed the site of two disused office blocks into exemplary town centre living, close to the regenerated shopping centre and railway station. All homes include a private balcony or terrace, car and cycle parking, and access to a central courtyard garden. Buyers can choose from a mix of interior layouts, designed to make the most of natural light, with spacious open-plan living areas. To ease the costs of furnishing a home, each apartment at SO Resi Bracknell includes integrated Zanussi appliances, fitted bathrooms, Venetian blinds and flooring throughout. Prices start from £81,000 for a 30% share of a one bedroom apartment.
Best New Dev opment in the North
THIS AWARD IS FOR THE BEST DEVELOPMENT OF ANY SIZE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND (BIRMINGHAM AND ABOVE), AN AREA OF THE COUNTRY WHERE HOUSEBUILDING IS INCREASING AND OFFERS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE. THIS AWARD RECOGNISES AN EXCEPTIONAL RANGE OF NEW HOMES THAT STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD, WHILE REMAINING ACCESSIBLE TO FIRST TIME BUYERS.
BELLWAY DURHAM | WELLFIELD RISE
Bellway Durham’s Wellfield Rise development in Wingate, County Durham, is a standout scheme that’s thriving in a competitive market. The 250home development is proving particularly popular with first time buyers, who have purchased 87.5% of the private homes sold so far. Easy road, rail and airport links, the beautiful cathedral city of Durham nearby, countryside on the doorstep, the coast a short drive away, and a thoughtfully designed development layout featuring 20 acres of open space, all make it a desirable place to live. With a wide range of modern house styles built to a high-quality standard, people are finding homes they love at Wellfield Rise. And affordable prices mean buyers are getting a lot for their money. Plus, with a range of schemes, mortgage products and offers to make it more attainable, buyers are finding that a home they thought was an impossible dream is within reach.
L&Q AND LOVELL HOMES | WHALLEY MANOR
Recently named by The Guardian as the UK’s “happiest place to live”, the Ribble Valley is a green and unspoilt part of the North West, filled with historic villages and traditional architecture – with the popular town of Whalley, nestled at the foot of the valley, offering the perfect blend of community, amenity, connectivity and countryside. Just moments from the town centre is Whalley Manor, a development being delivered in partnership between L&Q and Lovell. The 117-home scheme sees generously sized two to five bedroom homes set around 10 acres of public open space, boasting views across the rolling hillside and beyond. Uniquely affordable for this affluent area, prices start from just £68,125 for a 25% share of a two bedroom house through shared ownership (FMV: £272,000), or £260,000 for a private sale semidetached house. In comparison, the average house price for Whalley is £320,090.
LATIMER BY CLARION HOUSING GROUP | HIGH DEFINITION
Latimer’s flagship High Definition (HD) development in MediaCity offers buyers a spectacular apartment with outstanding communal space and excellent transport links at an affordable price. With floor-to-ceiling windows and a design scheme inspired by Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit, HD represents a stylish version of modern living in the heart of Salford’s digital and creative hub, MediaCity. Boasting an excellent location close to a wealth of employment opportunities, HD also benefits from quick and easy transport options, including trams to both Manchester and central Salford, providing access to wellconnected railway stations. At HD, 100 of the 280 apartments are available through shared ownership, with a further 30 available through the Government’s First Homes initiative. This allows HD to stand out from the crowd as a development that provides premium apartments in a sought-after location at affordable price points that are accessible for first time buyers.
PLUMLIFE HOMES | HOLLINS GRANGE
On the outskirts of Manchester lies Hollins Grange, Great Places and Plumlife’s £14.2m development which consists of 21 shared ownership properties and 36 properties available for affordable rent.
With the need for affordable housing ever more important, Hollins Grange provides part of the solution. And given the interest from customers local to Hollingworth, shared ownership has clearly delivered a much-needed housing solution here. The development is in an ideal location as it sits in the heart of Hollingworth, on the edge of the Peak District National Park, with panoramic views en route to the Pennines and in an area of the country where housebuilding is increasing and offers a highly competitive marketplace. Despite its leafy setting, the development is an easy commute into Manchester city centre, with Glossop railway station just an eight-minute drive away, where there is a service into Manchester Piccadilly which takes just 30 minutes.
Best Su li to the FTB Market
THIS AWARD GOES TO A SERVICE, COMPANY OR AGENCY THAT SUPPORTS THE FIRST TIME BUYER INDUSTRY. THIS COULD BE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT HELPS TO SUPPORT AND PROMOTE THE MESSAGE OF HOMEOWNERSHIP.
HOME REACH – HEYLO
Delivering much-needed affordable housing to the first time buyer market for a decade, Home Reach by Heylo is one of the largest shared ownership programmes in the UK. Partnering with over 130 housebuilders to deliver high-quality homes through the scheme, the portfolio spans over 200 local authorities – enabling house hunters across the country to realise their homeownership dreams. A unique offering for the property industry, Home Reach doesn’t build or sell any homes – making it a one-of-a-kind sector provider. Instead, it partners with some of the country’s top private developers to turn market sale properties into shared ownership homes, making a wide range of developments accessible to even more buyers by diversifying the offering. In the past 12 months alone, almost 800 buyers have used the Home Reach scheme, purchasing shares of between 25% and 75% of the home’s full market value, and paying rent to Heylo on the unowned portion.
METRO FINANCE
Metro Finance is a key supporter of shared ownership, supporting 4,000 buyers every month as well as working with our housing associations to ensure compliant sign offs for the shared ownership scheme. We’ve been working closely with Homes England, as well as other partners such as the Shared Ownership Council, to ensure that shared ownership remains a quality option for our buyers. Our online assessment tool remains unique in the sector, calculating the share needed for the client, and continues to be highly successful with customers and partners alike. Our focus is consistently on speed and accuracy of service, ensuring the reservation process and mortgage process is as simple as possible. Our achievements have been rewarded with excellent reviews, our current scores with Google Review of 4.3 and a Trustpilot score of 4.7 – 86% being five-star reviews.
PLS SOLICITORS
We recognise the unique needs and preferences of today’s buyers and have tailored our services to meet their expectations. Our first time buyers’ conveyancing journey begins when they interact with our Welcome Team, which is dedicated to ensuring the onboarding process is as smooth as possible. We take control of our processes and have refined them to suit both the work we do and our clients – innovation is at the heart of everything we do. We have continuously pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of conveyancing. From guidance and support to timely communication and proactive problem-solving, we go above and beyond to ensure that every client feels valued, informed, and empowered throughout their homebuying journey. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond technology; it is reflected in every interaction, ensuring that first time buyers receive the care, attention and support they deserve.
Affordable Housing Prov of the Year
THIS AWARD WILL GO TO AN ORGANISATION THAT HAS SHOWN INNOVATION IN THE WAY IT DESIGNS, BUILDS AND MARKETS ITS PROPERTIES AS WELL AS OFFERING A VARIETY OF SERVICES WHICH CAN HELP FIRST TIME BUYERS ON TO THE PROPERTY LADDER.
LATIMER BY CLARION HOUSING GROUP
Latimer is committed to prioritising the needs of first time buyers and creating quality, affordable homes for the future. Through its comprehensive shared ownership offering, it provides affordable, aspirational homes in desirable locations. At The Cocoa Works, its regeneration of the Rowntree’s Factory in York, first time buyers can secure a home with a mortgage deposit below £4,000. In London, first time buyers can own a property with an iconic Canary Wharf address thanks to Alta at Consort Place, with mortgage deposits from as little as £6,762.50. Latimer has helped 741 first time buyers on to the property ladder since April 2023, with 675 buying through shared ownership. It has also introduced measures to help make homes more affordable for first time buyers through private sale via its Deposit Stake, Deposit Boost and Deposit Unlock initiatives. Through continuous innovation, Latimer ensures it is always there to support aspiring first time buyers with options tailored to their needs.
METROPOLITAN THAMES VALLEY HOUSING
Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) is a champion of first time buyers, offering all the help that people need to get on to the housing ladder. Its plan of action starts by raising awareness; its award-winning SO Resi Education Programme teaches young people about the options for buying a home, while SO In The Know podcasts give vital information for those further along the path. MTVH’s shared ownership brand, SO Resi, is focused on extending access to the scheme, working in partnership with developers and housing associations to deliver more new homes, as well as supporting the sales and marketing of other shared ownership properties through its SO Resi Partnerships consultancy arm. MTVH is constantly innovating to find new ways to help first time buyers –its ground-breaking SO Resi Plus scheme pioneered 1% staircasing, inspiring Government policy, while its new SO Flexi scheme offers first time buyers a convenient Rent to Buy option.
PLUMLIFE HOMES
Plumlife Homes is a multi-awardwinning shared ownership specialist which has provided affordable solutions to help people on to the property ladder and buy a quality new home for more than 25 years. Our homes are built to be adaptable to a family’s changing needs and are designed and fitted with energy-efficient devices to help save money and the planet. Innovation is part of the Plumlife DNA and we have found new ways to attract potential customers and service existing customers. We offer an end-to-end service following our service reorganisation and rebrand in 2022. With the organisation leading the way regionally for shared ownership sales, leasehold services and property management, we have restructured the business with three specialist brands to reflect our full-service offer: 1. Plumlife Sales (shared ownership and new homes); 2. Plumlife Property Management (facilities, property management and lettings); 3. Plumlife Move (shared ownership resales).
SOVEREIGN NETWORK GROUP
SNG (Sovereign Network Group) was formed in October 2023 following the merger of Network Homes and Sovereign. The new organisation manages 84,000 homes across London and the South of England. In addition to providing homes for various affordable tenures, including London Living Rent, SNG offers an achievable route into homeownership with new homes available to buy through shared ownership – from stylish urban apartments to aspirational family homes in the countryside. Supporting customers through their first steps into homeownership, SNG puts customers at the heart of everything it does. Demonstrating this, its innovative Homes and Place Standard sets the very highest criteria for affordable homes in desirable places to live. This quality benchmark, alongside SNG’s portfolio of standard house types, ensures homes are healthier, warmer and cheaper to run, in turn creating well-integrated, sustainable and sociable communities which first time buyers are proud to call home.
Private Dev op of the Year
THIS AWARD WILL FOCUS NOT ONLY ON THE DESIGN AND QUALITY OF THE PROPERTIES BUILT, BUT ALSO ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPER’S PERFORMANCE
BARRATT DEVELOPMENTS PLC
Barratt Developments is the country’s largest housebuilder. Barratt puts customers at the heart of everything it does, which is why it has been rated as a five star housebuilder by its customers for 15 years in a row. This is a record that no other national housebuilder can match. On top of that, it has won more NHBC Pride in the Job awards than any other housebuilder for 19 years in a row. In 2023, 99% of all Barratt homes were rated EPC A or B. Barratt champions innovation. Its industry leading Energy House 2.0, in partnership with The University of Salford, pioneers new homes for a climate-altered future. To tackle the affordability barriers that first time buyers face, Barratt has introduced Key Worker Deposit Contribution scheme, was the first housebuilder to back Own New Rate Reducer, and launched Kickstart, a shared ownership scheme in partnership with Legal & General Affordable Homes.
LONDON SQUARE
Epitomising excellence in design, construction and customer service, London Square is a leading developer in London’s housing market. Established in 2010, it has grown to become synonymous with delivering exceptional homes across the capital, with over 20 projects. Through Square Roots, an initiative introduced in 2021, London Square extends its commitment to affordability, offering shared ownership and rental schemes providing first time buyers with a new route to buying a quality home and setting higher standards in this sector. Sales staff are pivotal in realising the company’s vision, providing an exemplary service to prospective homeowners, as seen at its riverside project, Square Roots Lewisham. Dedication to customer satisfaction is evident through its In-House Gold Awards and NHBCA1 rating. The company actively fosters community engagement and organises events to bring residents together. This comprehensive approach reflects its firm commitment to excellence and community building in London’s dynamic and challenging housing landscape.
WESTON HOMES
Weston Homes creates developments with a heart – superb places to live, built with the environment in mind and a high-quality specification inside and out. With a Gold Award for Customer Service, Weston Homes’ care for its customers is second to none – including well-designed sales suites, information on buying incentives, scheduled phone calls throughout the buying process and a named customer service co-ordinator post-completion. Modern methods of construction and a “fabric first” policy ensure every Weston home is highly insulated, warm, economical and futureproofed – and the company practices what it preaches, with an electrified company car fleet and a new HQ covered in 700 solar panels. Almost every home has a private balcony or winter garden, along with communal spaces ranging from landscaped roof terraces to riverside walks. Apartment blocks have hotel-quality foyers, and every home has flooring, a fitted wardrobe and a designer kitchen with appliances including a boiling water tap.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
• Voting closes on 16 August 2024
• Random authenticity checks will be made VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVOURITE IN EACH CATEGORY AT
Voting closes at midnight on 16 August 2024. FTB Award winners will be announced during the Awards Lunch at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, on 6 September 2024. A full list of winners will be published in the October/November issue of First Time Buyer.
• Voting is open to First Time Buyer readers, aged 18 and over, with the exception of employees of shortlisted nominees, their immediate families, agents, or anyone else associated with the administration or production of these awards
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Please mark your email: Morphy Richards Competition
Closing date: 2 September 2024
THE PRIZE… ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE ALL FOUR MORPHY RICHARDS APPLIANCES, WORTH OVER £400
T&Cs
• Must be a UK resident and 18+ to enter. Prize may take 30 days to arrive. Prize cannot be changed.
• The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be given.
• The prize comprises 1x Signature Matte Black Kettle and Toaster Set; 1x Digital Dual Basket 7.2 Litre Air Fryer; 1x Sear & Stew 6.5L Hinged Lid Slow Cooker.
The winner of this month’s competition can upgrade their kitchen with four elegant new appliances – a sleek, black toaster and kettle combination, the latest must-have air fryer and a large-capacity slow cooker, all designed with the latest technology to make food preparation easier and more economical.
This fantastic prize includes all of these superb kitchen products, in stylish contemporary black or grey to t in with every decor:
Signature Matte Black Kettle and Toaster Set – RRP £189.98. Every home needs tea and toast, and this pair of appliances will look good on any worktop, with their minimalist Matte Black nish. The matching appliances have an extensive list of features; the Signature Kettle has a generous 1.5-litre capacity, but also features a minimum ll, one cup indicator along with rapid boil technology to ensure it is energy ef cient. The cordless design keeps your worktop tidy and the kettle has automatic shut-off and boil-dry protection. The matching Signature Toaster has seven variable browning controls and will even reheat cold slices or defrost from frozen. Its extra-long slots are perfect for artisanal breads, paninis and pittas and the toaster features a removable crumb tray, cool-touch exterior and automatic shut off. The Signature Kettle and Toaster Set can also be purchased in rose gold, blue or white.
Digital Dual Basket 7.2 Litre Air Fryer – RRP £149.99. Everyone is talking about air fryers, and for good reason – they allow you to make delicious food with lower fat content than traditional frying, and also enable you to prepare healthy meals using grilling, roasting, baking or even reheating functions, all in a single compact, energy-ef cient appliance. The Morphy Richards Dual Basket 7.2 Litre Air Fryer has two separate drawers that can work independently, each
with a generous cooking capacity of up to 3.6 litres. With seven settings per side, programmed by an easy touchscreen display, you can cook healthy food for the whole family with ease. As an added bonus, you don’t even have to wash up, as it has non-stick, dishwashersafe parts.
Sear & Stew 6.5L Hinged Lid Slow Cooker – RRP £69.99. This clever appliance adds to the convenience of a traditional slow cooker by including the ability to remove the internal pot and use it on your stovetop to sear your ingredients rst (and pop it in the dishwasher after you’ve eaten). The hinged lid will also detach for dishwashing. The Sear & Stew Slow Cooker has three heat settings and holds a massive 6.5 litres of food –enough to feed eight hungry friends.
These feature-packed small appliances all demonstrate how Morphy Richards perfectly combines form and function. The company’s products are designed for life, bringing together product innovation and durable build quality for ease of use, superior performance and longevity – as well as stylish good looks.
Morphy Richards has been making high-quality small domestic appliances since 1936, when product fanatic Donal Morphy met consumer champion Charles Richards. Together they founded a new company dedicated to creating practical, durable and innovative products for the home, starting their perfect partnership by building electric res. In March 1938, they added electric irons, and the iconic Morphy Richards Senior Iron is still going strong in some households today!
Enter now, for the chance of winning four superb additions to your new kitchen!
morphyrichards.co.uk
FIRST HOME, FIRST MEAL
A delicious recipe created by Theo Michaels, chef, presenter and award-winning author, taken from his latest book, Cypriana
INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)
4 lamb shanks
2 onions, sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tbsp smoked paprika
½ tbsp ground cumin
½ tbsp ground coriander
½ tbsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cinnamon stick
½ tsp ground cloves or 5 whole cloves
250ml/1 cup red wine
3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
1 tbsp Greek honey
3 dried bay leaves
100g/¾ cup pitted ready-to-eat prunes (or apricots)
500ml/2 cups passata/ strained tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil, for cooking
2 tbsp toasted pistachio nuts, chopped, to garnish
A generous pinch of dried rose petals to garnish
Freshly chopped coriander/cilantro, to garnish (optional)
CYPRIOT LAMB SHANKS IN A STICKY SAUCE
METHOD
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F) Gas 4.
2 Season the lamb shanks generously and brown them in hot olive oil in a lidded ovenproof pan until coloured all over, then remove from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, fry the onions slowly for about 10 minutes until they have coloured and turned a deep golden hue, then add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes.
3 Add all the spices and stir through to coat the onions, then add the wine. Put on a lid and cook over a high heat to reduce the
Theo A Michaels was born in London to a large Greek Cypriot family. After competing in BBC TV’s MasterChef in 2014, Theo left the corporate world to earn a living in food. He regularly appeared on Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated daytime TV show, Steph’s Packed Lunch and is the founder of FiveDinners.com. He lives in Hertfordshire, with his wife and three children.
wine by half. This will concentrate the avour of the sauce.
4 Finally, add all the other ingredients and return the lamb shanks to the pan, bottom-side down, so the bone is sticking up. Slowly add about 500ml/2 cups of water, just enough to cover the meat (the bones can stick out). Bring this to a simmer, then cover and place in the preheated oven for 2 hours.
5 Once done, remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before removing the lid. Serve the lamb shanks sitting upright, with a few ladles of the juice poured over. Garnish with the pistachios and rose petals, as well as some freshly chopped coriander, if you like.
Bring a pair of old, unwanted or outgrown shoes to any schuh or schuh kids store and it will recycle them in partnership with Recyclatex and give you £5 off a new full-price pair over £25. The shoes don't even need to have been purchased from schuh. schuh.co.uk/help/sell-your-soles/
IKEA
IKEA is buying back your used furniture in what it calls "Buyback & Resell". The aim is to give secondhand furniture as many lives as possible and put an end to the dump runs! Customers receive in-store credit as an incentive to bring back their preloved IKEA furniture, ensuring everyone is a winner, the environment being the gold medal holder! Your old furniture will then be sold secondhand to customers who want to give it a new home. A little action that can have a big impact.
Turn your wasted items into wealth! Living sustainably is important, and we all try to do our bit in our own homes, buying used, recycling household waste and using refills where we can. Big companies are also striving to do their bit, offering schemes and initiatives to help promote the message in our consumer society, while also allowing the customer an opportunity to save with a discount on their products. Find out more with FTB...
WHSmith
WHSmith runs an initiative called "BookCycle", which is a fantastic way for you to exchange any unwanted or secondhand books lling up your bookshelves at home. The simple process involves registering your old books on its website and taking them down to a participating WHSmith store. Customers then receive an eGift Voucher via email which you can then spend in store or online on all the new releases. The old books will then be passed on for another reader to enjoy or will be responsibly recycled. whsmith.co.uk/brands/whsbookcycle/
H&M
H&M is certainly not new to this and has been operating a garment collecting programme since 2013. It aims to reduce the amount of clothes that end up in land ll by offering consumers the chance to recycle – "Let's close the loop". Customers can take their unwanted clothes to a store and will receive a thank you voucher to use towards their next purchase. H&M sells what is wearable as secondhand, reuses the fabrics and turns it into new clothes, or recycles by shredding the textile bres and having that reused elsewhere – for example as insulation materials for housing! hm.com/engb/sustainability-at-hm/our-work/close-theloop.html
John Lewis
M&S
M&S takes great care in trying to ensure that its school uniform garments are long lasting and hand-medownable. However, once you don't need the uniform any more, it offers its "Back to School Shwopping Scheme – Lets Shwop for Oxfam". Pop into an M&S store and use the Shwop box to drop off your unwanted clothes. Using a QR code, the customer can receive a 20% discount on kids' daywear! marksandspencer.com/c/plan-a-shwopping
Become a John Lewis member and receive £5 off a £20 spend on fashion or homeware with "Fashioncycle". Just bring in ve or more items of preloved clothing. It's as simple as that! johnlewis.com/our-services/fashioncycle
Schuh
The lowdown on fees
Buying a home is probably the single largest purchase anyone ever makes. It’s a big financial outlay in deposits, fees, moving costs and furnishings. In the current climate, with interest and mortgage rates still high, it makes sense to know exactly what you’re doing ahead of time so you can budget accordingly. Stephen Ward Director of Strategy and External Relations at the Council for Licensed Conveyancers explains what fees you will encounter when buying a home
One of the areas of homebuying that can seem mystifying to the unseasoned buyer is that of fees. In this article I outline what fees you can be expected to pay as part of buying your first property.
WHAT ARE THE FEES?
There are several different fees involved in the purchase of a property. These are broken down as:
9 The conveyancer’s fee – you are paying the conveyancer for the time it takes them to do the legal work.
9 Search fees – these include local authority searches to check there are no planning, pollution or conservation issues with the property you intend to purchase. There are also environmental searches which look at flooding risks, for example. Water and drainage searches make sure your home is connected to a public water supply and sewer. And finally, the Land Registry search ensures that the title register and title plan are all up to date and filed correctly. This ensures the seller actually owns the property they’re selling.
9 Disbursements – are costs payable to third parties that relate to your purchase, for example, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when buying a house. Current standard bands for SDLT are: nothing to pay on the first £250,000 of your home’s value, 5% on the portion between £250,001 and £925,000, 10% on the portion from £925,001 to £1.5m and 15% on anything above £1.5m.
9 Completion fee – the cost of providing you with official copies of all the documents that are needed to prove you are now the legal owner of the property you have just bought.
You should ask any conveyancer you are thinking of instructing for a quote before you engage their services. Any good-quality conveyancing practice will be happy to provide you with a breakdown of the fees, so you are clear on what monies will be due and when. You can see an example of the
costs template that practices regulated by the CLC should use on our website.
You should also be wary of a “race to the bottom”. Cheapest doesn’t always mean best, and you should use websites such as Trustpilot to read reviews about the quality of the service other users have experienced before committing. Personal recommendations from friends, family and colleagues are also a great way to find a conveyancer and compare their service offering to others you may be considering.
REFERRAL FEES
You may have also heard of referral fees. Referral fees aren’t paid directly by you, the property purchaser, but are paid by some conveyancing firms to estate agents in exchange for being recommended to their clients.
Of course, the cost does fall to you, the client, in the end. While the practice of referral fees has attracted a lot of criticism in recent years, it’s still acceptable as long as the conveyancer makes it clear to their client that the practice is paying a referral fee. CLC-regulated firms are required to make clear to clients if they are paying a referral fee, but to make the system truly transparent, those making the referral and receiving the fee must also make the client aware of it.
Don’t be afraid to ask! Estate agents and conveyancers alike should be happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you are buying or selling a property, you can find more advice on the topic as well as a list of CLC-regulated conveyancers on our website.
For further information, please visit clc-uk.org
Staircasing in a Shared Ownership Lease!
Staircasing is a process of buying further shares in your property. It is a fundamental feature and purpose of shared ownership, with the majority of shared ownership leases allowing leaseholders to staircase to 100%, Sebastian Paulo, Director & Head of Staircasing at Owen Paulo explains
WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
Staircasing involves you serving notice on your landlord, showing them your intention to staircase.
A financial assessment will need to be done prior to you proceeding, as this will help you come to a decision on whether staircasing is financially viable for you, and if it is, what share would be affordable.
While going through your financial assessment, you may already have an idea of the approximate value of the property and the share you want to buy, so it is important that you discuss your options with a specialist shared ownership broker.
An updated valuation will also be required, as the price of your additional share is based on the share percentage of the market value at that time. As each staircasing transaction involves a valuation and legal fees, it is advisable that your maximum affordable share is purchased each time.
However, other considerations must be made while deciding the share, which include current property price and future expectation of the market. Therefore, the timing and share being purchased is more of a personal decision for you.
WHAT IS THE GAIN?
The concept of the shared ownership lease is that the leaseholders own a share (for example 25%) and rent the remaining share (for example 75%). The first and foremost purpose of staircasing is to reduce the rent element.
By way of an example, if a leaseholder owns 50% and chose to staircase a further 25%, thus taking their total share from 50% to 75%, rent will be reduced by 25%. It important to note that the valuation being carried out for the staircasing has no bearing on rent calculation. The rent has been calculated at the time of first purchase and must have been revised as per the lease on 1 April every year.
Another important point is that
staircasing in effect provides an opportunity to increase the leaseholder’s share in the lease, thus in the property market too. The leaseholders have the unique opportunity of deciding when to increase their share.
STAMP DUTY
The current Stamp Duty rules around staircasing are that Stamp Duty is payable for a staircasing transaction, only if the transaction makes your total share above 80%, and on any staircasing thereafter. However, no Stamp Duty is payable if the leaseholder has paid Stamp Duty on the full market value for 100% at the time of the initial purchase.
Stamp Duty calculations in the purchase of shared ownership leases and staircasing are complex, but it is worth considering if you can save any Stamp Duty while staircasing, if you haven’t paid Stamp Duty
on the full market value (100% share) at the time of your original purchase.
CONCLUSION
Staircasing, and finally owning 100% of the home, is a logical conclusion of owning a shared ownership property, subject to who wants to and can, but it is a choice only the leaseholder can make.
However, it is important to note that leases can vary, and the process can be complex, this is why it is always advisable to instruct a solicitor that is knowledgeable in shared ownership, particularly when it comes to staircasing.
Owen Paulo Legal specialises in Resales and Staircasing and we are happy to offer further advice or a quotation. Please visit our website, email enquiries@owenpaulo.co.uk, or call us on 0808 196 7020
Conveyancing Fees Explained
When purchasing a shared ownership property (or any property for that matter), you will need to instruct a solicitor to act on your behalf. It is worth getting a few quotations from different firms for a comparison of costs, but it is important to look beyond the “headline fee” to find out what each solicitor is actually charging for their service
WHAT FEES SHOULD YOU EXPECT IN YOUR QUOTATION?
Legal fees – this is the fee the solicitor will charge you for their services. This can differ depending on the purchase price of the property and whether it is leasehold or freehold.
Bank transfer fees – this is a fee for organising the bank transfer of the purchase monies to the seller.
Preparing Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) form – HMRC must be notified about property transactions on a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return. Your solicitor will do this on your behalf and charge a fee for doing so.
Mortgage lender fee – This is the fee that a solicitor charges for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender.
Most firms charge for the above items, but the amounts vary from firm to firm, resulting in very different final charges. Some firms will charge other fees which may be contained in their Terms of Service, so make sure that you get a copy of these before deciding who to instruct.
WHAT ABOUT “DISBURSEMENTS”?
These are expenses payable to third parties as part of the conveyancing transaction. They are paid via your solicitor to the third party; however, they can still vary from firm to firm.
Bankruptcy search fee – this costs £2 per name searched and should be the same irrespective of which firm you instruct.
HM Land Registry search fee – This is another low-cost search and irrespective of which firm you instruct, the fee payable to the Land Registry will be the same.
Search fees – There are other searches that the solicitor needs to do as part of the conveyancing process. Depending on the provider used and which searches are completed, the amount quoted may vary from firm to firm.
Land Registry registration fee – This is a fee for the registration of your title to the property. There is a prescribed fee scale, based on the purchase price of the share, plus rent. Irrespective of which firm you instruct, the fee payable to the Land Registry will be the same.
Stamp Duty Land Tax – as this is a tax, the rules are the same irrespective of which firm does the conveyancing. The amount is calculated based on factors such as the property price, the share being purchased, and whether you are a first time buyer.
If you get quotes which show different Land Registry fees or SDLT amounts, you should query it as one of them must be wrong!
Finally, there are some other things which a buyer of a new build shared ownership property ought to budget for:
1. It is standard practice for the housing association’s solicitors to charge certain fees to the buyer. These vary and will not be known when you obtain your initial quotation.
2. There may be further fees payable to a superior landlord or managing agent.
3. HAs generally ask buyers to pay on completion the rent and service charge up to the end of the month of completion
and for the whole of the following month. These amounts will be the same irrespective of which firm of solicitors you use, but most firms do not mention these items in their quotation.
CONCLUSION
It is important to make sure you read the quotes you get carefully and don’t be afraid to seek clarification. Be careful of cheap headline fees because often they aren’t as economical as they seem.
Although this article focuses on fees, it is worth noting that price is only one factor. Buyers should also consider experience, expertise, recommendation and customer service when choosing their solicitor.
Shared Direction Conveyancing is a niche firm with over 25 years’ experience solely offering conveyancing for new build shared ownership purchases.
Demerged from Direction Law (which was one of the largest specialist affordable housing solicitors in the country), we are a friendly, professional firm with over 80 members of staff who aim to communicate with our clients, clearly and concisely.
For further information visit sdc-legal.co.uk or for an instant quotation call 0808 273 0273
On the move!
It’s finally time to move in to your new home – Kay Hill has hints and tips for keeping removal costs down
When you are buying your first home, don’t forget to factor in removal costs – whether you are living in your childhood bedroom or renting a property, you are bound to have quite a lot of gear to move come the big day.
EXPERT COMMENT
When choosing a removal company, price should never be the only issue, as what matters the most and ultimately costs the least is to have a safe and successful outcome. The process when choosing a mover should, as a minimum, include carrying out proper due diligence on who you are inviting into your home. A professional BAR Member can be veri ed by clicking on the TSI logo on a member’s website. Always ask for references (and take them up) and look at online feedback. Always get a minimum of two quotations, ideally three, and make sure that the service provision described is exactly the same, don’t just look at the price at the bottom. Check the T&Cs carefully for potential additional charges and how and when they may be incurred (a bona de professional remover will always explain this to you as part of the quotation process). Unfortunately, the UK moving industry is largely unregulated and the barriers to entry pitifully low, meaning that the opportunity for unprofessional, cowboy companies to take advantage and thrive is extremely high. Membership of the BAR guarantees quality management and service delivery procedures, enhanced by our independent dispute resolution and payment protection plans.
Ian Studd, Director General, British Association of Removers
According to 2024 research by Zoopla, the average house removal cost for a short move ranges from £420 for a basic removal from a one bedroom apartment, to over £1,200 for a packing and removal service from a three bedroom house – but there are plenty of ways to keep costs down.
REMOVAL COMPANIES
Getting professionals to do your move is troublefree and fully insured. Prices depend on how much you need moving, how far you are going, and the day of the week (Fridays, weekends and school holidays are more expensive). Specialist items such as pianos or tropical fish tanks incur additional charges and if you are moving appliances you will need to disconnect them yourself beforehand.
A basic removals package means that you pack all your smaller items into boxes yourself, while a premium service means you can sit back and watch while everything is packed for you and unpacked at the other end (although you’ll pay hundreds of pounds for the privilege).
It’s sensible to get three quotes, and make sure you know exactly what is included – for example VAT, packing materials, dismantling and reassembly of furniture, going up stairs, moving fragile items, permits, parking and mileage. You will get the most accurate quotes if the companies visit to do a removal survey. Do you have the van for the day, or is it charged by the hour? And what are the charges if there are delays – for example if you are in a chain and someone’s money doesn’t come through? You might consider taking out Late Keys Waiver, insurance costing from £70 that covers the costs of your removal company staying late.
SELF-DRIVE VAN HIRE
If you have a full UK driving licence and are over 21, self-drive van hire is a possibility (although drivers under 25, with less than two years’ driving experience, or with a poor driving record, will pay considerably more and may have to shop around or accept a smaller van).
The best van for moving yourself is undoubtedly a 3.5 tonne Luton (550 cubic feet) with a tail lift – a box van that you can drive with
a standard car licence but is large enough to hold, according to Reallymoving.com, up to 45 packing boxes or “a table and set of stackable chairs, spacious sofas, two double beds, wardrobes, and white goods”. A long wheel base Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter van (380530 cubic feet) will hold furniture such as beds and sofas, plus around 30 boxes (the contents of a single garage), while a standard Transit or Sprinter (280-380 cubic feet) should take a bed or a smaller sofa plus boxes.
Hire prices vary according to van size, driver age, location and day of the week. As an example, for a 30-year-old to hire a Luton with tail lift in Chelmsford was £178 a day, while a smaller van was £97. Some companies offer cutprice weekend hire, and larger firms will do oneway hires if you are moving across the country.
Things to consider:
Self-drive van hire does not include insurance for your goods, and may not be covered by your house insurance, so presents a greater risk than using a removals company
Are you confident driving a large vehicle? You will be liable for repair costs if you scrape or damage it, unless you buy additional insurance. You have to pay for the fuel you use
You will need to arrange parking permits, Congestion Charge payments etc yourself
You will probably need help to load and unload the van if you have large items
A more expensive, larger van may work out cheaper than multiple runs in a smaller van.
VAN HIRE WITH A DRIVER
Every area has “man with a van” services on offer, which can work out reasonably priced if you are doing a small, local move, moving by yourself, or don’t drive. For example, Quickmanandvan.
co.uk offers hires in London starting from £36 for two hours, and drivers will help with lifting and disassembling/reassembling furniture. Weekday, daytime moves are cheapest.
Things to consider:
Your driver will have some level of “goods in transit” insurance, but check the small print to make sure it covers the full value of your possessions
Check what is included – some firms charge extra for fuel, mileage or carrying things up or down staircases
You will need to arrange any parking permits, Congestion Charge payments etc yourself
You can usually assist the driver yourself, or book an additional person to help carry items
If you overrun, additional hours are usually charged at a higher rate; you might get a better deal booking for a half-day or full-day
MOVING BY CAR
If you don’t have very large items like double beds or sofas to move, then you might be able to manage with multiple car loads. If you buy roof bars and fixings for your vehicle (from around £115) you can strap larger items on top, but check your vehicle handbook to ensure you don’t overload – 75kg maximum is common. Buy ratchet straps and ensure that everything is secure, as driving with an unsecure load is a serious offence. If you have a tow bar (from £300 fitted), hiring a small box trailer can cost from just £25 a day and vastly increase what you can carry.
Things to consider:
Don’t overload your vehicle, carry items insecurely or restrict your vision or you could get a big fine!
Factor in the cost of fuel for making multiple journeys
Check your car insurance for “personal possessions cover” to see if items carried on board are insured, and to what amount. If you aren’t covered, you may want to add this on.
PACKING MATERIALS
If you use a removal company, robust packing boxes, bubble wrap and tissue paper are either included in the price, or can be bought as part of the service. If you are moving yourself, you will need to buy boxes – be warned, they are more expensive than you might expect and quality varies enormously!
In general, don’t economise here, look for double wall boxes designed for moving house, as these are much tougher. If you are on a tight budget, Facebook free sites are a great way to source used-once moving boxes, and supermarket banana boxes can be good for books.
Don’t economise on tape either – you need heavy duty, wide, high-quality packing tape to seal your boxes (not masking tape, duct tape etc). Amazon sells large rolls of bubble wrap, but you could also ask local businesses or previous homemovers for cast-offs. Newspaper, or packing paper on rolls, is useful, too.
Like many things in life, removals are a balance of cost and convenience. If you have to move in a single day, or are on your own, then a full professional service is probably worth ever penny. If you have your keys a week or two ahead of having to move out, you have a vehicle and friends to help, and you’ve sourced secondhand packing materials, then you can move house for almost nothing. Just don’t forget which box you put the kettle in!
EXPERT COMMENT
Whether you decide to move yourself or employ a professional rm, you’ll need to contact your home contents insurer in advance of your moving date. They will be able to let you know what cover, if any, is provided for your possessions while they are in transit and highlight any limits or restrictions which may apply. Fragile items such as glassware and china are usually only insured if they have been professionally packed. Common exclusions include cover for valuables such as personal money, jewellery, stamps, coins, deeds and other documents. Policies also vary on whether and for how long, they cover possessions left in storage – some policies specifying a certain number of days, while other exclude cover completely. Changing address can also be a good time to review your home insurance arrangements. Premiums are based on the property’s postcode, type, number of bedrooms and the value of your belongings. While your existing insurer may have offered the best deal on your old property, they might not be as competitive for your new home. However, before committing to switch insurer, you should check your existing insurer’s cancellation charges to make sure that these don’t wipe out any potential savings.
Lee Grif n, Founder, GoCompare
The ultimate guide to heat pumps
Heat pumps have long been touted as the answer to the climate crisis, but is the roll-out programme going to plan? Ginetta Vedrickas reports
THE ROAD TO NET ZERO
When it comes to climate action, the UK’s legal target is to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement following a legally binding international treaty on climate change. Adopted by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP21, in Paris, on 12 December 2015, it came into force on 4 November 2016 with the aim of holding “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels”.
FUNDING FOR UPGRADING TO A HEAT PUMP
In response, the UK Government’s aim has been to negate the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity, by reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The National Audit Office, NAO, found that heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. The main source of emissions is from burning natural gas to heat homes. Air source heat pumps (ASHPs), use electricity rather than gas like boilers and, as the UK produces more electricity from renewable energy, fewer emissions will be created by heating our homes this way. Reducing emissions from heating homes is therefore a key component of the Government’s overall target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Government is keen that heat pumps become the chosen alternative to gas boilers, and it is currently giving grants to homeowners to install them via its Boiler Upgrade Scheme, with the aim of 600,000 installations per year. From October 2023, grant levels for heat pumps were increased to £7,500 with funding confirmed until March 2028. So far so good, but research shows that the UK’s heat pump installation programme isn’t going quite to plan. Heating specialist Heatpumps London found that the UK currently has just 412 heat pumps per 100,000 people and it points to research which found that there’s a lack of knowledge even among the construction sector itself. Among builders, 56% lack sufficient information to advise on cleaner alternatives to traditional gas boilers, with 44% admitting that they wouldn’t recommend heat pumps due to unawareness of their benefits. And 11% of builders are unaware of available grants such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Heatpumps London also points out that there is concern over a lack of engineers able to “retrofit” UK homes – to install new technology such as heat pumps into olderstyle properties, which is contributing to high installation costs and long wait times.
The heating specialist says that increasing the rate of heat pump adoption in the UK could create up to 55,000 new jobs, yet there are currently only around 2,000 jobs in the industry. The NAO also calls the 2028 target “unrealistic”, and it urges the Government to increase public awareness of the green technology and work to reduce costs. NAO Director Simon Bittlestone told the BBC, “The Government has some big questions to answer about how it plans to decarbonise home heating.”
FINDING INFORMATION ON HEAT PUMPS AND THEIR RUNNING COSTS
As the demand for energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions continues to rise, heat pumps are being touted as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative, and there’s plenty of information out there to help you decide whether they are right for you. Provider of heating systems and installation, Hartswood Heating, for example, has produced its Ultimate Guide to Heat Pumps which the heating specialist describes as a “comprehensive resource designed to empower homeowners with essential knowledge and insights into the world of heat pumps” as it knows that navigating the complexities of heat pump technology and installation can be daunting. This definitive resource aims to cover everything you need to know about heat pumps, including how they work and their
benefits, the different types of heat pumps available, and factors to consider when choosing one. It also looks at how different types of heat pumps are installed and what is needed to install them. Hartswood’s CEO Matt Lancley hopes that the guide will act as a resource to help homeowners understand what they need to know about heat pumps and how the latest updates from the Government impact them. “Whether you’re considering installing a heat pump for the first time or looking to optimise your existing system, this comprehensive guide is your go-to resource for all things heat pumps.” hartswoodheating.com
Independent advisory group The Energy Saving Trust also has information on heat pumps including their suitability for your home and potential running costs. Independent Government-backed researcher Energy Systems Catapult carried out a study of 750 households which found there is a small extra cost to running a heat pump compared with a gas boiler, but some electricity suppliers are now offering cheaper rates for households with heat pumps. Octopus Energy has launched its new heat pump tariff, Cosy Octopus, which charges electricity at 19.6p a kilowatt hour, below the standard tariff cap of 25p.Ovo Energy recently offered a limited rate of 15p to the first 100 households to sign up to its Heat Pump Plus tariff. energysavingtrust.org.uk
NEW BUILD HOMES WITH HEAT PUMPS
Some new home builders are already installing heat pumps. Elivia Homes recently launched its collection of 17 homes at Summerfield Nurseries in Staple, Kent. With its aim of creating sustainable homes, all properties include air source heat pumps and electric car charging points, while underfloor heating delivers warmth and energy efficiency. Run from a heat pump, underfloor heating can be up to 40% more efficient than traditional radiators, says the housebuilder. eliviahomes.co.uk
Newland Homes spent two years finessing the design of its groundbreaking zero carbon homes and investigating the best renewable technologies in order to bring highly efficient homes to the market, explains Sales and Marketing Director Marcus Evans. “As an independent housebuilder, we were one of the first companies to do so, thereby revolutionising the way homes are built in the UK.” The housebuilder carried out thorough investigation before deciding to
install air source heat pumps for underfloor heating, radiators and hot water in its zero carbon homes, which the housebuilder says are “three to four times more efficient than the best gas fired boilers” on the market. Evans believes that ASHPs are a crucial component in the design of its zero carbon homes as the housebuilder strives to eliminate reliance on fossil fuel and it intends building more: “The industry can, and should be, routinely building modern homes which respond to the environmental challenges of our age. This is not a time to be resting on laurels.” The housebuilder finds that customers are “demanding a green housing revolution” as they want to play their role in the fight against climate change, so increasingly people are seeking out its developments thanks to its pre-installed renewable technologies. newlandhomes.co.uk
Barratt Homes intends rolling out heat pumps, explains Barratt Development’s Technical and Innovation Director, Oliver Novakovic, “At Barratt’s first gas-free development, Delamare Park in Somerset, we’re fitting air source heat pumps on all 82 homes. The heat pumps have reduced annual carbon emissions by more than 50%, compared to if we’d fitted gas boilers.” Novakovic says that the key challenge as the UK attempts to transition to heat pumps is the shortage of skills, in other words a lack of technicians trained in heat pump installation. “We are working with the manufacturers and our trades to help ensure that training is in place, and everyone is in a position to scale-up.” Barratt is currently working with a number of heating suppliers, including Mitsubishi, Vaillant and Daikin, who are all developing capacity to meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard, when new homes must produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes currently being built. barratthomes.co.uk
Redrow has noticed growing demand interest from homeowners who want energyefficient features, and requests for electric heating solutions grow year on year says Group Sales Director, James Holmear, “As a business we have always been committed to future-proofing the homes and communities we build. We do this by taking a customercentric approach, constantly evolving our designs and features in response to customer demands. Our new generation Eco Electric homes have a range of future-ready features, including air source heat pumps, even thicker insulation and ground floor underfloor heating as standard.” redrow.co.uk
EXPERT COMMENT
Carbon cutting can be both good for the environment and good for the pocket, so we need to move away from the notion that being green is more expensive and start to see that it’s a mutually bene cial relationship. Our zero carbon homes are extremely cost-effective to run, with buyers reporting that it can cost less than £4 a week for a four bedroom, detached, zero carbon home over the summer months, plus obligatory standing charges.
Marcus Evans, Sales and Marketing Director, Newland Homes
The industry is innovating continually, and we are challenging our supply chain to deliver new products that meet consumer needs. Some consumers have said that they don’t like the noise that heat pumps can make. However, the newer heat pumps are almost silent, such as the Vaillant heat pump that we are testing at Energy House, the climate control chamber at the University of Salford.
Oliver Novakovic, Technical and Innovation Director, Barratt Developments
Living in an energy-ef cient Redrow home helps to signi cantly reduce your energy bills. Recent research has suggested new build houses saved homeowners £2,600 on last year’s energy bills. Our fabric rst approach is all about building energy ef ciency into the very fabric of the home, using enhanced insulation, highly ef cient doors, windows and heating systems to reduce the home’s energy use and retain heat.
James Holmear, Group Sales Director, Redrow
Agony agent
Readers put their property questions to our guest panel of experts: solicitors, mortgage advisers, property gurus and shared ownership providers
Adrian Plant, Director of SOWN, (part of Leaders Romans Group)
Lawrence Mayne, Regional Sales Manager, Peabody New Homes
John E Jones, Director & Head of Residential Property, Jackson Lees
We need your questions...
If you have any queries, or difficulties in understanding the property buying process, our panel of experts is waiting to help. Send our team your questions on buying property, shared ownership, legal issues, or your financial problems and we’ll find the best person from the panel to give the advice you need.
Email your questions to: lynda@ rsttimebuyermag.co.uk
Can I sell a shared ownership home?
QI’ve seen a shared ownership property for sale which ticks all the boxes for me – it’s bigger than I could afford otherwise, and in a nicer area. But I’m confused about what happens when I want to sell. Is it more difficult to sell a shared ownership property? Do I need to sell through the housing association? And are there any restrictions on when I can sell?
Poppy Moss, Watford
AThere are a lot of myths around the sale of shared ownership properties so I can understand your doubts. But in reality it’s no more complicated than selling on the open market – in fact there are advantages because you have two separate means of finding a buyer.
You must inform the housing association of your intention to sell. Then you’ll need to get a professional valuation from an RICS surveyor to set the asking price. The housing association will have the opportunity to find a buyer within its nomination period (usually four to eight weeks) before you are able to market it via an estate agent, although sometimes a housing association or provider will lift this restriction early. When marketing with an agent, the property can be advertised at the share value (ie the portion that you own) and the full 100% value, opening it up to two markets.
The main issues you need to be aware of are whether there are any staircasing restrictions on the home and whether there is still a local area connection requirement (although this is normally limited to rural properties).
Once a buyer is found, the usual process of instructing a solicitor to oversee the transaction occurs. Estate agents don’t charge a higher fee for selling shared ownership properties – as with any sale, they will normally charge a percentage of the full sale price.
Any estate agent can market your property but it’s best to choose one with a specialist shared ownership department which fully understands shared ownership. You can also choose to sell through a national agent, such as SOWN, which has broader geographic catchment area and can deal with everything related to your sale in-house. This includes buyer qualification for the scheme, mortgage advice, RICS valuations and a shared ownership sales progression service.
Adrian Plant
Wheelchair-friendly home
QI’m looking to purchase a shared ownership home in London with my partner, however, accessibility would be an issue for us as my partner is a wheelchair user. What would be the best option for us as we’re looking to buy next year?
Simone Darby, Sydenham
I understand that finding a suitable home in London can be challenging, especially when accessibility is a concern. Fortunately, many new build developments now include a proportion of homes designed to be wheelchair adaptable. These homes are specifically designed with inclusivity in mind to ensure the home can easily be altered to meet accessibility needs. Wider doors and hallways, bathrooms that can be easily altered into wet rooms and additional space in living areas and bedrooms are some of the key features that these homes have.
As you plan to move in 2025, it’s crucial to register for upcoming developments that meet your accessibility requirements. I recommend considering the upcoming St Olave’s development in south east London, which will offer one, two and three bedroom shared ownership homes, launching in early 2025. We have a limited collection of one and two bedroom ground floor homes within this development that have been designed to be wheelchair adaptable. Located in Zone 2, homes benefit from their proximity to the step-free Canada Water underground and Overground station, the beautiful Southwark Park and the River Thames.
By registering early, you will stay informed about the latest updates on the development and the necessary steps in your homebuying journey. If you and your partner are interested, our St Olave’s development page – peabodynewhomes.co.uk/stolaves –
The bank of mum and dad
QMy parents have generously offered to help my partner and I with the deposit for our first home.
We’re a close family and I don’t want to upset them, but I’m wondering if it would be sensible to get our agreement in writing. What would you advise?
Jordan Armstrong, Nantwich
AThe “Bank of Mum and Dad” has never been busier. According to a recent report by the Building Societies Association, more children than ever are relying on parental support to get on to the housing ladder.
While it’s great that your parents can help, it’s important that everyone knows where they stand.
The first thing to establish is whether this is a gift or a loan, which must be disclosed on any mortgage application. The latter may affect the lender’s decision as most don’t like secondary borrowing.
Gifting is more common as it’s more straightforward. However, either way a conveyancer has certain obligations to the lender that they must do by law. These include checking the identity of the donor/s and proof and source of funds – ie where the money is and where it is from.
If it’s a gift, your conveyancer will ask your parents to sign a gift letter stating that they do not expect to be repaid or to have an interest in the property. In the case of a loan, you would typically need to sign a promissory note outlining how you intend to pay it back.
Assuming you and your partner will be buying the property jointly, your conveyancer should also advise you both to sign a
would be the best place to start. On the page, there is a link where you can register for the wheelchair adaptable homes that will put you and your partner in a prime position to become a homeowner at St Olave’s.
The about us section of our website, peabodynewhomes.co.uk contains further reading about wheelchair adaptable homes. I wish you and your partner all the best on your homebuying journey. For more details, visit us at: peabodynewhomes.co.uk/stolaves or call the sales team on 020 3936 9047.
Lawrence Mayne
declaration of trust. This can protect your interests, for example, in the unfortunate event that your relationship breaks down and you’re forced to sell, as it allows you to stipulate that, as you put more money in, you will get more out.
People often feel uncomfortable talking about financial matters but, rest assured, this is the standard process for any transaction with the Bank of Mum and Dad.
If you don’t discuss it with them now, then your conveyancer will have to, which may also mean a longer wait to move into your own home. Something I’m sure neither you nor your parents would want.
John E Jones
Buyers’ guide
FTB EXPLAINS ALL THE
Your options
What are your funding options if you want to get on the housing ladder?
FIRST STEPS ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A GOVERNMENTBACKED SCHEME?
The Government backs several schemes to help people get on the property ladder. The best known is shared ownership which is open to people with a household income of up to £80,000 (£90,000 in London). More details are below.
BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET
Many people buy property on the open market. Homes are offered for sale by estate/sales agents or from private developers or housebuilders. On new build developments there is usually a show home you can look around and a sales adviser, based on site, to answer your questions. To buy on the open market, you will need a mortgage deposit of at least 5% to 10% of the full property value.
BUYING A NEW HOME OFF-PLAN
Demand for new homes often outstrips supply; this means that new homes are often reserved before their construction is complete, sometimes several months before they are built and finished. This is called “buying off-plan”. Most providers market and sell their homes in this way. Do some careful research to make sure the home you reserve is the right one for you, especially as you may not have an opportunity to physically view inside it before your commitment to buy it becomes a legal obligation.
PRIVATE INITIATIVES
Some builders offer incentives on new build homes such as cashback, legal fees or help with moving costs. You could also try to negotiate for upgrades to specification items like floorings or kitchen appliances.
TO HELP FIRST TIME BUYERS
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHEMES
Help to Buy: Equity Loan/Deposit Unlock
Equity loans through Help to Buy are no longer available; they ended in October 2022. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) together with some housebuilders and mortgage lenders are offering a new scheme called Deposit Unlock as an alternative. This helps first time buyers to buy a new home with a 5% mortgage deposit. More information is available at hbf.co.uk/deposit-unlock
Shared ownership/part-buy, part-rent
The Government-supported shared ownership scheme is available for people with household incomes up to £80,000 (or £90,000 if buying in London.) Shared ownership homes are always leasehold. With this scheme, you buy a share in a property and pay rent on the rest. Rent is calculated at 2.75% (sometimes less), with annual increases of RPI + 0.5%. The amount of share that you buy is calculated based on your affordability. On many shared ownership homes the minimum is 25% (but could be higher). On some homes, you can buy a lower share starting from 10%, but these are not widely available at present. The mortgage deposit you’ll need to buy with shared ownership is calculated on the share value; this works out at a lot less than if you were buying outright. Shared ownership homes can be new build or resales, apartments or houses across many parts of England.
If you buy a home with shared ownership, you will be given the right to buy more shares in the future. This is called staircasing. In most cases, you can buy shares up to 100% of the property and own it outright. When you buy more shares, these are valued at the market value at the time. Because house prices tend to rise over periods of time, it is a good idea to think about staircasing at an early date.
First Homes
This scheme offers first time buyers discounts of 30-50% on certain new build homes. Local authorities may limit these to key workers or those who live or work in the area. When the home is sold it must be to another eligible first time buyer at the same percentage discount.
Rent to Buy
This scheme allows you to rent a new build property for up to five years and pay a redued rent while you save for a deposit. It is not widely available, however.
Right to Buy
The Right to Buy scheme helps eligible council and housing association tenants in England buy their home with a discount of up to £87,200 (£116,200 inside London). You probably have the Right to Buy if you’re a secure council tenant and have spent at least three years as a public sector tenant. Some properties are exempt.
Older People’s Shared Ownership (OPSO)
This is designed for people aged 55 and over. Scheme specific details vary, so check with the housing association provider.
Home Ownership for People with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD)
HOLD is a specialist option to help people with long term disabilities live independently in a shared ownership property where, in some cases, repairs and maintenance services are offered by the provider.
Other options
There are a few less well-known Government-backed schemes; more details can be found at ownyourhome.gov.uk
The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is a long-term savings product intended to support younger people aged between 18-39, resident in the UK, saving for their first home, or for later life. Up to £4,000 can be saved each year, attracting a government bonus of 25% on each new payment. Funds can be withdrawn without charge 12 months after opening the LISA, if used as a deposit for the account holder’s first home, subject to certain conditions. The property value must be under £450,000.
BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET & PRIVATE INITIATIVES
To buy on the open market or from a house builder you’ll need to get a mortgage from a bank or other mortgage lender. To do so you’ll need to save a deposit and meet the provider’s lending criteria.
The ftb process
TIPS
APPLICATION
You will need at least three months of bank statements, payslips or tax returns, photo ID such as a passport or driving licence and details of any loans. Lenders will look at your outgoings to assess how much you can afford to pay on your mortgage each month. The bigger deposit you have and the better your credit score, the better mortgage rate you’ll be offered.
BUDGET
Work out how much you can afford to repay each month, taking into account your normal living expenses and the bills, insurance and council tax on your new home. Don’t forget there is likely to be a service/ estate management charge on a new home, plus ground rent for a leasehold property, so find out how much they will be.
CREDIT SCORE
Get a credit report from Experian or Equifax, and make sure there are no default accounts, CCJs (county court judgements) or missed payments. If you are making lots of enquiries to find the best deal, make sure the lenders log your enquiry as a soft search rather than a hard search as too many applications leave “footprints” on your credit score and can affect your rating. To improve your score, make sure you’re on the electoral roll, and pay your bills and any loan repayments on time.
Buying your first property can be a daunting experience. It’s a big decision, so it’s important to get it right. We take you through all the steps involved
Unless you have enough money to buy a property outright you’ll need a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan used to buy a property and is repayable over a number of years (usually 25-35 years). The loan is “secured” on the property, which means the mortgage lender could repossess your home if you fail to make repayments on time. For this reason, it’s vital only to buy a property you can realistically afford. Before you start, find out how much money you can borrow. A mortgage adviser will need details of your income, outgoings, savings and credit history – they will then be able to give you an “agreement in principle”, which will state, in theory, how much they will be able to lend you. An agreement in principle, however, doesn’t tie you, or the lender, to anything. Instead, it will just give you a rough idea of how much money you’ll be able to borrow.
You’ll also need a deposit, normally around 10% of the property price. The bigger the deposit, the better the mortgage rate you’ll be offered. Each mortgage product will have a maximum loan-to-value or LTV.
MORTGAGE BROKERS VS LENDERS
You can apply for a mortgage via a mortgage broker (or financial adviser) or direct from a lender. A broker can look at the deals available and advise you which one would be best for your circumstances. Some mortgage products are only sold through brokers, not directly to customers.
A broker will help you with the paperwork and deal with the lender on your behalf up until completion. You may have to pay them a fee or they may earn commission from the lender – find out how they are paid before committing to anything.
Mortgage advisers in banks or building societies can only sell you products offered by that company, so it’s unlikely they will be able to offer you the very best deal for your circumstances. It’s important to shop around. You can compare mortgages online at sites such as moneysupermarket.com or
SET A BUDGET
Work out how much money you have for fees, deposit and the monthly mortgage you can afford.
CREDIT SCORE
Make sure your credit rating is sound and there are no mistakes on your le, and pay off any debts you can.
SHOP AROUND
Speak to a mortgage broker, but also look at lenders’ direct products and search the internet.
moneysavingexpert.com, then apply directly to your chosen lender.
FIXED-RATE MORTGAGES
Some mortgages are fixed rate. This means you’ll pay the same rate of interest for a defined period of time, and your payments won’t change. If interest rates go up, you’ll be protected from the increase, but you won’t benefit from any fall in interest rates. Normally, at the end of the fixed period your mortgage rate will revert to the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) for the rest of the term. You can either pay this rate (which is often quite expensive) or remortgage to another lender. Remortgaging to another lender can sometimes mean you have to pay a fee or early redemption charge (ERC).
VARIABLE-RATE MORTGAGES
Variable-rate mortgages are either linked to the lender’s SVR or the Bank of England base rate, and the rate you pay can change. Lenders can change their SVR whenever they want, but they normally only change it when the Bank of England base rate changes. Tracker mortgages are also variable, but they have repayment rates that are directly linked to the base rate so will go up and down with it. With variable-rate mortgages you need to be sure you could afford higher repayments if rates rise.
REPAYMENT OR INTEREST-ONLY
Most mortgages available to first time buyers are on a repayment basis. With this type of mortgage, every monthly payment will pay off some interest and some capital (mainly interest in the early years). At the end of the term, you’ll own your home outright. If you have a larger (25% or more) deposit you may be offered an interest-only mortgage, where you only pay interest on the loan. The monthly repayments are lower but at the end of the term you’ll still owe the original mortgage sum. You’ll need to prove you have a plan in place (such as an investment) to pay off the capital.
DECIDE ON A LOCATION
Be practical.
Think about the commuting time and whether you can afford to buy in the area.
RESEARCH THE AREA
Check out crime statistics, transport links, regeneration and, if relevant, schools.
TBuying a property is a big investment. You need to make sure you buy a home that you can afford and one you will be happy living in.
LOCATION IS KEY
The first step is to shortlist the locations you feel you’d like to live in, then check if you can afford the house prices in those areas. It’s also worthwhile visiting places you like: it may be that there’s an up-and-coming hot spot just down the road you didn’t know about that’s much more affordable. Ideally, you will have rented in the area before buying, but if this isn’t the case, at least spend some time there, check out the commuting time to work, and look at local pubs, shops and leisure facilities. Visit the area at night, too.
PROPERTY SEARCH
Once you have found the right location, go online and check out what’s on offer. Most homes are listed on property portals such as rightmove.co.uk, onthemarket. co.uk, or zoopla.co.uk, plus estate agents’ websites. Properties featured have pictures, descriptions and a floor plan, and
SEARCH
Register with local estate agents, and use the internet to search for properties. Set up alerts.
VIEWINGS
Look at several properties, and visit ones you like more than once and with someone else. Take a checklist.
sometimes a video. Also, sign up with as many local estate agents as you can. They should send you new properties that match your description, but it’s worth phoning them regularly. If you’re looking for a shared ownership property, search online at sharetobuy.com and propertybooking.co.uk.
VIEWING
Once you see a property you like, arrange a viewing. Most people see at least 10 properties before putting in an offer. It’s worth bringing a friend or relative and also arranging a second viewing to check out any bits you may have missed. Don’t get taken in by the furnishings and decor too much. Remember that a property that is slightly run down can still be a great investment and may only need a touch of paint and a change of furniture.
ESTATE AGENTS
It’s a buyers’ market, so make use of agents’ legwork in finding properties that fit your requirements. Be aware that estate agents are paid commission by the seller on the sale, so try to inspect the property yourself rather than just the parts the agent shows you. Don’t get sucked in by the hard sell.
OFFER
If the market is slow, when making an offer, don’t be afraid to offer less than the asking price. If the property needs work done, you can use this as a negotiating tool.
SURVEY
Make sure you have a survey – it could save you money in the long run by spotting any problems.
SOLICITORS
RESEARCH AN AREA
Check online for prices of sold properties in the area, and make sure properties you like fit your budget. You can search for recent sold prices of property in any area at nethouseprices.com, and also on property portals like rightmove.co.uk/zoopla.co.uk.
Aerial shots of an area can be viewed at google.co.uk/maps; switch to “satellite view”.
Before you put in an offer, visit the street at different times of the day and night. You could also ask neighbours and local shop owners about the area.
BEFORE YOU BUY
When looking at buying apartments, check exactly what is included in the service charge and how much it is. Also, ask about the terms of the lease and its length. If the lease has less than 80 years left, use this as a negotiating tool and make an offer below the asking price.
Compare quotes from solicitors, and ask your friends who they recommend. A good solicitor can make a big difference to whether a purchase completes or falls through. Online companies can be cheaper but are less personal.
SEARCHES
Look at the results of searches your solicitor has done. They will tell you, for example, if a main road is about to be built at the end of your garden.
TIPS
horough research
SURVEYS AND VALUATIONS
B
Once your offer is accepted, tell your mortgage lender. They will do a valuation to ensure the property is worth the money being advanced. At the same time, instruct a surveyor to carry out a survey. If this shows problems, find out how much they would cost to rectify and use this information to renegotiate the sale price. Or, tell the seller certain repairs need to be carried out before contracts are exchanged.
SOLICITORS
BUYERS’ COSTS
SOLICITOR’S/CONVEYANCING COSTS (ESTIMATED)
£1000-£1,800
LOCAL AUTHORITY SEARCH FEES (ESTIMATED)
£150-£300
LAND REGISTRY FEES:
Scale 1 fees relate to the registration of both new builds and resale properties for monetary consideration.
Apply using the portal or Business Gateway, for transfers or surrenders which a ect the whole of a registered title
For a purchase of £0 - £80k £20.00
For a purchase of £80,001-£100k £40.00
For a purchase of £100,001 - £200k £100.00
For a purchase of £200,001 - £500k £150.00
For a purchase of £500,001 - £1,000,000 £295.00
For a purchase of £1,000,001 and over £500.00
Apply using the portal or Business Gateway, for registration of all leases and transfers or surrenders which a ect part of a registered title
For a purchase of £0 - £80k £45.00
For a purchase of £80,001-£100k £95.00
For a purchase of £100,001 - £200k £230.00
TIPS
A QUICK SALE
Push the seller to take the property off the market. This will limit the chances of being gazumped (another buyer making a larger offer). The seller can insist on continuing to show the property, especially if you haven’t offered the asking price.
Use a recommended solicitor who you know to be reliable and who can move fast.
Never get pressured into an exchange and completion date without knowing all your finances and documents are in place. If you can’t complete, you may have to pay the seller’s costs.
English property law is different to Scottish law: in England, if you put in an offer and then have a change of heart, you can legally back out of the deal or negotiate up until the exchange date. But, in Scotland, an agreed price is binding.
INSURANCE
You must have buildings insurance in place for when you exchange contracts (not complete). This will be a condition of your mortgage offer.
REMOVALS
Shop around for a removals rm, and nd one that can move your possessions on completion day. You could also look at van hire to do it yourself.
After the offer is accepted, you will also need to appoint a solicitor or conveyancer who will oversee the contract, deal with the finances and exchange the deeds. Your solicitor will carry out searches, check the terms of any lease and restrictive covenants and tell you how much Stamp Duty you have to pay. The seller will also appoint a solicitor, and the two legal teams will be in regular contact to make sure the purchase goes as smoothly as possible.
EXCHANGE AND COMPLETION
Once the mortgage offer is in place, the contract is satisfactory and buildings insurance has been organised, both parties will agree an exchange date. You will sign the contract with your solicitor, and at the point of exchange of contracts, you pay a deposit and a completion date is set. At this point, there’s no going back – the seller could sue you if you pull out, and you could lose your deposit. The completion date is usually around a week to 10 days after exchange, but can be done on the same day. On completion, the final paperwork is done, and the property is legally yours.
TIME SCALE
From offer to completion usually takes about six weeks to three months, but don’t feel pressured or rush into anything you’re not sure of just because the seller or estate agent wants you to exchange.
COMPLETION
Your solicitor or estate agent will call you to tell you the property is yours. The solicitor will have some nal paperwork to do, and you will then have to pay the solicitor’s bill and your Stamp Duty payment (if applicable). solicitor’s bill and your Stamp
For a purchase of £200,001 - £500k £330.00
For a purchase of £500,001 - £1,000,000 £655.00
For a purchase of £1,000,001 and over £1,105.00
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (SDLT) (UNTIL 31/09/2022):
Up to £250,000 Zero
The next £675,000 (the portion from £250,001 to £925,000) 5%
The next £575,000 (the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million) 10%
The remaining amount (the portion above £1.5 million) 12%
In October 2022 you buy a property for £295,000. The SDLT you owe will be calculated as follows: 0% on the first £250,000 = £0 5% on the final £45,000 = £2,250
Total SDLT = £2,250
OTHER FEES TO CONSIDER (ESTIMATED, DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES):
MORTGAGE ARRANGEMENT FEE
Expect to pay a fee of at least £1,000 to secure an attractive rate. But some can be £2000+
The lender will usually o er you the option to pay the arrangement fee upfront, or you can add the fee to the mortgage. The disadvantage of adding the fee to the mortgage is you’ll pay interest on it, as well as the mortgage, for the life of the loan. But if you pay the fee upfront, there’s a chance you could lose it if anything went wrong with the purchase.
MORTGAGE VALUATION
Typically, around £300-£600, but can be significantly more
MORTGAGE BROKER’S FEE
£0-£500 usually paid at mortgage application
BUILDINGS INSURANCE
Estimate £200-£300 annually – The price depends on the cover you require and your excess. The building insurance is calculated based on the cost of rebuilding your home is known as the ‘buildings sum insured’. It’s important to know that there’s likely to b a di erence between your home’s market value and the cost of rebuilding your home.
GROUND RENT (LEASEHOLD ONLY) & SERVICE CHARGES
£700-£4,000 annually
If you own a long lease on a property in England and Wales you will normally have to pay rent to the freeholder or landlord of the property; this is known as Ground Rent. The lease will normally specify how much rent you have to pay and when it has to be paid. The ground rent can be a fixed sum for the length of the lease, or the lease can provide for the ground rent to increase over the course of the lease. Service charges vary based on the building and the services provided. A building with concierge service, numerous lifts can be very expensive. You should go through the service charge costs with your solicitor. These are audited and the price paid changes annually generally in April. New freehold homes may also have service/estate charges for maintenance of communal areas.
REMOVALS (IF REQUIRED)
£500-£2,500
Home buying glossary
Confused by financial acronyms and industry terminology?
Buying your first house is daunting enough without having to decode property lingo. FTB’s homebuying glossary is here to make the process a whole lot easier to understand
AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE
The initial document that a lender will give you outlining the amount you are likely to be lent if you applied for a mortgage. An agreement in principle is not a guarantee of getting a mortgage.
APR
APR stands for annual percentage rate. It is the interest rate you’d pay over a year. It takes into account not just the interest on your loan but also any other additional charges.
ARREARS
This is a term used to describe payments that haven’t been made on time.
BASE RATE
The interest rate set by the Bank of England. Lenders usually use the Bank of England base rate to set their own interest rates.
BROKER
A broker is someone who gives you advice on your mortgage. Some are independent, while others work for particular lenders.
BUILDING SURVEY
A survey carried out by a qualified surveyor to spot any structural problems or faults in the home you are buying.
COLLATERAL
Something of value that is offered as a guarantee against a loan. With mortgages, your home is collateral.
COMPLETION
The finalisation of the sale. Completion day is when the paperwork is complete, all money is transferred and you become the legal owner of your new home.
CONVEYANCING
The legal process of transferring ownership of a property.
DISBURSEMENTS
These are additional charges incurred during the homebuying process such as Stamp Duty and Land Registry charges. You must give the money to your conveyancer or solicitor who will then pay the charges on your behalf.
EARLY REPAYMENT CHARGE
LAND REGISTRY FEES
This is a fee you have to pay in order to register your ownership of the property with the Land Registry.
This is an amount of money you may have to pay a lender if you decide to move mortgage provider or if you pay off your mortgage quicker than expected.
EQUITY
The difference between the value of the property and the value of the mortgage you have secured.
EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS
This is when you exchange contracts with the seller. When this has happened, both sides are legally bound to complete the transaction.
FREEHOLD
A freehold is when you fully own a property and the land it stands on.
GAZUMPING
When a seller accepts an offer and then later on rejects it in favour of a higher offer from another bidder.
GUARANTOR
A person, usually a parent, who guarantees that you can pay your mortgage repayments. You often need a guarantor if you are struggling to get a mortgage based on your own income. If for some reason you cannot pay your mortgage, your guarantor has to pay it for you.
HIGHER LENDING CHARGE
If you take out a large mortgage on a property, some lenders may charge a one-off extra fee. This funds an insurance policy that protects the lender (not you) from the additional risk.
LEASEHOLD
A type of tenure where you buy the right to occupy a property for a fixed period of time. You usually have to pay annual ground rent each year.
LTV
This stands for loan to value – the ratio between the amount of money you have taken out as a loan and the valuation price of the property.
LUMP-SUM REDUCTION
In order to reduce your mortgage, you can make a lump-sum reduction. This is where you pay more than you owe each month in mortgage repayments.
REDEMPTION
Paying off your mortgage in full is known as redemption.
REPAYMENTS
The amount you have to pay back each month to your mortgage provider
STAMP DUTY
Stamp Duty is a shortened name for Stamp Duty Land Tax, also called SDLT. This is a Government tax you may have to pay when you purchase a new property. Your solicitor or conveyancer will organise the payment for you.
TITLE DEEDS
The legal documents that outline your rights and liabilities in relation to your new property. The title deeds also act as proof of ownership.
Common questions from a first time buyer about conveyancing
As a first time buyer you will no doubt have many questions regarding the conveyancing process. Coralie Phelan, Partner and Head of Resales and Staircasing at Prince Evans Solicitors LLP, looks as the common questions asked by first time buyers during the process
Q. WHAT IS CONVEYANCING AND WHY DO I NEED A CONVEYANCER?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring land from one party to another. You will need a conveyancer to act on your behalf and your lender’s behalf to check that you will acquire a good and marketable title to the property to enable you to sell and mortgage the property without difficulty in the future.
Q. HOW MUCH SHOULD I BUDGET FOR THE CONVEYANCING FEES?
You should budget for between approximately £1,000 to £1,800 plus disbursements (payments to third parties such as the Land Registry) and Stamp Duty Land Tax.
Q. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THE PROCESS RUNS SMOOTHLY?
Keep in regular contact with your 9 Mortgage adviser
9 Conveyancer
9 The sales office or estate agent.
Q. HOW OFTEN WILL I RECEIVE UPDATES?
Most firms will update you via email or phone at least once a week. At Prince Evans we are one of few firms who use an app to update our clients via notifications.
Q. WHEN DO I NEED TO PAY THE CONVEYANCING FEES?
9 Most firms will ask you to pay between £200 and £300 upfront
9 The deposit will be requested before the exchange
9 The balance due to complete is usually due prior to completion.
Q. IS THE CONVEYANCER FAMILIAR WITH A CASE LIKE MINE – FOR EXAMPLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONVEYANCING?
It’s crucial to ask this question and ensure your conveyancer is an expert in the area in which you are purchasing. At Prince Evans, we specialise in resales and staircasing and are experts in this area.
Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXCHANGE AND COMPLETION?
9 Exchange of contracts is the point when there is a legally binding contract between the parties
9 Completion is the day that monies are transferred between solicitors and you can collect your keys and move in.
* Generally there is about one or two weeks between exchange and completion.
Q. WHAT ARE THE STANDARD SEARCHES?
Standard searches usually consist of
9 A local search, which searches for matters in the local authority records
such as planning and building regulation history, road adoption and adverse matters that might affect the property, such as, for example, compulsory purchase schemes
9 Drainage and water search – to check drainage connections
9 Environmental search – to check for compliance with environmental matters.
Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD?
Leasehold means you own the property as set in the lease for a set period of time, being the terms of the lease. If you purchase a house generally this will be freehold, which means you own the house itself plus the land it sits on.
Q. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF RESALES SHARED OWNERSHIP?
There are several advantages including:
9 Your landlord will be under an obligation to act responsibly
9 Ideal first step on the property ladder
9 Low deposit
9 Resale properties are often more affordable than new builds
9 You are only responsible for the property itself.
There is no single best or most important question to ask during the conveyancing process. It is worth ensuring you ask any questions you have to enable you to understand the process properly before legally committing and embarking on your journey into homeownership.
At Prince Evans we are happy to answer any questions you have at quotation stage. Please call 020 8799 1860 or email rst@prince-evans.co.uk
Directory
CHECK WHICH SCHEME IS RIGHT FOR YOU!
With a range of Government schemes available to make buying a home more affordable, find out which scheme is right for you.
SHARED OWNERSHIP
If you can’t quite afford to buy 100% of a home, you could buy a share of a home instead and pay rent on the rest.
SHARED OWNERSHIP RESALES
FIRST HOMES
A new scheme supporting local rst time buyers, including key workers, on to the property ladder by offering new build homes with at least a 30% discount compared to market prices.
RIGHT TO BUY
If you’re a council tenant in England, the Right to Buy scheme could help you buy the home you rent with a discount of up to £87,200 (£116,200 in London).
If you can’t afford to buy a whole home, you could buy the same share of a home bought by its current owner when they used a shared ownership scheme.
HOME OWNERSHIP FOR PEOPLE WITH LONG-TERM DISABILITIES (HOLD)
If you have a long-term disability, the HOLD scheme in England could help you buy any home for sale on a shared ownership basis.
OLDER
PEOPLE’S
SHARED OWNERSHIP (OPSO)
If you’re aged 55 or over, the OPSO scheme could help you own up to 75% of any home that’s for sale on a shared ownership basis.
FIND OUT MORE
For a more detailed description of each scheme please visit ownyourhome.gov.uk
RENT TO BUY/LONDON LIVING RENT
Rent to Buy gives tenants in England the chance to rent a home at Intermediate Rent, providing them with the opportunity to save for a deposit over time to purchase the home.
The scheme is available in England, apart from London. Properties in London are covered by a separate scheme called London Living Rent.
THE MORTGAGE GUARANTEE SCHEME
A UK-wide Government scheme to help to increase the supply of 5% deposit mortgages for credit-worthy households by supporting lenders to offer these products through a Government-backed guarantee
on new 95% mortgages.
PRESERVED RIGHT TO BUY
If you’re a housing association tenant in England you could be eligible to buy the home you rent with a discount of up to £87,200 (£116,200 in London).
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX RELIEF
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax on property purchases. First time buyers pay a reduced rate of zero SDLT on the rst £425,000 and 5% on the amount between £425,001 and £625,000. No discount applies on homes over £625,000. The level of relief will be reduced from 1 April 2025.
HOMEBUYING PROVIDERS
LONDON
Estuary Housing Association estuary.co.uk 0300 304 5000
Fabrica fabrica.co.uk 020 3797 2194 020 8825 1000
Gateway Housing Association gatewayhousing.org.uk 020 8709 4300
Places for People placesforpeople.co.uk 01772 667 002
Sanctuary North sanctuary-housing.co.uk 0800 131 3348
Thirteen thirteengroup.co.uk 0300 111 1000
20 QUESTIONS
What room at home is your favourite?
Our kitchen/diner. It’s open plan and has French doors on to the garden so it’s real space for entertaining and has that indoor/ outdoor living vibe. I love to put some music on, follow a recipe and have a glass of wine.
What’s your favourite gadget or technology at home?
That’s easy – the Sonos system. I love listening to music, in fact we have a record player in the kitchen that is connected to the Sonos so I can play all my vinyl!
What colour do you think everyone should have in their home? I don’t think you can go wrong with green. It’s such a versatile colour; it can be paired with other shades from the same family, complements other colours, and looks great with woods or metallics. In my home, I have green walls, accessories and cushions. I like the connections with nature it inspires.
Which three people would you invite over for a housewarming party if you could have any guests?
To critique my decor and get some tips on home styling, I’d invite the interior designer Matthew Williamson. Then, for the food and entertainment, I’d pick Nigella Lawson and Kylie Minogue!
What’s your favourite memory from your childhood home?
I must have been about six when my Dad starting building an extension to our cottage. I remember completely getting in his way but I loved seeing how the mess was transformed into something usable. Thinking about it, this was probably quite an informative moment in my choice of career.
What is your favourite song and why?
Cyndi Lauper’s Time after Time. My parents used to listen to her album and it just reminds me of growing up. That or Purple Rain by Prince. It’s timeless.
Would you rather have a garden or a balcony?
Definitely a garden. My current one is a tale of two halves. One side is a patio area with loads of Mediterranean plants while the other has more of a cottage garden style.
Do you prefer modern homes or period properties?
I’ve always loved Edwardian/Victorian-era properties, but they require a lot of upkeep. I’m actually looking to move at the moment and am gravitating towards a modern style. We will have to see what wins!
Sam Jones is a Client Account Manager at Edward Thomas Interiors (ETI), an awardwinning, specialist interior design firm operating exclusively within new homes. Sam works with the UK’s best-known housebuilders to deliver memorable and imaginative show homes where people will want to live. A talented photographer, Sam also curates inspirational content for ETI’s social media
Would you rather have a library room or media room at home?
Movies and music are my biggest hobbies, so a media room would be a luxury. I’d like a full cinema-style space with the old vintage chairs, a big screen and a popcorn machine.
Would you prefer a luxurious bathtub or a sumptuous shower?
Luxurious bathtub. I find it a good place for creative thinking. Plus you can have bubbles to go with the bubbles!
Would you rather live in the bustling city or in the country?
I think somewhere in the middle. I like being able to dip into a city and go to a bar or restaurant, but I also enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside.
If you were buying a property overseas, in what country would you buy a home?
I’m currently learning French on Duolingo, so somewhere in the South of France. It has incredible weather, some of the best flea and antique markets, and it’s a short distance from other European countries for visits.
Would you rather have a bigger property or a better location?
Location’s an essential, you have to love where you live. I like places that offer the best of both worlds. So a town with great coffee shops, pubs etc but with greenery nearby to walk my dog.
What is one thing you couldn’t live without at home?
My record player.
What’s your favourite way to unwind at home after work?
See above, ha ha! Unwinding for me is cooking, putting some music on and watching a reality TV series on Netflix.
What’s your favourite thing about your home?
The outside space I mentioned before. It’s private, relaxing and a sun trap. I’ll miss it when we move.
Where did you buy your first home?
Bridgenorth in Shropshire. It was a mid-terrace, two-up-twodown Edwardian property that needed everything doing to it. We relocated from London to return to where my partner grew up and it was certainly a change of scenery!
What advice would you give a first time buyer?
Try to keep an open mind and don’t rule anything out. Even if you think you have a style in mind, view as many different homes as you can. We almost discounted our current house; we only viewed it to cross it out and then changed our minds as soon as we saw it.
What are your views on shared ownership?
There should be more of it! One of the reasons we moved away from London was affordability. I read recently that almost two out of three first time buyers in London are having to team up with a friend, sibling or partner to get on the property ladder. Shared ownership offers a viable alternative. It’s a great option that should be more widely discussed.
What are your views on the housing market at the moment? It seems to have stabilised more recently both in terms of house prices and interest rates. I’m hoping this will bring a degree of confidence back but, of course, we have the aftermath of the election yet to navigate. I’m hopeful the new Government will introduce meaningful incentives for first time buyers.
