First Time Buyer - April/May 2022

the Ultimate Guide to... GETTING ON THE LADDER, THE PROPERTY MARKET AND HELP TO BUY April/May 2022 £3.95 firsttimebuyermag.com

AT HOME WITH MICHELINSTARRED CHEF TOM KERRIDGE

LOWDOWN ON RESALES

WIN!

A SYNC ALARM 6 PIECE KIT AND OUTDOOR SECURITY BUNDLE FROM YALE WORTH £400

WELCOME TO SPRING! EASTER EGGS INTERIORS GARDENING

“You might have to compromise on the area you want to live in, but think of this as a positive” Craig Rowe

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TV presenter

9 771758 973014

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EDITOR’S LETTER

E D I T O R I A L – 020 3488 7754

Editor-in-Chief SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk Editor LYNDA CLARK lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk Editorial Assistants KATIE WRIGHT, DAWN HARKER

Operations Assistant SOPHIE MUNNERY Creative Director RYAN BEAL Sub Editor KAY HILL Social Media DAWN HARKER, KATIE WRIGHT, SOPHIE MUNNERY Contributors CHRIS CLARK, DEBBIE CLARK, ADAM CRAWFORD, KAY HILL, JONNIE IRWIN, SOPHIE MUNNERY, LAURA DEANOSGOOD, LESLEY PRICE, GINETTA VEDRICKAS, KATIE WRIGHT A D V E RT I S I N G – 020 3488 7754

Director of Advertising/Exhibition Sales LYNDA CLARK

lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk Special Events KATIE WRIGHT – First Time Buyer Home Show – First Time Buyer Readers’ Awards katie@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

Welcome Spring is the perfect time to begin your search for your first dream home. We are very excited to be holding our National Home Buying Week: Live in London home show on 19 March at The Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square. This will kick off National Home Buying Week and we then have a Live in Manchester home show at Manchester United Football Club on 14 May – exciting times!

Our shows are the perfect opportunity to come along and talk to housing associations, developers, financial and legal experts about how to get on to the property ladder. There are seminars being held throughout the day by leading experts who will take you through all the key topics. TV presenter Jonnie Irwin, who you will know from Escape to the Country and A Place in the Sun, is going to talk about his experiences and with all his property knowledge give some expert tips on what to do as a first time buyer.

Our National Home Buying week, which we launched last year, was very successful. Do go to our dedicated website, nationalhomebuyingweek.co.uk, where you can register for the shows and find out more. plus you will find lots of useful information, downloadable guides, FAQs and videos of highlighted developments from our partners to inspire you with the homes that are available around the country, plus you can listen to some podcasts where we chat about all things to do with homeownership. So, do make a date in the diary and we look forward to seeing you in London or Manchester.

We have some interesting features in this issue – on pages 24-27, Debbie Clark looks at how the number of first time buyrs has risen since the financial crash in 2008 and highlights some affordable homes. If you are interested in a resale shared ownership property then turn to pages 30-31 where we explain what they are and how they work.

I hope you enjoy this issue which is packed with information and if you are struggling to understand how it all works then I am sure you will find the answers to all your questions inside.

Until next time, happy house hunting

Accounts accounts@ultimateguidecompany.com Managing Director SARAH GARRETT sarahg@spmgroup.co.uk Public Relations RACHEL COLGAN

@firsttimebuyer

firsttimebuyeronline

We are all shocked and horrified by what is happening in Ukraine. Our thoughts are with each and every Ukrainian in this distressing and dangerous time so First Time Buyer is donating the sales of the April/May issue to the British Red Cross which is doing incredible work to help and support those people in urgent need.

We all have to pull together in these unprecedented times and we thank you for your support.

rachel@building-relations.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS 020 3488 7754

EDITOR’S PICKS…

We’ve finalised our mortgage in principle so we know how much we can borrow.

SWITCHBOARD 020 3488 7754 All advertising copy for June/July 2022 must be received before 6 May 2022.

Send all copy to: lynda@ firsttimebuyermag.co.uk 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 Ultimate Guide Company Ltd 2008-2022. The Ultimate Guide Company Ltd t/a First Time Buyer magazine will take no responsibility for any loss/ claim resulting from a transaction with one of our advertisers/media partners.

The development was quieter than we were expecting, with a much bigger garden which was a positive feature for us.

Alex Shorthouse, Real Life, page 64

Together we can tackle the climate crisis and create greener and more sustainable homes.

Sara Bennison, Finance, page 80

People often sell to people they like, buyers that can perform quicker or who they think might Robyn Edwards, House Hunter, page 16 fit in best in the area.

We were both Jonnie Irwin, Jonnie’s World, page 9 fed-up of renting and giving landlords our hard-earned cash.

Tom Kerridge, At home with, page14

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CONTENTS

APRIL/MAY 2022 / ISSUE 94 / FIRSTTIMEBUYERMAG.CO.UK

What’s in…

65

For sale – the best FTB properties

64

Alex Shorthouse, 25, and Olivia Gray, 26, were desperate for a dog but their rental property didn’t allow pets, so it seemed like a distant dream until they found their perfect home at David Wilson’s Dickens Gate development in the Kent village of Staplehurst.

HOMEPAGE

9 Words from Jonnie TV presenter and property expert Jonnie Irwin gives his views on the housing market.

11 FTB loves…

A round up of our favourite hot buys.

12 Living Spring is in the air so it’s the ideal time to refresh your interiors with

some pretty pastel accessories, which are spot-on this season.

14 At home with… Tom Kerridge Michelin-starred top chef Tom Kerridge has been in love with the food industry since he was 18.

After working in country houses and in London with Gary Rhodes and Steven Bull, he and his wife Beth turned a rundown pub, the Hand & Flowers, into a Michelin-starred gastropub. He talks to Lynda Clark about his restaurant journey, his first home and gives some great advice for first time buyers.

16 House Hunter We try to find Tiffany and Robyn Edwards a one or two bedroom home with a balcony or terrace in south east London.

18 Developer’s doctor Olivia Moss, Brand & Strategic Marketing Director at L&Q, answers your property question.

4

FEATURED

20 The View: Craig Rowe Craig Rowe has recently become one of the latest presenters on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun. He has a real passion for property and has bought and renovated several homes! He talks to Lynda Clark about his first home, his exciting new job and gives some excellent advice for first time buyers.

24 The great first time buyer comeback The number of first time buyers has increased incredibly since the big financial crisis of 2008. Debbie Clark looks at what’s changed and highlights some affordable homes.

most of their new outdoor and indoor space.

28 Top gardening tips for your new home

30 Urban Moves leads the market in shared ownership resales

Rune Sovndahl, co-founder of FantasticServices.com, gives his top tips and advice on how first time buyers can get started doing some gardening and making the

Urban Moves is a leading UK shared ownership nomination service provider and resales specialist. Here it explains the benefits of buying a resale home.

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CONTENTS CRAIG ROWE, PAGE 20

MAKE A PLAN, TRY TO TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT AND STAY FOCUSED AND BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF AS BUYING A PROPERTY ALWAYS COMES WITH LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS 32 Hotspot

20

Craig Rowe

REGULARS

We look at Broadstairs as a place to live.

78 Ask Emilia Emilia is the Sales Director at Metro Finance. Here she explains what shared ownership is all about.

80 Finance

72 Have an egg-cellent egg-tastic Easter!

Our round-up of the best Easter eggs the supermarkets have to offer.

With energy prices set to soar, it’s more important than ever to make wise choices about the home you buy, the suppliers and tariffs you choose and the way you live. Kay Hill offers some advice.

82 Market Ginetta Vedrickas looks at what the property market might have in store for 2022.

84 Agony Agent All your property questions answered by our panel of experts.

87 Buyer’s Guide

71

Competition Win a Sync Alarm 6 Piece Kit and Outdoor Security bundle from Yale worth £400.

Check out FTB’s Buyer’s Guide, which walks you through the property process.

74 First home, first meal This delicious recipe from Lakeland for pulled pork and Asian slaw is the perfect choice for all the family.

75 Inspector Gadget Highlighting some of the best gadgets on the market – all perfect for setting up your first home.

76 How to choose a conveyancer When buying your first home you will need to find a solicitor. Lesley Price FCILEx of CGM Hampshire runs through some of buyer’s frequently asked questions about who to choose.

92 Shared ownership - the new & improved product With a new shared ownership product launched by Homes England bringing the biggest changes to the scheme in years, Adam Crawford, Partner and Head of New Build Homes at Prince Evans Solicitors LLP, looks at what this means.

94 Directory Where and how to contact Help to Buy Agents or providers.

102 20 Questions We ask 20 quick-fire questions to a property expert and in this issue Bevin Woby, Head of Business Development and Marketing at Direction Law is in the spotlight.

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LETTERS

Mailbox MAKING AN OFFER

WRITE TO US! Please send us your questions, comments and suggestions concerning property, or the articles in First Time Buyer magazine. lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

I have finally found a property that I like after months of searching that also fits within my budget.

Are there any techniques on making an offer to an estate agent that would help me?

Lisa Grant FTB says: As a first time buyer, you are in a prime position as you have no chain. A good place to start is to check similar houses that have sold in the local area as this will give you a good guide on what a reasonable offer is. Remember to stay within your budget and your affordability. Begin by offering a price on the lower side of your target purchase price and then you can slowly increase to what you are happy to pay for the property.

You may also want to make your offer “subject to survey” as any minor issues with the property might give you a chance to drop the price a little.

Of course, any major defects could and probably should change your mind about the property altogether. Once your offer is in, sit back, wait for the acceptance and then you can start the next step of your journey.

This versatile electric cleaning brush is the popular must-have cleaning gadget for your home. This issue’s Star Letter Prize winner will enjoy breezing through their cleaning chores without any elbow grease! This Sonic Scrubber from Lakeland is worth £18.99 and comes with four different attachment sizes to fit wherever you may be cleaning in your home. For more information check out our Inspector Gadget page on 75. lakeland.co.uk

EXCHANGE AND COMPLETION I am confused about exchange and completion. I am buying my first home and have heard both of these talked about but I’m not sure if they are the same thing?

Elliot Marshall FTB says: This is a common question. Simply put, exchange and completion are not the same.

Exchange of contracts involves all lawyers in the chain exchanging

contracts over the telephone. It is not until exchange of contracts have taken place that your sale or purchase to the other party becomes legally binding.

The completion date is set on exchange of contracts and failure to follow through with the transaction after exchange can result in legal and financial penalties. It is vital therefore that you are happy with every aspect of your purchase before contracts are exchanged.

SAFE AREA? I am a first time buyer and I am looking at buying a property in an area I am quite unfamiliar with, but I have heard differing stories about what the area is like in terms of safety. Is there a way I can find out if it is a safe area to live in before I go any further?

Dominic Watmore FTB says: A good starting place would be to check crime figures for the local area. This will give you a general overview of anything that has happened over a period of time. The property’s exact location within the general area may also influence its crime statistics.

Properties on or around high streets or busy shopping districts may well have higher crime figures than those further away from these areas due to theft and other related crimes. If you go to the website police.uk you will find a lot of information on crime statistics in any area which should help. The best way to get a flavour of the area you want to move into is to simply spend as much time there as you can at different times of the day. If you feel safe, then the chances are that you should be comfortable moving to that particular neighbourhood. If you don’t then you’ve probably answered your own question! Good luck!

BUYING WITH A PARTNER My partner and I are looking at buying a property together. Could you outline the pros and cons of this so that we can see if this is the best decision for us.

Jessica Crossman FTB says: It is common for couples to jump into buying a property together without talking about what the implications are if they were to break up.

Putting two salaries together is an attractive idea as it means that you can borrow more money and look at more expensive properties. You really need to sit down and have a proper discussion about it though. If you

can both afford to put in 50-50 and you’re happy with that then everything is equal regardless of what happens. Commonly, though, this isn’t the case, with one party putting in more than the other. In this case, a “tenants in common” agreement is better suited as you can work out what proportion of the property you both own based on what you put in, so it is fair if anything happens down the line. A solicitor can draw up the documents.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE For everything you need to know about buying for the first time, go to firsttimebuyermag.com

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OPINION

WORLD

TV presenter and property expert Jonnie Irwin gives his thoughts and views on first time buyers and the housing market

I remember watching Tom and Jerry as a child and simply loving it. I remember my parents were more than happy to leave me and my sisters to view it, no doubt thinking it was just a harmless kiddies’ cartoon (these were the days when you’d be left in the car in the pub car park with a packet of crisps and a Panda Pop for seemingly hours on end). I’m probably showing my age, but for those of you too young to remember the cartoon, it involved a cat chasing a mouse in varying situations and perennially coming off worst – normally in a quite physically brutal manner. As you can imagine, modern parenting began to take a dim view after decades of this being broadcast and eventually it was pulled from the kids’ TV schedule.

I remember being appalled when learning this, as in my opinion it was hardly Itchy & Scratchy from The Simpsons, but on more careful consideration, I came to the conclusion that it was probably the right call. However, having been starved of this cartoon, I’ve no idea where any of my sons have learnt that bashing people over the head with blunt instruments is amusing, but they seem enthusiastically determined in the continuation of their pursuit.

But the game of “cat ‘n’ mouse” predates the old cartoons and certainly lives on in our lexicon, perhaps never more so than in the housebuying sector. In the current market, the sellers and their agents are the mice and we, the buyers, are the clumsy cats often coming off worst in our quest to get that elusive home – well that’s how certainly how it’s felt over the last 18 months of my house hunting.

It seemed that each property I showed interest in was equally attractive to bus-loads of other buyers, all in strong positions to purchase quickly with nothing to sell. The trouble is that us Brits are slightly obsessed not only with property but also getting it at “the right price” and as experienced as I am in this field, I still fall into the trap of trying to get a deal – sure, I’ve written about paying a fair price, but your own recommendations sometimes fall on your own deaf ears. That is until recently. Finally, I’ve taken some of my

own advice and when the right house came along I bid the very maximum I could afford. I didn’t try to nick it, and as I was aware there had been 30 viewers in a week I also decided not to attempt to second-guess what someone else might offer. The market had gone crazy and I’d be just as mad trying to predict offer levels from people I hadn’t even met.

Now this isn’t my normal way of doing things, but these are strange times and I had more at stake than just getting a good deal – I wanted a home for my family and that was the priority. My offer I’m glad to say was accepted. I’m also pained to inform you it was nearly 13% above the asking price! I’ve never paid more than the list price for any property, but that is irrelevant now.

Last week I went down to the pub with some of my new neighbours, one of whom is friends with the previous owners, who confided that I wasn’t even the highest bidder.

This brought about a little relief that I hadn’t gone completely mad but also highlights that it is not always about the level you offer when approaching a purchase. People often sell to people they like, buyers that can perform quicker or who they think might fit in best in the area. I stated in my offer that I could move as quickly or slowly as the vendor wished; this flexibility can be very attractive to sellers in occupation. I also mentioned that we were a family and that might have been what really helped us.

The sellers were also a young family and wanted us to fit into the community. An emotional decision that might surprise some people but it can be a big factor for many – for which I’m grateful, and there is certainly a lesson or two in that tale.

That relief has slowly faded and it’s now replaced by a growing sense of trepidation of the task ahead. There’s nothing that needs to be done as such, but certainly plenty I’d like to change and improve.

My aspirations will have to be tempered for now, as a lot of the overall budget has been dented by how much I paid for the house.

That’s compromise I guess – yet more of my own medicine that I’ll have to take.

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FTB LOVES

When you buy from a small business an actual person does a little happy dance

Mum-believable!

on top! y r r e h c With a tive coaching to a Bake Well Being takes crea -to-one coaching one ting hos l, whole new leve s, and events using sessions, workshops, webinar tegy for women. stra baking as a positive coping of creative tion bina com Its mission is to use the improve y uall mut to s nce erie and learning exp support and lbeing mental health awareness, wel that s skill and ts efi through sharing the joy, ben rs offe also g Bein ll We e baking provides! Bak ts that trea ked e-ba hom with lled fi bespoke boxes . Find out more by you can send to a loved one journey on following Bake Well Being’s eing Instagram @bakewellb Treat boxes, from £20, bakewellbeing.co.uk

Mutha Maker is small business run by Christina Cruise, a mother who set up the business after having her first daughter in 2018. Christina didn’t want to return to work and miss precious time with her children, so Mutha Maker was created.

Mutha Maker sells kids and adults clothing, bags, and prints. Create personalised memory collages for your home or make a lovely bespoke gift.

Memory collage, £15, muthamaker.com

Oh Crumbs!

Biscuiteers is the original hand-iced biscuit company which, since 2007, has made it a mission to spread a little biscuit magic. Ranges include Mother’s Day and Easter gift boxes, champagne and biscuit hampers, macarons, letterbox personalised biscuits and e-gift cards – there is something for everyone. You could even raise a biscuit to the Queen to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee!

Crown biscuit, £10.95, biscuiteers.com

Spread the Love

Little Love of Mine is a family run business run by Emma and Kevin. At Little Love they are proud to offer beautiful interiors and goodies… a collection that will make your house a home or a gift to make someone smile! Check out the cute bunny glass jars and fill with your fave Easter snacks or use as decoration for the perfect spring touch.

Easter bunny jars, from £7.95, littleloveofmine.co.uk

See the bunnies sleeping...

Get the entire family involved this Easter. This kit has everything you need to create a fun-filled Easter egg hunt to remember! Each Easter egg hunt kit contains five headbands, five treat bags and 10 balloons printed with directions. Who doesn’t love an Easter egg hunt?!

Easter balloon hunt kit, £8.99, gingerray.co.uk

Wake me up before you cocoa

J.Cocoa makes internationally award-winning single origin bean-to-bar chocolate, in Hassocks, West Sussex. It sources only the finest cocoa beans from around the world, directly trading with cocoa farmers and growers to ensure they receive a true premium for their crops of heritage heirloom cacao varieties, which not only helps to guarantee exceptional quality, but also puts money back into education and community projects. Every chocolate has its own unique flavour profile, naturally occurring through the use of different cocoa bean varieties, grown in different countries, regions, soil and climates. Check out the yummy dark chocolate Inca Sun Salt caramels!

Inca Sun Salt Caramels, £7 for six, jcocoa.co.uk

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Homepage LIVING

Spring has S prung!

Mossy Easter wreath, £29.99, Lights4fun

Hoxton tripod floor lamp, £79, housecosy

Brighter days are ahead… bunny hop your way into spring and the coming warmer months. Spring is often the time when many homeowners enjoy giving their home a fresh look. FTB is here to help you prepare your home for those lighter and warmer evenings with pastel tones and a softer colour palette

B&M Harmony Living Daylight Alas ka faux fur throw, £20; blush throw , £6; Lara woven cushion ion, £12; hexagon mirror tray, £8, B&M

Rendezvous jacquard rug, £69.50, Oliver Bonas

Purple orchid wood paint, 750ml, £18, Thorndown

Tom three-seater sofa, £599, DFS

Blush printed cushion, £12, Habitat

Ibiza collapsible laundry, £14, Matalan

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Wooden neon Easter bunny light, £19.99, Lights4fun

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Homepage LIVING

The Type I Like typography print, £24, Rocket Jack

Abstract picture, £18, Claude & Leighton

Stay bright poster, from £7.95; falling beauty, from £14.95; purple profile, from £14.95; tulle and lemons, from £9.95; purple papaya, from £9.95; twister palm, from £9.95; boots on lemon, £14.95, Desenio

Citrine ribbed glass vase, £20, Habitat Easter bowl, £1, Poundland Sicily floral frame wall art, £12, Habitat Set of two chick egg cups, £9, John Lewis & Partners

Pink storage stool, £20, Wilko Easter candle wreath holder, £5, B&M

Choose Happy neon light, £49.99, Lights4fun

Muralava wallpaper, from £30, Wallsauce New Beginnings floral cushion, £8; floral duvet cover, from £30; brown leather shelf , £12, Matalan

CONTACTS » B&M bmstores.co.uk » Claude & Leighton claudeandleighton.com » Desenio desenio.com » DFS dfs.co.uk » Habitat habitat.co.uk » House Cosy housecosy.com » John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com » Lights4fun lights4fun.co.uk » Matalan matalan.co.uk » Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com » Poundland poundland.co.uk » Rocket Jack rocketjack.co.uk » Thorndown thorndown.co.uk » Wallsauce wallsauce.com » Wilko wilko.com

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Homepage LIVING

At home with: Michelin-starred top chef Tom Kerridge was born and raised in Gloucestershire and joined a culinary school when he was just 18, when he fell in love with the industry. He worked in a variety of country houses and hotels as a junior chef and eventually moved to London to work with Gary Rhodes and Steven Bull. Then in 2005 he and his wife Beth turned a rundown pub, the Hand & Flowers, into a Michelin-starred gastropub. He talks to Lynda Clark about his restaurant journey, his first home and gives some great advice for first time buyers FTB: Tell us about your first step on the property ladder?

TK: My wife Beth and I bought a top floor flat in Crouch End, north London. I was 25 and we were both fed-up of renting and giving landlords our hard-earned cash. It was much easier to buy in those days. The flat cost £80,000 and we had to raise £4,000 each for the deposit, which was doable. It was a perfect time and we loved the area and stayed there for about 18 months. It was an unusual place and was in the eaves of a house and was basically an L-shaped studio. There was no carpet and we owned two sofas but we didn’t want to drag them all the way up to the flat until we could afford to buy some carpet. The floorboards were painted orange and so we stored the sofas with some friends and bought two inflatable chairs from Camden Market, which worked very well! We did quite a lot of work on the place and I built a fireplace and a glass wall to divide the bedroom off from the rest of the studio. Basically, we lived like squatters except we owned the place and eventually we managed to move to a bigger, one bedroom flat and moved up the ladder.

FTB: Tell us about the home you live in now TK: We live in Marlow in a house which

Tom Kerridge

is about 16 years old. It’s our forever home and is on the river, which is idyllic. Its rather striking to look at, as it’s wooden and painted black and reminds me of a baddy’s home from a James Bond film! Beth is an artist and has a studio and a lovely gallery space there, and there’s a very workable kitchen which is important to me. We are both very happy there and it works well for both of us.

FTB: Tell us about your career?

TK: I learnt a great deal from top chefs Gary Rhodes, Steven Bull and Philip Britton and I eventually became head chef of Adlards, a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant. Then in 2005 Beth and I decided to buy a rundown pub, The Hand & Flowers in Marlow. It’s a huge success and we have won two Michelin stars, making it the first gastropub to receive two stars in Michelin history. That led on to us opening its sister pub, The Coach, which is also in Marlow, and we won a Michelin star in 2018.We have also opened The Bull & Bear in Manchester, Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London and The Butcher’s Tap & Grill in Marlow, which is a traditional butcher’s shop with a counter-to-grill menu that serves high-quality meat prepared by our expert butchers. As I love food, music, beer and great company I started my own food festival called Pub in the Park. The festival will travel to nine locations around the country, including Brighton and Wimbledon for the first time, and it’s absolutely the best fun ever!

“WE BOUGHT A VERY RUNDOWN PLACE IN CROUCH END AND RENOVATED IT, WHICH GAVE US EQUITY TO GROW AND MOVE ON TO A BIGGER AND BETTER PROPERTY”

FTB: You have written lots of books and often appear on TV. Can you tell us about that?

TK: The books that really stand out are Tom’s Table which was published in 2015 and was a great success, and following that I wrote Tom Kerridge’s Dopamine Diet which again soared to the top of the best seller charts.

Then the hardback copy of Lose Weight for Good was the most successful January hardback since records began! I love doing TV and at the moment I am a judge on the Great British Menu which I actually won in 2010 and 2011. It’s always great fun filming and I have been doing television shows for about 13 years now. They are all very different and often a great learning curve, but food has been my life. I always wanted to be chef and enjoyed working in other people’s restaurants but when you are putting in 100 hours a week you might as well do it for yourself and I really enjoy and love every aspect of running the business.

FTB: What advice do you have for first time buyers?

TK: My advice would be to pretty much do what Beth and I did. We bought a very rundown place in Crouch End and renovated it, which gave us equity to grow and move on to a bigger and better property.

If you manage to scrape together the deposit then I suggest you buy a wreck and do it up yourself. It may be that you have to stay up late at night and work weekends but it will definitely pay off and DIY can be good fun and is very satisfying. You may add £20,000 or £30,000 in value and that means when you come to move you will have so much more choice.

To book Pub in the Park tickets go to: pubintheparkuk.com

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Homepage LIVING

“THE HAND & FLOWERS IN MARLOW IS A HUGE SUCCESS AND WE HAVE WON TWO MICHELIN STARS, MAKING IT THE FIRST GASTROPUB TO RECEIVE TWO STARS IN MICHELIN HISTORY”

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“W PR BY CU W CU FE

Homepage FIRST RUNG

The

HOUSE HUNTER

What we found…

THE LAKESIDE LOVELY Southmere Thamesmead, south east London

FROM £91,500*

THE LANDMARK DEVELOPMENT Kidbrooke Square Kidbrooke, south east London

FROM £360,000*

This month FTB goes on the hunt with Tiffany and Robyn Edwards who are looking for their first home in south east London, with a minimum of one bedroom and a balcony or terrace

PROFILE

Names Tiffany, 34, and Robyn Edwards, 33 Occupations Care manager, retail manager Maximum budget £180,000 Requirements An apartment with one or more bedrooms in south east London – ideally Woolwich and the surrounding areas. Outside space in the form of a balcony or shared garden is a top priority, along with good access to Kent

What they wanted…

Robyn and I have been renting together for five years – first with friends in a house share and then in a studio flat. Even though our current place is tiny, the rent is so expensive and we know we’d be happier in our own place, paying for our own mortgage. We’ve been trying really hard to save, but it’s difficult when your rent is so high. We’ve still managed to get around £18,000 in savings, which gives us a budget of around £180,000. I work in Woolwich and often work nights, so it’s important that we’re within a 30-minute drive of my work – even closer if possible.

Robyn works in retail and often rotates around stores in south east London, so her commute will always vary. We both love cooking so we’d like a good array of shops and a market nearby, and we also like nothing better than eating out in local restaurants, so some good options for that would be a big bonus!

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Southmere, set by a lake, has a pretty outlook, plus a range of on-site amenities and good commuting links. The first shared ownership one, two and three bedroom apartments recently launched, and the site will be home to more than 500 properties.

The development will also house a public square, library, fitness studio and cafe. Inside, the properties have been thoughtfully designed, with open-plan living areas that open to generously sized balconies and terraces. Nearby Abbey Wood will soon benefit from Crossrail services.

This new collection of homes sits opposite Kidbrooke Village, an area that has benefited 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 stylish, neutral decor for the thoughtfully designed living spaces, leading to private outside spaces. Upmarket Blackheath and famous Greenwich are comfortably close, while Kidbrooke railway station is seconds from the front door, for trains to London Bridge in 15 minutes.

peabodysales.co.uk

nhgsales.com

*Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £305,000

*Shared ownership prices released later this year

What they thought…

This whole area near Abbey Wood is being regenerated and we’re really looking forward to seeing what happens here. The development looks amazing – set around the lake and with some really great things for locals being created too. We particularly like the idea of having new shops and restaurants nearby, and a brand new gym would be a welcome neighbour!

The homes here are very attractive and well designed and definitely a far cry from our shared accommodation of the past. Great location for us too, in terms of work and family.”

This is another good location for us – good for getting to work, but also nice and close to lots of our favourite places. Greenwich and Blackheath are super-close and have so many great places to eat and enjoy a night out. We also like that the homes are so close to Kidbrooke station as it just makes getting around so easy, and there are convenient local shops.

We’re really keen on the idea of being close to such great parks, too – Cator Park is right on the doorstep and would be perfect for enjoying the sun come the summer time.”

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Homepage FIRST RUNG

THE LIVELY LOCATION Deptford Landings Deptford, south London

FROM £125,625*

THE EASTENDER Three Waters Bow, east London

FROM £120,000*

First choice!

S

THE THAMESIDE VIEW

FROM £93,750*

Woolwich Reach Silvertown, east London

Bustling Deptford is home to lively bars, cafes and community projects, with Greenwich, Peckham, Brixton and the Docklands all a short bus, train ride or cycle away. With its convenient Zone 2 location close to Surrey Quays, all of London life is on the doorstep. The two, three and four bedroom apartments here also enjoy plenty of green space – they are built around shared communal areas, which include a brand new park and water feature. All this with the River Thames less than a few minutes’ walk away – stylish urban living at its best.

Flanked by river, creek and canal, these new homes enjoy peaceful, panoramic waterside vistas – all just minutes from east London’s bustling Bow. There is a range of one, two and three bedroom properties available, all with private balconies as well as access to communal raised gardens and a roof terrace. Residents also have access to a state-of-the-art screening room and 24-hour concierge. Canary Wharf can be reached in just over 10 minutes by DLR, while some of east London’s finest places and parks are a short bus or bike ride away.

lqhomes.com

peabodysales.co.uk

*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £502,500

We lived in Deptford for a couple of years and really loved it. It’s changed quite a lot, but some of the best parts of the area – including the market – will just never change. There’s a lot of character to this part of town and it’s also in such a great spot for getting around south London and to the river.

These apartments are so stylish – we really love the tiling in the kitchens, the floor-to-ceiling windows and the iron balconies – it’s all really classy.

The views over the area look good too, which I’m sure we’d enjoy taking in over dinner.”

*Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £400,000

We do love east London and Bow! We used to come here a lot when we had friends in the area and got to know it quite well. We love Roman Road market, and Shoreditch and Hackney are both so close, too.

We’re really impressed with these apartments – it would seem that they all have lovely waterside views and there’s so much lovely parkland right on the doorstep, which is great for such an urban area. The DLR and transport links are excellent, but for us south Londoners, it’s probably a little further afield than we’re looking.”

s, with banks of the River Thame Located on the northern elopment dev new residents at this Woolwich in plain sight, views r rive erb sup h wit ress – will have an enviable add don. The Lon t eas th sou and t h eas and easy access to bot ture bright, room properties here fea one, two and three bed ies, while con bal ate that lead to priv open-plan living areas room. bed in ma the from e an en suit the larger homes have toria Vic al ium gardens, while Roy Residents share pretty pod e org Ge g Kin m the front door. Fro Gardens sits right outside s. ute min 20 r ove London in just DLR, trains reach central nel. via the Thames foot tun lk wa rt sho a is Woolwich nhgsales.com *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £375,000

THE NEXT STEP

“We’re very much sold on the idea of moving to Woolwich Reach and just need to get things moving. We’ve just finalised our mortgage offer in principle so we know exactly how much we can borrow, and we’re all set to go and view the show home and check out the area – we really can’t wait!”

Wow, the views here look amazing! The development is right on the river, which would be a dream come true for us. We never imagined that sleek riverside apartments would ever be on our list of possibles, given our more modest budget. It’s in an interesting location, too – it’s technically north of the river, but is so easy to get to from the south, that it wouldn’t make much difference to where we live now in the south. There seems to be lots of regeneration in the area and nice places to go, including some very cool riverside bars and cafes within around 10 minutes’ walk. What we really love is that the apartments are all above the sixth floor, meaning that you’re guaranteed a good view, whichever way you’re looking. The communal gardens will be great for meeting neighbours.”

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ADVICE

Olivia Moss, Brand & Strategic Marketing Director at L&Q, has extensive experience in the first time buyer sector, and is an expert on all things first time buyer related. Overseeing campaigns designed to increase understanding of shared ownership, she is a proud supporter of the homebuying scheme, and has seen first-hand how it has helped hundreds on to the property ladder

Q

I’m a young professional working in London and have always dreamed of owning my own property, but I’m worried I don’t have a large enough deposit or income to buy in the capital.

I’ve looked into various schemes and I think shared ownership could be an option. How can I find out more?

A

A lot of first time buyers in London have concerns about getting on to the property ladder. The media are reporting that house price growth is continuing to outstrip wage inflation and, according to a recent report from Nutmeg, the average deposit for a first time buyer is now more than £50,000 in London and £27,000 elsewhere in England – so it’s no surprise buyers are feeling priced out of the market.

Here at L&Q, we understand getting on to the ladder can be a difficult process. Sourcing finance for your first property is a huge commitment and can feel quite daunting.

That’s where alternative routes on to the property ladder, such as shared ownership, come in. The average deposit of L&Q’s shared ownership buyer in 2021 was less than half that of the London-wide average, which makes it extremely popular – in 2021 alone, we helped 750 purchasers buy with shared ownership.

To help buyers on their journey, we have launched Our Complete Guide to Shared Ownership – a dedicated manual providing complete transparency on all the ins-and-outs on the part-buy, part-rent process.

A Government-backed homebuying scheme, shared ownership lowers some of the financial barriers to owning a property. It allows first time buyers to buy a percentage share of a property, while paying rent on the share they do not own. Deposits are often as low as 5-10% of the share price and buyers only need a mortgage for the purchased share.

At L&Q at Hayes Village, in Hayes, west London, purchasers can buy a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment for £75,313, rather than the full market value of £301,250. With a minimum deposit of £7,594, purchasers have

18

the option of buying one of 388 apartments, within walking distance of Hayes & Harlington station.

As and when buyers can afford to, additional shares can be purchased through a process called staircasing. Once they have staircased to 100%, they’ll no longer pay rent.

There is certain eligibility criteria designed to ensure shared ownership is available to buyers who need it most, including a maximum annual household income of £90,000 in London, and they must be a first time buyer, or in the process of selling a home.

As one of the UK’s leading providers of

Olivia Moss, Brand & Strategic Marketing Director at L&Q

shared ownership homes, L&Q is extremely passionate about helping hopeful buyers on to the property ladder. Our first-hand experience of creating homes over the last 60 years has given us a unique insight into the queries of buyers surrounding the scheme.

Our Complete Guide to Shared Ownership aims to clarify every element of the homebuying scheme, both the advantages and disadvantages, to help potential purchasers work out if it’s the right route for them.

For more information and to view Our Complete Guide to Shared Ownership, please visit lqhomes.com

Delivering new shared ownership FROM homes within one of London’s most exciting regeneration spots, L&Q is currently marketing a range of one and two bedroom apartments at L&Q at The Silk District in Whitechapel.

Offering luxurious city living, L&Q at The Silk District features top-of-the-range apartments with access to a residents’ gym and cinema – amenities that are rarely available on a first time buyer budget.

A £300m regeneration masterplan is seeing this well-connected district revived with a new urban quarter of homes, commercial buildings and Whitechapel, public space.

The Silk District A joint venture with Mount Anvil, L&Q at The Silk District is only moments from Whitechapel station, fast becoming a major transport hub in east London.

Already connected to the District Line, Hammersmith & City Line and Overground, the launch of the Elizabeth Line will further improve connections.

L&Q’s new homes are centred around an attractive communal area of open green space and planting, while every apartment has access to a private balcony or terrace. Apartments feature floorto-ceiling windows, while open-plan living spaces are fitted with modern kitchens that include fully integrated appliances as standard.

The surrounding area benefits from a thriving nightlife, with traditional pubs and bars in abundance. Home to a vibrant array of global cuisines, nearby Brick Lane is a treasure trove of culture, while the Idea Store, London’s second most popular library, is perfect for literary fans. Prices start from £124,375 for a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment (full market value of £497,500).

£124,375*

Find out more at: lqhomes.com *Based on a 25% share with a full market value of £497,500

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THE VIEW

"CONSIDER BUYING WITH SOMEBODY LIKE I DID WITH MY SISTER, ESPECIALLY IF FINANCES ARE TIGHT, BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO MAKE IT LEGAL AND GET THE PROPER AGREEMENT DRAWN UP BY A SOLICITOR"

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First Time Buyer December 2021/January 2022

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THE VIEW

A dream come true!

Craig Rowe has recently become one of the latest presenters on Channel 4’s A Place in the Sun, and has also presented for ITV’s This Morning, the Discovery Channel, Sky Travel and QVC. He has a real passion for property and has bought and renovated several homes. He has helped friends and family when searching for, negotiating and then transacting a property purchase, and happily tells them, “I will be your real life Phil Spencer!” He talks to Lynda Clark about his first home, his exciting new job and gives some excellent Photos: Karla Gowlett @KarlaGowlett advice for first time buyers

C

raig grew up in the 70s on the outskirts of Bristol and had a very happy childhood. “My mum was Welsh and my dad was from Jamaica and although we didn’t have much money and it was quite tough we were always loved and well cared for.

It was not an easy time for people coming to England from abroad, as they were invited over to help the economy but had a rather frosty reception. My dad worked very hard and was a tiler and plasterer and I often wonder if this is where I get my passion for building and renovating from. My mum looked after my sister and I, but she also did night shifts at a bakery – so it was hard going.

“We lived in a council flat until I was about 10 and then we moved to a different area and got a council house. It was amazing and I remember being fascinated that you could go up and down the stairs!

I loved the garden and there were children of a similar age who lived next door and I enjoyed playing with them. The turning point was that after many years my parents took advantage of the Right to Buy scheme and actually bought the house. It set them up and after years of working hard and paying the rent, they actually had a home of their own. Again, I think that this must have instilled in me the impetus to own my own property as soon as I possibly could.”

Craig was good at school and always enjoyed English and creative subjects like drama and music.

“I scraped by in maths and science subjects but I always wanted to be an actor and won trophies at festivals, but although my parents were very supportive they always told me that my education came first. I studied European languages and Business at university and thought about becoming a translator, but acting was my real passion. Channel 4 advertised that they wanted a new presenter and it brought back all my ambitions of wanting to be a performer so I applied and was shortlisted to the final 10. I didn’t get the job, but it was a great experience and the start of a new chapter in my life.

“I was always good at languages and speak French and conversational German and Spanish.

I love travelling and decided to take some time out and took a year to go around Australia, Thailand, Singapore, the USA and Jamaica. I then started work in production for the BBC and worked from production assistant in the studio and on location to promo director, live gallery director and producer and production manager. I also led hundreds of workshops on TV training for BBC new recruits. In my spare time, I used to practice and do little clips of myself which ended up as a showreel, which I sent to producers and production companies. I was lucky, as a friend who was a casting director was looking for somebody for a new channel called BroadbandTV and I started working there in 2004. From then on, I

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THE VIEW

"WHEN I FIRST STARTED HOUSE HUNTING I WANTED TO LIVE IN KENSAL GREEN BUT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HARLESDEN WHICH WAS MORE AFFORDABLE"

"SHE CALLED ME IN 2021 AND SAID THAT A PLACE IN THE SUN WAS LOOKING FOR NEW PRESENTERS AND WOULD I LIKE HER TO PUT ME FORWARD FOR IT. OF COURSE, I WAS VERY EXCITED AND JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY" 22

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THE VIEW haven’t looked back and I have worked on many different shows.”

Getting the presenting work on A Place in the Sun though has been a dream come true for Craig. With his love of travelling and property it ticks every box. “I had worked with an agent for many years and although we were not actually doing anything together at that time we had become good friends. She called me in 2021 and said that A Place in the Sun was looking for new presenters and would I like her to put me forward for it. Of course, I was very excited and jumped at the opportunity. I had to send my bio, details of my property and travel experience plus a 20-second video explaining why I was the ideal candidate.

Luckily, I had just finished renovating my house and so the kitchen looked perfect. So, I set up in there to do the recording and I wore a bright yellow polo shirt as I wanted it to look sunny and uplifting.

“It was actually 22 seconds long and I was paranoid that they would not look at it as I had overrun. I spoke to my agent friend and she said not to worry. Then 16 of us were called to do an audition and I was blown away by that and then they whittled it down to the last six. Finally, I was told that I had been selected along with Leah Charles-King. I just couldn’t believe it and was completely overwhelmed. I couldn’t tell anyone for a long time as they were due to make an official announcement and they didn’t want to do that until I had filmed the first episode and it had gone on air.

“Then in December I was asked to go to Spain to film and I clearly remember the first couple I helped who were wonderful as I was obviously the newbie! Since then I have filmed in France and Barbados and done a couple more episodes in Spain. I am now on schedule to film one or two episodes a month, every month of the year, so I am going to be super busy, but it’s absolutely the best!”

Craig has always had a passion for property and bought his first home at the age of 25. “I bought my first home in 1999 in Harlesden in north west London. I had always been determined to buy in my mid20s as I had been to university, lived in various house shares and went travelling for a long time and I really wanted to set down some roots! I was working in production for the BBC, behind the scenes and at weekends I was a tour manager taking groups of people round Europe, and in the evenings working in a bar. I had to work so hard so I could get my deposit which even then was hard going.

“When I first started house hunting I wanted to live in Kensal Green but it was too expensive so I decided to take a look at Harlesden, which was more affordable.

I found a one bedroom place but then a

friend from the BBC asked me how I got on with my sister and I told them I had a great relationship with her. He then suggested we should think about buying together and then we could go for a two bedroom home.

It was great advice and we bought together and it worked out really well.

“It was so much easier living with a family member as we could be honest with each other, unlike living with flatmates where you have to be careful what you say all the time. We bought a ground floor flat in a Victorian conversion. I actually bought it from the freeholder who was moving back to Jamaica. He obviously had a very different taste to us as he was a 60-year-old man so it looked very dated. I modernised it and opened up the kitchen and changed the outside space and landscaped it as well.

“We lived there together for about four years and then she decided to move back to Bristol which is our home town.

I remortgaged and bought her share and lived there for about 15 years and I still own it and rent it out. My partner and I have decided to sell it now and use the money to buy a home either in London or the south coast. Renovating has always been part of my life and I fell in love with DIY and I really enjoy any kind of home improvements. When you work on your own home it is for you and you take great pride in it. I did all the usual things like go to IKEA to buy floorboards and furniture and it looked really good.

“I then bought a place which was a converted steel works in Harlesden and renovated it but sold it soon after. It was never really my home as I rented it out but I did make a small profit. I then bought an ex-local authority 1970s two bedroom maisonette in SE1 which I renovated and

modernised. It was quite compact so I have opened it up and it looks amazing! It is on the first co-operative estate in Southwark and the residents all have a say in what we do so it is very progressive.”

Craig has some excellent advice for first time buyers and said, “You might have to compromise on the area you want to live in but think of this as positive as you will have taken that first step on the ladder. This is exactly what I did as my first home in Harlesden was not really a desirable area then but now I am in Borough which is booming and really gentrified.

"Consider buying with somebody like I did with my sister, especially if finances are tight, but it is absolutely essential to make it legal and get the proper agreement drawn up by a solicitor. Save like a crazy person and be prepared to make sacrifices.

Expensive dinners, exotic holidays are all going to cost money – I remember my friends and I used to go out dancing and drink water all night – I had a great time and didn’t spend anything!

"I had three jobs at one stage in order to get enough money together but looking back I wouldn’t have changed anything as it helped me achieve my end goal. Make a plan, try to take the emotion out of it and stay focused and be patient with yourself as buying a property always comes with lots of ups and downs. Take time and don’t rush and put pressure on yourself. Be philosophical, as even if the property you want falls through you will always end up in the right place!" craigrowe.co.uk Follow Craig on Instagram and Twitter @craigroweTV A Place in the Sun broadcasts daily at 3pm on Channel 4

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GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

THE GREAT FIRST TIME BUYER COMEBACK The number of first time buyers is estimated to have gone past the 400,000 mark for the first time since before the "Great Financial Crisis" of 2008, according to the latest analysis from Yorkshire Building Society. Debbie Clark looks at what has changed and how you can join the resurgence Latest estimates suggest the number of first time buyer transactions reached 408,379 in 2021; a whopping 35% increase on 2020 (303,000). Furthermore, first time buyers now represent 50% of all house purchases with a mortgage, up from just 36% back in 2007. New buyers have clearly not been deterred by the price increase of a typical first time buyer home; 9% in the year to October, with the average price up from £204,230 to £222,997.

Rewind 15 years to see transactions at this latest level, reaching 400,900 in 2006; around double the numbers immediately after the crisis, where they hovered around 200,000 between 2008 and 2012.

The previous first time buyer peak was 20 years ago in 2002, when 531,800 took their first step on to the housing ladder. Nitesh Patel, Strategic Economist at Yorkshire Building Society, said, “The performance of the first time buyer market in 2021 has been extraordinary, particularly against the backdrop of uncertainties caused by the lockdown in the early months of the year.”

It is believed that falling unemployment, low borrowing costs and an increased number of low deposit mortgage deals are

key drivers of current demand. The ability of first time buyers to increase the size of their deposits was also helped by the Stamp Duty holiday, particularly benefiting new buyers in the high value areas such as London and the South East. First time buyers do, of course, continue to benefit from Stamp Duty relief on the first £300,000 of the purchase price.

Deposit sizes for some were also increased due to a drop in household expenditure during national lockdowns, with the proportion of households’ disposable income saved nationally rising from 7% in 2019 to 27% in the second quarter of 2020; the highest by some margin since records began in 1963!

According to the English Housing Survey (EHS), over 60% of first time buyers are in the top 40% of the income distribution, where survey data from the Bank of England shows that the improvement in household finances as a result of Covid-19 restrictions has been greatest.

Whatever level of savings you have managed to accumulate, now is a great time to look seriously at how you can best use them to secure your own home. Let’s make 2022 another record breaker!

FROM £83,125*

EALING

Union Square Union Square in well-located Perivale, Ealing, offers modern and stylish one, two and three bedroom apartments. The layouts have been carefully considered to ensure residents can make the most of their spacious and contemporary interiors. Kitchens are designed to a high specification, with integrated Bosch appliances. The homes at Union Square promise to offer residents the ideal balance of suburban peace alongside easy accessibility to the wonderful offerings of the city. Parking is available to purchase at an additional cost. networkhomessales.co.uk/find-your-newhome/union-square-perivale 020 8579 5050 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £332,500

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CASE STUDY

FROM £130,000*

CLAPHAM JUNCTION St John’s Way, SW11

A collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments, St John’s Way occupies a prime setting in the heart of buzzing SW11. Each shared ownership property features bright, spacious open-plan layouts, coupled with highquality interiors and private outdoor space in the form of a balcony or terrace. Residents will also have access to a central courtyard and beautifully landscaped grounds, a new community hub, children’s play area and a 24-hour concierge service. Less than five minutes’ walk from the development is Clapham Junction station, giving commuters convenient travel into London Waterloo, Victoria and beyond. The award-winning green spaces of Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common are both within walking distance. peabodysales.co.uk/developments/st-johns-way 020 7021 4842 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £520,000

HARROW

FROM £86,875*

The Elms

The Elms is a collection of one and two bedroom apartments, all with wellproportioned living areas and equipped with contemporary fully fitted kitchens, as well as modern and stylish bathrooms.

Conveniently located just a short walk from the shopping centres, cafes and restaurants of Harrow on the Hill, the development is also within walking distance of both Harrow-on-the-Hill and Harrow & Wealdstone stations, offering quick connections into London Euston, Baker Street or Marylebone stations. Eligibility for this development is open London-wide to those who meet the shared ownership criteria, with priority given to applicants who live or work in the London Borough of Harrow. sharetobuy.com/properties/156106 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £347,500

SOUTH WEST LONDON

FROM £100,000*

The Switch

Catalyst is currently marketing 181 one to three bedroom shared ownership apartments at The Switch as part of a landmark joint venture with Galliard Homes. Nearly every home enjoys private outdoor space and all residents have access to communal podium gardens. Kitchens are fitted with gloss grey designer units, stone worktops and integrated appliances, while bathrooms feature oak-veneered vanity units, mirrored cabinetry, and tiled floors and walls. Selected two and three bedroom apartments are set across two floors, providing residents with a significant amount of living space. The Switch includes 633 homes alongside new retail and leisure space set around a new 9,000-seat stadium for AFC Wimbledon. Equidistant between Earlsfield and Wimbledon, residents have green spaces, cultural and entertainment opportunities and great transport connections all on the doorstep, helping to establish this as an exciting new south west London district. catalyst.homes/development/the-switch 020 8131 9746

First time buyers Ben, 32, and John, 34, have purchased a three bedroom home in Silsoe, Bedfordshire; a move made possible thanks to the Government’s Help to Buy initiative. Ben, an electronics engineer, and John, a Passenger Services Executive for Singapore Airlines, were living with Ben’s parents in the neighbouring village of Flitton in order to save a deposit.

After 20 months of saving, they have purchased a three bedroom Buckland home at Hayfield Place. The impressive 14-acre development is designed to reflect architectural styles from the sought-after historic village, weaving in local materials and detailing.

Ben says, “John’s parents relocated from St Albans in Hertfordshire to Hayfield Place a few months ago, to move closer to us. We had been saving for a deposit for a long time and were getting frustrated that there was nothing suitable for us to buy locally. When helping them to move in, we discovered there was a Buckland home available that was eligible for Help to Buy. We reserved the day after we viewed the plans and had a site tour, as it was our perfect first home and we didn’t want to risk missing out.”

The delighted couple were able to move in only eight weeks after signing the registration form. Ben continues, “While using Help to Buy adds an extra dimension to the purchasing process, it has enabled us to buy a beautiful, brand new three bedroom Hayfield home in a very peaceful setting. I grew up in this area and we know it like the back of our hands. The vast English Heritage Wrest Park Estate is spectacular for dog walks and picnics, and now it’s only a few minutes’ walk from our front door.”

New public footpaths, a balancing pond, a biodiversity corridor that runs across the site, and a new section of bridleway and cycle route are all being created to connect Hayfield Place into the local Bedfordshire footpath network.

The nearby towns of Milton Keynes, Luton and Bedford offer a wealth of shopping, restaurants, entertainment and sporting facilities. Luton airport is 12 miles away, and Flitwick railway station is four miles away, making it an ideal location for those wishing to travel for pleasure or commute. hayfieldhomes.co.uk/development/hayfield-place

*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £400,000

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ROYAL ALBERT WHARF

FROM £77,500*

Gallions Place

Kirsty, a 29-year-old Client Relationship Manager, has recently secured her first home at Notting Hill Genesis’ Peckham Place, with the support of London Help to Buy. She says, “I’ve always loved Peckham. It has so much character, edge, culture, and history… it’s definitely a hub for people in my age group.”

Discussing her previous living arrangements, Kirsty explains, “When the pandemic hit, I moved back home with my parents for a few months to save money.

However, previous to this I rented a two bedroom flat in Brockley with a friend, and then with a tenant from Spare Room. Having rented throughout my 20s in Brockley, Balham and Clapham, I worked out that I had spent over £50,000 on rent alone; which, frankly, is extortionate.

I was tired of throwing money away, and I felt like the summer of 2020 was the perfect time to take my first steps on to the property ladder.”

Kirsty had long been admiring Peckham Place from a distance. She recalls, “Back in 2019, I frequently drove past the scheme while it was under construction, and for some reason, I got a warm, familiar feeling every time I saw it. When the time came for me to buy a property, I viewed developments in Greenwich, Clapham, Streatham and here at Peckham Place. From the moment I walked into Peckham Place I knew it was the one for me. I must have had a premonition that I would live here one day!”

Kirsty moved into her apartment at Peckham Place in August 2020 and timing was perfect. “I work in the music industry, which has been hit really hard by the pandemic, and ultimately my role within the business had to change.

This was quite unsettling at the time, so having a new home on the horizon was an exciting distraction.” Kirsty found the whole process surprisingly smooth, describing the team at Peckham Place as “really hands on, patient and helpful throughout my whole purchasing journey”.

Kirsty purchased a one bedroom apartment on the sixth floor at Peckham Place using Help to Buy and couldn’t be happier with her choice. She says, “The apartment feels incredibly bright and airy – partly because of the floorto-ceiling height windows, but also due to the open-plan living arrangements. I think the sense of space and light are my favourite aspects of the property, in addition to the abundance of storage here. I also love the balcony!

It’s like a little sun trap, so I’m looking forward to sitting outside in the summer, looking over south east London.” peckhamplace.com

Notting Hill Genesis, in conjunction with Vistry Partnerships, is launching a collection of 241 homes across three contemporary buildings, alongside new communal spaces and leisure facilities, which will become the community hub of the existing award-winning Royal Albert Wharf development. The apartments are fitted to the highest specification, with a neutral design for residents to make their own. Residents will also benefit from a 12-hour concierge service, underfloor heating across all properties, and secure bike storage in an underground parking area. Gallions Reach DLR station in Zone 3 is less than a two-minute walk from the development. Other convenient transport links include a variety of links by tube, rail, bike, boat, and even cable car, while the development is a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf. nhgsales.com/sales-developments/gallions-place-royal-albert-wharf 020 3411 3833 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £310,000

WANDSWORTH

FROM £130,000*

Willow Walk

A superb collection of one, two and three bedroom shared ownership apartments, Willow Walk marks the final chapter at the vibrant Wandsworth Riverside Quarter. Located moments from the River Thames and set across 13 floors, residents will enjoy expansive cityscape views as well as an enviable destination with stunning architecture, public spaces and amenities. Wandsworth Town station and Waterside Pier are both a few minutes’ walk away, providing stylish and speedy connections across the city. The popular green space of Wandsworth Park is also nearby. peabodysales.co.uk/developments/willow-walk 020 7021 4842 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £520,000

EALING

FROM £137,500*

Ealing Bond Ealing Bond is a collection of contemporary one, two and three bedroom apartments, each benefiting from a spacious open-plan living area, modern fully fitted kitchen and quality internal specifications. Externally, podium gardens create an oasis of relaxation in the capital. Ealing hosts underground, Crossrail and National Rail services to put the capital within reach. The development will also benefit from the upcoming Crossrail completion of the Elizabeth Line, putting Bond Street just a 13-minute tube journey away. This development is only available to applicants who live or work in the borough of Ealing. sharetobuy.com/properties/165486 *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £550,000

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GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

SITTINGBOURNE, KENT

FROM £389,995

CASE STUDY

Amber Fields

Amber Fields is a 159-home community containing a range of three and four bedroom homes from Redrow’s award-winning Heritage Collection. The new homes are set among pockets of green open space, including allotments and a community orchard to encourage people to "grow their own". There are direct trains via the high-speed rail line to London St Pancras and to the surrounding towns of Chatham, Maidstone and the historic city of Canterbury.

The area boasts as selection of Ofsted-rated Good and Outstanding schools, and shops and leisure facilities are all within walking distance of the new homes. Once complete, Amber Fields will sit within a wider community of 1,500 homes, with a linear park running through the centre. A secondary school, primary school and local shops are also planned for the development. redrow.co.uk/amberfields 01795 334 171

MAIDSTONE

FROM £249,995

Monchelsea Park

Monchelsea Park has just 15 two bedroom apartments remaining, all available with Help to Buy. The homes are spread across two sets of three-storey buildings, Bicknor House and Sutton House, and each offers two double bedrooms, a sweeping open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, ample storage, and an allocated single parking space. In addition to the main bathroom, there is also an en suite to the main bedroom. The development is in a great location, with only a 15-minute car journey into the historic Maidstone town centre. A network of new and existing cycleways and footpaths have been integrated into the new community to provide connections to the town centre and surrounding area too. Within walking and cycling distance are schools, supermarkets, a garden centre, pubs, and restaurants. redrow.co.uk/developments/monchelsea-park-maidstone-212704 01622 294 205

BURNHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

FROM £249,950

Burnham Court

Chancery is offering a collection of one and two bedroom apartments with spacious living spaces and high-quality specifications, including bespoke matt-finished kitchens with integrated Bosch appliances, and contemporary porcelain tiled bathrooms. Each apartment includes private off-street parking and Burnham Court is well situated for fast access to the M4, M40 and A4, just 23 miles from central London and a short 25-minute drive to Heathrow. Nearby, Burnham village high street has a comprehensive range of shops, including independent and family run stores alongside chain favourites. National Nature Reserve Burnham Beeches, an area of outstanding beauty, is also easily accessed by foot from the new homes, offering expansive woodlands filled with wildlife. chanceryhomes.co.uk 01628 674 234

Priced out of their hometown of Hitchin, first time buyers Beth, 25, and Tom, 26, are over the moon to have bought their first home in the quaint village of Henlow, Bedfordshire, securing a three bedroom home at Annington’s Mayflower Park development.

The couple, who both grew up in the county, decided the time was right to get a place of their own but were faced with ever-increasing prices in their current location, limiting their options. Beth explains, “We looked at the pros and cons of moving slightly further away, and it quickly became apparent that living in Henlow would only enhance our quality of life. Plus, Mayflower Park itself is such a find. It’s so nice and quiet but close enough to walk to the local shop and the railway station. We are very happy with our choice.”

After saving for over two years, Beth and Tom put down a 10% deposit and purchased their three bedroom home for £266,500. Tom said, “We were so excited to find out we could afford to purchase a home instead of renting as we didn’t want to waste our money. Annington put us in touch with a mortgage adviser who was really helpful and gave us all the information we needed. When you’re a first time buyer it’s quite a scary process, especially as we’ve never made a purchase quite this big before. He made us feel at ease which just added to the overall customer service Annington provided.”

Mayflower Park comprises a collection of 80 three bedroom homes, situated close to RAF Henlow. The emerging community is one example of Annington giving a new lease of life to former military married quarters, by lightly refurbishing them to provide homes for local first time buyers and growing families. Beth added, “It’s great to have a chance to be a part of the community being built here. Tom and I were one of the first to call Mayflower Park home and as more people start to move in its slowly starting to feel like we are part of something. A few of us have created a Facebook group to keep in touch and get to know each other; that’s exactly the sort of place we wanted.” annington.co.uk

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GARDENING

TOP GARDENING TIPS FOR YOUR NEW HOME

We recently caught up with Rune Sovndahl, co-founder of service business FantasticServices.com, to get his top tips and advice on how first time buyers can get started doing some gardening and making the most of their new outdoor and indoor space Congratulations on your new home! Moving into your new place can be a really exciting time; bringing your personality to your home with new furnishings and paint and adding style with accessories. But have you thought about your garden? Now’s the perfect time to get your garden ready for spring. Whether your garden’s big or compact, my top tips will help you make the most of your outdoor and indoor space – so even if you live in an urban flat, you can still enjoy the benefits of gardening…

SPRUCE UP YOUR NEW GARDEN FOR SPRING With winter finally giving way to spring, it’s time to cut back, tidy and prepare your garden for milder weather. From tackling the overgrown bushes to planting your produce, I’ll help you get it sorted.

TAKE OUT WEEDS First and foremost, it’s best to invest in some good gardening gloves and a weed remover. If your grass or paved area is full of weeds, the weed remover tool can do all the hard work for you. I like to do things the

eco-friendly way where I can, so I wouldn’t recommend using any weed killers as they can be damaging to the environment. If you’re planning on creating a veggie patch or flower bed, weeds can interfere with your produce, so it’s best to remove them.

MOW YOUR LAWN When it comes to mowing the lawn, it’s best to start with the fiddly bits first, which

is usually the edges. I find that getting these out of the way first can help you concentrate on finishing the job. Next, pick your pattern. Stripes can add a great look to your garden but remember to switch up your pattern to help maintain the grass quality. We often pay too much attention to being neat, meaning we tidy away all the lawn clippings, but actually, grass clippings can add nutrients to your soil, so it’s best to leave a few on the ground. If you like to get

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GARDENING

that perfectly trimmed look, make sure you don’t cut your grass too low – just the top third is best for regrowth.

TRIM EDGES, PRUNE TREES AND SHRUBS

vegetables you like to eat. Choosing things you actually like will help prevent wastage.

PREPARE THE AREA

If your new garden hasn’t been tended to in a while, chances are your bushes and trees will be overgrown. It’s best to trim these back and cut off dead branches to encourage regrowth. Make sure you dispose of cuttings to prevent any disease spreading in your garden.

Make sure your kitchen garden is in a sunny spot and decide on the size of your raised bed. Make sure you don’t dig too much and find that your area is too large to tackle by yourself. Next, use a shovel to turn over the dirt. Break up clumps and remove weeds and then add compost or topsoil and some manure. Decided on your veggies?

Next comes the planting…

PREPARE FOR PLANTING

PLANT YOUR PRODUCE

If you’re planning on creating a small veggie patch or flower bed, it’s best to prepare your foundations for successful results. First, dig up your soil, remove weeds and break up any large lumps. Add some organic matter over the top (over time you can make your own organic compost with a garden composter), then rake over the soil backwards and forwards. Your area is now primed and ready for planting!

Before you dive in head first, there’s an art to planting seeds, so it’s best to read each packet for advice. Dig holes with a small spade, add your seeds or bulb and fill the hole back with soil and then pat down. Add some mulch to protect the plant and help keep moisture in. Water using a watering can, being careful not to expose the seeds.

Finally, don’t forget to label your seeds.

MAKE YOUR OWN KITCHEN GARDEN Whether you’re dealing with a small garden but still want to bring that rural vibe to your urban space, or have acres to play with, raised beds are an easy way to bring home-grown produce to your slice of the great outdoors.

GO FOR RAISED BEDS Raised beds, whether small or large, are perfect for keeping flowers and veggies in a one tidy space. They’re great for drainage, help your soil to increase in temperature which is great for growing and they’re really easy to cover when temperatures drop.

Why not start with a kitchen garden? Think of those herbs and ingredients you like to put in your cooking, from thyme to mint, and if you have the space, you can plant

ATTRACT POLLINATORS The best way to help your kitchen garden thrive is to attract pollinators. You can do that by planting flowers in and around your veggies. Cosmos works great with cucumbers, calendula works well with butternut squash and sweet peas are perfect with runner beans.

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO APARTMENT GARDENING Don’t let lack of space put you off growing.

If you don’t have the space outside, you can grow little herb gardens on your windowsill, they’re perfect for popping into your everyday cooking.

HOW AND WHERE TO GROW PLANTS IN YOUR APARTMENT The best thing for plants is bright areas and

sunlight. Windowsills can work well for a growing area. You can incorporate stylish pots instead of plastic plant pots to help blend in with your home decor.

BEST PLANTS FOR APARTMENTS Mini herb gardens are great for growing in containers. When they sprout, you can snip off your chosen herb and add it to your dish. Spinach and lettuce are also great for growing indoors – they don’t need specific growing conditions, just plenty of water. Like heat? Go for a chilli plant – if you’re starting from seed, make sure they’re covered for 7-10 days first to allow for germination and then keep them in a warm area. Love garlic? A great fuss-free idea is to fill a pot with soil and add a garlic clove – the green shoots it produces will continue to grow and will taste perfect in a salad. If you want to add style, go for a houseplant that doesn’t need much light, like a Peace Lily or Philodendron and make sure you choose a plant that grows upwards instead of outwards.

CARING FOR YOUR APARTMENT GARDEN Water is key to caring for your herbs and plants. But make sure you don’t over water.

Test the soil with your finger first to see if it’s dry. Fertiliser helps with growing plants, but make sure your potting mix doesn’t already have fertiliser in it before you add it in. Even though you’re indoors, you’ll have to keep on top of pesky plant pests.

If your plants and flowers have diseases, make sure you trim them, and if your plants have attracted aphids, spray the plant down with a simple mix of washing up liquid and water. Lastly, your space is small, so you need to keep things under control – grow what you know you’ll eat so you’re not left with waste and overgrown plants.

Need help with tackling your new garden? Our gardeners can help; head to fantasticservices.com/gardening

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RESALES

URBAN MOVES LEADS THE MARKET IN SHARED OWNERSHIP RESALES Urban Moves Ltd is the UK’s leading shared ownership nomination service provider. Known for its transparent and direct approach, its teams are experts in their fields and work together to ensure the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. Urban Moves understands the shared ownership scheme and works hard with owners, the housing associations and Homes England to ensure that the scheme helps more and more first time buyers get on the property ladder SHARED OWNERSHIP EXPLAINED When you buy a shared ownership home you purchase an initial share of the property and the housing association owns the remainder; you’ll pay a mortgage on the share you own and rent on the share you don’t. This makes the process of getting on to the property ladder that much more affordable and more easily accessible for first time buyers.

If you want to, down the line, you can purchase more shares of your home either gradually or all at once – this is known as “staircasing”. The more shares of the property you own the less rent you pay to the housing association. If you decide to staircase up to 100% ownership, the property is yours; you will still pay any ground rent and service charge, but no rent to the housing association.

Alternatively, you can sell your share for what it is now worth and move on – the housing provider will help you!

THE BENEFITS OF BUYING A RESALE PROPERTY Shared ownership resales are a little different. Resales are shared ownership properties that the current owners want to sell. There are multiple advantages of buying resale, one of which is that you aren’t waiting for the home to be built, you can go and see it, as it is,

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and really get a feel for the property – something that’s tricky to do using show flats, pictures and floorplans. You are also not going to be subject to the “new build premium”. New builds are valued at a higher price, newer equals more expensive. Therefore, the rents on a new build property will be that much higher than a resale, and your mortgage would be more too. Another advantage of resales is that you would be moving into an established property and neighbourhood – not buying off-plan and wondering what your neighbourhood will be like.

WHERE URBAN MOVES COME IN When the owner of a shared ownership home wants to sell, it’s Urban Move’s job to find them a new shared ownership buyer. It markets the property for the owner and goes through all the applicants to find them a new buyer – one that is eligible for the scheme and passes the affordability criteria. This way it ensures that the process is as seamless as possible and that no one’s time is needlessly wasted. It works with the current owner, their housing association and the buyer to keep things running smoothly.

CRITERIA The eligibility criteria for resales are much the same as with new build –

however with resales you cannot buy a lower share than the current owner is selling. Resales are for anyone who cannot afford to buy a property on the open market, their total household income must be no more than £90,000 inside London or £80,000 outside of London, they must not already own a property and must have good credit.

SO, IT’S LIKE RENTING? Not at all! When you purchase a new build shared ownership or resale shared ownership property you’re buying the lease on the property, and as a leaseholder you have the same rights and responsibilities as a full owner-occupier. You will likely want to make changes and redecorate, which you absolutely can do! Usually, any cosmetic or decorative changes except structural and hard flooring can be made without permission – so paint that feature wall and put those shelves up!

INTERESTED? Stay up to date with its ever-expanding listings of shared ownership resales by visiting urbanmoves.com.

For expert hints and tips about getting on the property ladder be sure to follow Urban Moves on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and watch out for its next feature in First Time Buyer magazine.

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RESALES DEPOSIT £22,200

FMV £740,000

FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE

FABLE APARTMENTS 261c City Road, London EC1V 1AP

This top-floor shared ownership resale apartment in London features floor-to-ceiling windows, and the elevated position allows a view over many of the surrounding buildings. The reception room has attractive flooring and is open plan to the kitchen area. There is a spacious main bedroom with fitted wardrobe plus a second, smaller double bedroom. The hallway includes useful storage and utility cupboards, and the bathroom is stylish and modern. Fable Apartments is part of a recently constructed development which backs on to City Road Basin, to the south of Regent’s Canal.

Well-insulated walls, high-performance glazing and a communal heating/hot water system make for a good energy efficiency rating. There is a large, communal cycle store plus Angel and Old Street stations are only a short walk away. urbanmoves.com/property-details/4926314 020 3944 7681

JUDD APARTMENTS

DEPOSIT £15,300

FMV £510,000

Great Amwell Lane, London N8 7NP

This stylishly presented and wellproportioned shared ownership resale apartment is on the second floor of a modern building which forms part of the New River Village development close to Alexandra Palace and the surrounding park. The property features a 21ft reception/dining area which is open plan to the spacious kitchen. There is a large main bedroom with fitted wardrobe plus a second comfortable double bedroom and a sleek bathroom. The development has an underground car park which includes a space for this apartment. Alternatively, Hornsey station, for services to a number of destinations including regular trains into Moorgate, is only a short walk away and Turnpike Lane station, on the Piccadilly Line, is also within easy reach.

Merlin House is an excellent example of some of the properties available as shared ownership resales.

Located in Suffolk, with parking, good environmental impact ratings and close to Stowmarket railway station, properties like Merlin House are a great way to get on the property ladder. We sat down with the new owner of one of the bright, modern flats within it to discuss his shared ownership journey.

Q: How did you find the process of buying and how long did it take?

A: I found the process easy from start to finish, from viewing to buying the property. It took three months from viewing to moving in.

Q: How long were you looking for a property?

A: I had been looking for only a month before I found this property.

Q: How many resales or new build shared ownership properties did you look at?

A: I looked at a total of three resale properties.

Q: Did you choose a resale over a new build for a particular reason?

A: I found it easier to find the property style I wanted as a resale rather than a new build.

Q: Where were you living before buying?

A: I was living back with my parents at that point.

urbanmoves.com/property-details/4936181

3 ALDERSON GROVE

DEPOSIT £11,200

FMV £320,000

Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 5EG

This smartly presented, top floor shared ownership resale flat in Hersham features a 25ft reception room with attractive flooring, open-plan kitchen area and a door that leads out on to a sunny balcony. There is a spacious bedroom with fitted, mirror-fronted wardrobe and a simple white-tiled bathroom. A generous amount of storage space has been provided in the hallway. Modern insulation standards, gas central heating and high-performance glazing make for a very good energy efficiency rating. The apartment comes with the use of a parking space, plus Walton-on-Thames station, for rail services between Woking/Basingstoke and London Waterloo, is only a short walk away. urbanmoves.com/property-details/4934860

Q: How have you found living in the property and shared ownership?

A: I’ve found living in this property brilliant! It’s affordable and I own some of it so not all of my money is going on just rent. It is so much cheaper than renting a similar property in the area and I have no worries as I part-own it.

Q: What would you say to anyone thinking of buying a resale?

A: I would say definitely look into it and I highly recommend it as the whole experience was easy.

You’re not having to wait for the place to be built which is a bonus and there is plenty of choice of resales out there.

Google review: “Brilliant experience buying my flat through Urban Moves who were quick to respond to questions and very helpful.”

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LOCATION

HOTspot Broadstairs

5 REASONS WE LOVE… B R O A D S TA I R S

1 Seven sandy beaches – need we say more 2 The quaint local shops and bars 3 A strong sense of community 4 Viking Bay’s cliff-top promenade 5 The fabulous Palace cinema

Move over Ramsgate and Margate! Broadstairs has arrived and has oodles to offer first time buyers with its enviable location, stunning sandy bays and understated seaside charm UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

OUT AND ABOUT

At first glance, Broadstairs is an unassuming seaside town. With a population of around 25,000, the modest town located on the Isle of Thanet, Kent, and shouldered by Ramsgate and Margate, has been effortlessly overlooked.

However, there is good reason it is nicknamed “the jewel in Thanet’s crown”, and with many of us looking to improve our work-life balance and rediscovering a love of the outdoors, the town’s coveted location, around 80 miles east of London, is seriously appealing.

The coastal town dates back to the 14th century when a shipping settlement developed around the shrine at what was then known as Bradstowe. The area soon came to be known as Broadstairs, with reference to a flight of stairs made in the cliff to allow access to the shrine from the bay. The town became of considerable importance to the fishing trade, and also to the smuggling trade, with an impressive network of tunnels and caves in the chalk strata used for hiding contraband! By 1824, the growing popularity of steamboats brought prosperity to the area and by the middle of the 19th century the professional classes began to populate the town. It soon gained traction as a holiday town, and remains a popular staycation destination.

Broadstairs centres around the wide sandy cove of Viking Bay, with miles of beaches –

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complete with beach huts! – stretching out in each direction. Its central position in Thanet means residents are only ever a short drive or bus journey away from everything, and also benefit from some of the best transport links in Kent. High-speed services built for the Channel Tunnel mean London is only an hour and 20 minutes away. There are hourly services to Ashford International (45 minutes), and the A299 will have you on the M25 in an hour.

The accessibility of the town, combined with our shifting working patterns, has made the Kent coast particularly appealing to those keen to move out of the capital; affectionately known as the "down from Londoners". Young professional families particularly are typically enjoying more flexible work set-ups and are now able to reap the benefits of the beautiful Kent countryside and popular grammar schools.

Kent offers great value for money and is home to an impressive stock of Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian housing, alongside some impressive high-spec new developments.

Broadstairs was Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday spot and it is easy to see why.

The spectacular coastline is hard to beat and offers something for everyone, be it a simple stroll along the promenade, family fun on Viking Bay beach, photographing beautiful Botany Bay’s chalk stacks, learning to surf in Joss Bay or taking a hike around the tip of the coastline to Margate. In the summer, the bandstand comes to life with live performances and there are street entertainers on every corner.

In the town itself, you’ll find independent shops lining the streets, including delightful cafes, secondhand book shops and gift shops. In contrast to many seaside towns, Broadstairs has managed to retain its traditional aesthetic and associated seaside charm. Broadstairs’ less attractive, but hugely popular, shopping outlet Westwood Cross is located just out of town and features 40 high street fashion and lifestyle stores, a range of convenient eateries, plus a cinema, casino and bingo hall.

Broadstairs is a magnet for foodies with an eclectic range of restaurants, pubs and cafes, and boasting Thanet’s only Michelinstarred restaurant.

Book well in advance though – Stark, tucked away on a side street, has space for just 10 diners at

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LOCATION

FA C T F I L E

Average property price in Thanet (November 2021) – £279,074 Property breakdown* Detached – £479,948 Semi-detached – £325,515 Terraced – £254,060 Flat – £171,509

HOMES ON THE MARKET...

FROM £73,750*

*According to the Land Registry House Price Index

Indicative CGI of the homes at Westwood Acres

FA M O U S R E S I D E N T S • Actor, director, screenwriter and novelist Bruce Robinson • Former Prime Minister Edward Heath • BBC radio comedians Doris and Elsie Waters • 80s pop star Mike Nolan • Composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett

a time. Many of the beachfront hotels also offer great food with stunning sea views.

For those with a less sophisticated palate, the 1950s ice cream parlours, Morelli’s and Chiappini’s, are simply delightful and will remind you what seaside living is all about!

Nightlife in Broadstairs is largely pubbased – there is a huge selection – with some surprising hidden gems to discover. Our favourites are Houdini’s, a unique, awardwinning magic bar with resident magicians and magic bartenders, and Chapel, a quirky pub and bookshop in one, which used to be a chapel! Canterbury is also within easy reach offering a wider range of night life.

For a touch of culture, visit Dickens House Museum and Bleak House, the imposing, cliff-top building where Dickens holidayed and wrote David Copperfield, or take one of the incredible costumed St Peter’s Village Tours to learn more about the area’s rich history. The independent Palace Cinema offers a slice of living history too – it originally showed puppet shows and cartoons on a 16mm film projector in the 1950s and 60s, but now shows all the latest blockbusters! Local galleries include New Kent Art and Broadstairs Gallery. Wingham Wildlife Park and Howletts Wild Animal Park are both only 35 minutes away.

Broadstairs is big on community spirit, with plenty to get involved in all year round.

Events include the twice-yearly Broadstairs Food Festival, playing host to some of Kent’s finest food and wine producers, June’s Broadstairs Dickens Festival – a weeklong series of talks, performances fairs and works, August’s Broadstairs Folk Week and the Broadstairs Water Gala fun day.

BROADSTAIRS Westwood Acres

Love Living Homes is launching its first collection of two, three and four bedroom houses at Westwood Acres, its new development in Broadstairs, Kent.

With every property for sale available through shared ownership, Westwood Acres provides local people – first time buyers, families and downsizers alike – with the opportunity to purchase an affordable, contemporary home in a fantastic location. These homes are priced from just £73,750 for a 25% share, with a 5% deposit of just £3,687.50 needed for a two bedroom house.

Nestled in charming woodland in Westwood, on the edge of Broadstairs, the new homes will provide easy access to plenty of outside space and are flexibly designed to meet the needs of a range of residents. Some properties will provide contemporary, open-plan dining and kitchen areas, while others offer a more traditional layout.

Most of the homes are being constructed using modern, more sustainable modular methods, meaning they are built off-site by contractor Legal and General, and assembled at the development. These homes will also use less water and energy, and have lower carbon emissions both during construction and when they’re lived in. Love Living Homes is utilising features such as solar panels and high-quality insulation within the fabric of the houses to attain an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of A – a level of energy efficiency achieved by just 1% of new properties in the country* meaning the homes are both environmentally friendly and deliver lower living costs for residents.

Furthermore, 8,500 new trees will be planted and new woodland walks, a landscaped communal garden and green corridors throughout the development will complement its green setting, enhancing the existing natural habitat and encouraging more wildlife – helped by the placement of bat, bird and hedgehog boxes.

With shared ownership at Westwood Acres, you buy a share of a property, which can be as little as 10% or up to 75% of its full value (based on your affordability). You just need a 5% deposit of the share you purchase – you then take out a mortgage to cover the rest of your share and pay rent on the remaining share directly to Love Living Homes.

Contrary to popular belief, shared ownership isn’t just for first time buyers. If your household earns £80,000 or less, you used to own a home but can’t afford to buy one on the open market now, or you’re an existing shared owner, you are eligible to use the scheme.

Westwood Acres will provide the best of town, coast and country. In addition to the surrounding woodland and green space, the nearby Westwood Cross shopping centre offers high street and boutique brands as well as an array of cafes and restaurants. Residents will also be approximately a six-minute drive from Broadstairs' historic town centre, where there are plenty of options for dining, shopping or entertainment. Viking Bay – complete with sandy beaches and promenade – can be reached in around 10 minutes.

Canterbury can be reached in 25 minutes by train, while high-speed services take you from Broadstairs to London St Pancras in 79 minutes. For international travellers, Eurostar connections from Dover are around a 25-minute drive for ferries to the continent.

To make an appointment with the sales team at Westwood Acres call 01474 528 285 or visit lovelivinghomes.co.uk/westwood-acres * lifebuiltin.co.uk/news/modular-myths/ *Based on a 25% share with a full market price of £295,000

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

THE AFFORDABLE PATH TO GETTING ON THE LADDER With house prices and interest rates expected to climb this year, the upfront costs associated with homebuying may be proving daunting to first time buyers, says MTVH. These increases will also be frustrating to those looking to purchase their first home – especially as reports continue to suggest that paying a mortgage is cheaper than renting Understandably, recent increases to house prices and energy bills mean that affordability remains a key hurdle to homeownership for new buyers. This is where shared ownership comes in to play; a tried and tested scheme which has successfully provided a realistic route on to the property ladder for over two decades.

For many first time buyers, shared ownership offers a helping hand by bringing down the initial upfront costs of homeownership.

With its low deposit requirements, potential buyers have the opportunity to purchase a home at a fraction of the price compared to the open market. Then, through a process called staircasing, buyers have the option to build their shares to full ownership. Not only does this offer a more realistic route to homeownership, but it provides greater access to a wider proportion of buyers.

SHARED OWNERSHIP IS STEPPING UP Shared ownership is described as the “fourth tenure” in the House of Commons briefing paper published in December 2021.

It states there are approximately 202,000¹ shared ownership properties in the UK – but there is potential for these numbers to grow significantly over the upcoming years.

Shared ownership is here to stay and has never been more in demand. Between 2015-2021, shared ownership demand has increased by 23%, and accounts for over a third of new affordable housing.¹ In total, this means that there were around 76,500 shared ownership homes delivered within this period.

At MTVH – Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing – we have our dedicated

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shared ownership brand SO Resi, which focuses solely on providing homebuyers with the knowledge they need to buy a home through shared ownership. Shared ownership has helped many priced-out first timers reach their ultimate goal of homeownership, regardless of their situation; from young professionals seeking an apartment in the city, to growing families looking for a more spacious home with outdoor space.

We are determined to become a national force for affordable housing and shall continue to change perceptions and educate first time buyers about the options available to them to get on to the property ladder.

ACCESSIBILITY The latest ONS data reveals that the average UK house price was £271,000² in November 2021, which is £25,000 higher than just two years ago. Therefore, potential buyers would require a minimum 10% deposit of over £27,000, which is beyond the means of most first time buyers, especially those without any help from the Bank of Mum and Dad. As house prices continue to spiral, and temporary products like Help to Buy are phased out, it is our responsibility to collectively work together to support those who need shared ownership the most. There are many hard-working professionals, families and young adults taking on this route to homeownership, never more so than in central London where so many are priced out of homes on the open market.

Shared ownership allows buyers to purchase a home with just a 5% deposit on a minimum 25% share of a home. For example, at SO Resi Ealing, customers can

SO Resi Ealing

SO Resi Greenford

purchase a 25% shared of a one bedroom apartment for £99,988 (full market price £399,950) with a 5% deposit of just £4,999; a much more manageable goal.

Alternatively, Greenford – a hidden gem within the borough of Ealing – offers a quieter and calmer lifestyle away from the city, with an abundance of eateries, shops, and open green spaces.

Potential buyers can choose from a range of one, two or three bedroom shared ownership apartments at SO Resi Greenford, where a 25% share for a one bedroom apartment costs £82,500 (full price £330,000) and can be purchased with a low 5% deposit of just £4,125. Suddenly the doors of shared ownership are opened to thousands more potential homebuyers and they too can take their first step towards investing in their future. sharedownership.co.uk ¹commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8828 ²ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/ housepriceindex/november

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

PUT DOWN ROOTS AND BUILD A COMMUNITY IN SOUTH MANCHESTER

Plumlife is starting 2022 as it means to go on, with a brand new development offering an exciting opportunity to put down roots in a popular South Manchester location Plumlife is proud to present The Poplars, a beautiful collection of new homes situated in sought-after Heaton Mersey. The desirable location, along with excellent transport links and a vibrant local community, is already attracting high levels of demand with off-plan reservations now being taken.

The Poplars is a mixed tenure development including homes available through shared ownership, and market sale on behalf of Cube Homes, offering the ability to buy the home of your dreams in a way which also fits your budget.

Built on the site of the former Cranford Golf Centre, the new £24m development will breathe new life into the community with an ambitious 106 new homes planned, while maintaining a sympathetic approach to the beautiful natural surroundings. The development is adjacent to the Heaton Mersey Common, a nature reserve popular with walkers and home to a variety of wildlife, plants and habitats to explore.

Situated close to the River Mersey, The Poplars is already proving popular with customers, generating a high level of interest well in advance of the first homes being completed; not surprising given the lack of high-quality affordable housing options in this part of Greater Manchester.

Set on the outskirts of Stockport, and within easy reach of Manchester via tram, train and road, the new homes are ideally positioned for commuters, while offering spacious and flexible living for those working from home.

The surrounding areas, known collectively as The Heatons, boast a thriving community and host regular local events including Heaton Moor Market, Heaton Mersey Artisan Market, The Heatons Summer Festival and Heatons Christmas Festival – to name just a few, so there are plenty of ways to get involved and make the most of living in this fantastic location.

Also, nearby is Heaton Mersey Park and Bowl, previously the site of the Moorfest music festival and used as a filming location for local indie band The Blossoms’ music video for their track Honey Sweet.

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The area is particularly attractive to young families with an array of wellperforming schools to choose from along with useful local amenities such as shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs within easy reach, ensuring that The Poplars has everything you need to live, love and thrive.

Customers who reserved early have the opportunity to choose their own kitchens and bathrooms, as well as make the most of additional optional extras such as kitchen and flooring upgrades.

The homes will benefit from a high level of specification included as standard, including an en suite bathroom off the main bedroom and landscaped front and rear

gardens with allocated off-road parking.

Quality and innovation are at the heart of these brand new homes, with a number of house types on offer to suit different personal and professional needs; ideal if you use your home as a place of work as well as a retreat to escape to at the end of the day.

Homes are available to reserve off-plan now, with the first properties expected to be ready to move into in the summer. Contact the sales team for the latest updates and current availability.

Visit plumlife.co.uk or contact the sales team on 0161 447 5050

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

LEASIDE LOCK THE NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR A HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE Elevating everyday life in east London’s coolest new hub, Leaside Lock offers a collection of stylish studios and one or two bedroom apartments in Bromley-byBow, E3. Promoting a holistic lifestyle day-to-day, this sought-after new development comes with unbeatable indoor and outdoor amenities, perfect for the warmer months.

Residents can start their day energised at the proposed on-site health and fitness studio, followed by a productive work day in the stylish co-working space, rounded off with a rooftop drink on one of the chic roof terraces Offering first time buyers the chance to get in early at this major housing project, all homes are available to purchase through shared ownership or Help to Buy London, and there has been unprecedented demand since its launch in mid-November 2021. A major placemaking project, Leaside Lock will ultimately deliver 965 properties by Guinness Homes.

Set on the banks of the River Lea, the development is situated in the heart of Bromley-By-Bow. Phase One of the development comprises five striking buildings, creating a dramatic new gateway to the East End. Three red brick buildings reflect the area’s industrial heritage, while two pale green pre-cast concrete towers echo the nearby mossy tones of the River Lea tideline.

Inside, the apartments are finished to a high specification throughout. Perfect for whipping up a delicious feast, the contemporary kitchens come complete with integrated Bosch appliances, while bathrooms and en suites are finished with sleek sanitaryware. Underfloor electric heating is fitted in every apartment, and all residents will have access to a podium garden. A number of blocks will have roof terraces, offering spectacular panoramic views across the city, while providing a communal space for entertaining and socialising with neighbours and friends.

Evenings can be spent enjoying local east London hotspots such as The Galvanisers Union, which boasts an impressive menu of craft beers and is renowned for its roasts and for its hilarious weekly comedy nights.

Also nearby, Shoreditch has a thriving food and drink scene with a multitude of places to eat, from quirky independent cafes to trendy chain establishments.

The ideal spot for residents to reconnect with nature, waterside living comes into

its own at Leaside Lock. A tranquil stroll along the River Lea will take you to the Limehouse Cut, the oldest canal in the capital. For local green spaces, Three Mills Green is just under a five-minute walk from the homes at Leaside Lock, while a wander through Bow leads to Mile End Park, a canalside spot offering cafes and sports facilities. For an Olympic-sized day out, the new development is just an eight-minute cycle along the river towpath to Stratford and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.* Residents can also benefit from superb transport connections across the capital, with Bromley-by-Bow Zone 2 London Underground station just a three-minute walk away, connecting to central London and out towards Stratford on the District Line and Hammersmith & City Line. For those travelling further afield, nearby road links offer direct journeys to London City airport, as well as roads out of the capital.

Private sale prices start from £299,950 for a studio and £560,000 for a two bedroom

apartment. Shared ownership from £85,625 for a 25% share of a one bedroom apartment (full market value £342,500) and £115,000 for a 25% share of a two bedroom apartment (full market value £460,000).** leasidelock.com 020 3288 1907 * Distances taken from google.co.uk/maps. ** Shared ownership terms and conditions apply. London Help to Buy: Equity Loan is available subject to eligibility, terms, and conditions

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

MONTMORENCY PARK, N11 Montmorency Park is perfectly located to enjoy all the perks of London living.

From excellent shops and schools to open green spaces and cultural experiences, everything the capital has to offer is within easy reach.

Located just 0.4 miles from New Southgate station and the Piccadilly Line at Arnos Grove, Montmorency Park enjoys exceptional connectivity with the wider Metropolitan area The final shared ownership homes at Montmorency Park feature spacious open-plan kitchen/living areas, double bedrooms with a fitted wardrobe and en suite to the master, beautifully designed bathrooms as well as private balconies.

For Company Director Gokce Komurcu, 41, and her husband Erdem, 43, the shared ownership scheme proved too good an opportunity to miss. With their son Efe, 13, already happily settled at the Outstandingrated Ashmole Academy in Southgate, the family were determined to find their new home within the north London area.

After falling in love with a stunning two bedroom apartment, they got their foot on the property ladder by using the shared ownership scheme and purchasing through the dedicated selling agent SiteSales Property Group.

Gokce and Erdem visited the development during its launch event and immediately fell in love with the development. Reflecting on why they chose their apartment, Gokce comments, “Our main priority was staying local to Southgate.

Efe attends Ashmole Academy, which is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, so we didn’t want to have to move him. When I saw this

The final three and four bedroom duplex apartments are also available for private sale starting from £650,000.

Future phases will be delivered over the next few years offering both apartments and houses for sale. Please speak to a member of the team to register your interest for these at 020 8502 5758.

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building, I wasn’t sure that we could afford it, but I decided to give it a chance and arrange a viewing during the launch. After seeing the site that day, we completely fell in love with it. We didn’t even want to look at any other properties because the location and design of the apartments were just perfect!”

Gokce continues, “Family is really important to us. Our son is 13 now so he doesn’t always want to spend time with us, but when he does our new home is perfect.

The open-plan layout and breakfast bar mean that I can talk to Efe when he gets home from school while I’m cooking in the kitchen. The balcony is also lovely. It’s great on sunny summer days, but we can even enjoy it without getting wet in heavy rainfall! The local area is perfect for our family too. There are lots of parks nearby, including Trent Country Park, that we like to walk through, as well as a cinema nearby and plenty of places to go out for a meal as a family.”

The family had previously been renting a two bedroom house nearby. Explaining their decision to leave their rental property and purchase a 25% share, Gokce comments, “When you are paying rent, really you are helping pay off someone else’s mortgage, so we had always wanted to have somewhere of our own.”

Gokce continues, “Shared ownership

was a really good option for us. A lot of my clients were impacted by the pandemic and although my business was still doing OK, spending a lot of money on something just didn’t seem like the best option for us. Having the option to buy more shares in the future and staircase our way up to full ownership is definitely something that we are working towards. I’ve already recommended shared ownership to a lot of my friends.”

Gokce concludes, “The community at Montmorency Park is amazing. Everyone helps each other and seeing everyone’s smiling faces is really important. We are so happy here and I have already recommended the properties to a friend of mine. I remember coming to look around and we knew that this just felt like home.

We still have that feeling now that we’ve settled in, and I’m certain it will continue.”

The final shared ownership apartments at Montmorency Park start from £116,750 for a 25% share of a two bedroom apartment. (Full market value is £467,000).

For further information, please visit sharedownership.montmorencypark.co.uk *Full shared ownership terms and conditions apply, please speak to a member of the sales team for additional information

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP WITH A NEW HOME AT NOTTING HILL GENESIS’ HERON QUARTER AT WOODBERRY DOWN

Tucked away in the corner of north east London rests a tranquil oasis that bursts into life with the arrival of spring…

Notting Hill Genesis’ Heron Quarter at Woodberry Down is home to a collection of one and two bedroom apartments with panoramic views of the London skyline.

With homes available to buy through shared ownership, the development is the perfect opportunity for first time buyers to get on to the property ladder.

What makes Heron Quarter unique as a development in London is its connection to the natural world, as it’s nestled in between 15 acres of parkland and 42 acres of open water through two former reservoirs.

The closest, the West Reservoir, is an exhilarating spot to enjoy outdoor pursuits, including sailing, kayaking and canoeing.

The trim trail around the vast landscaped grounds is perfect for running, walking and cycling, with secure cycle storage to park up your bike and enjoy the surroundings.

The iconic Woodberry Wetlands is only a short stroll away, adjacent to the development, and is home to a varied mix of London’s most emblematic wildlife including kingfishers, bees and dragonflies.

Life at Heron Quarter revolves around nature, and this is echoed in the design of the homes. Each open-plan apartment has been created to make the most of the natural light and space, creating a calm and tranquil living environment.

Private outdoor space, as well as access to

a courtyard garden, also helps residents feel at one with nature and relax in the picturesque setting.

The one and two bedroom apartments feature modern, high-quality fixtures. The kitchens have a neutral design, with A+ rated integrated appliances, and woodeffect flooring is set across the kitchen and living area.

Nearby, there’s plenty of greenery beyond the development across the London Borough of Hackney, including the green expanse of Finsbury Park right next door.

In Stoke Newington, known for its leafy parklands and vibrant social scenes, there are plenty of independent eateries to break up outdoor walks. The wider area is also peppered with unique local markets, including Broadway Market, Columbia Road and Victoria Park, where residents can enjoy fresh flowers, antiques, artisan baked goods and organic produce.

Despite the idyllic green living, residents benefit from not being too far from the hustle and bustle of city life in central London. The Heron Quarter development is just a two-minute walk from Manor House underground station on the Piccadilly Line, benefiting from direct links to Kings Cross, St Pancras, the West End, and Heathrow airport.

The development is also conveniently

close to Highbury and Islington station, connecting to Shoreditch High Street, Canary Wharf and many other locations.

For residents looking for a home surrounded by green space, while still being within access of all the perks of city life, look no further than Notting Hill Genesis’ Heron Quarter.

Lizzie Stevens, Sales and Marketing Director at Notting Hill Genesis, comments, “Access to green, open space is ever more important for buyers in London, and Heron Quarter at Woodberry Down ticks all the boxes – especially when it comes to being close to nature.

“A stone’s throw from central London while still feeling like an escape from city life, our apartments are perfect for first time buyers looking to make the first step on to the housing ladder.”

Prices for a one bedroom apartment through shared ownership start at £106,875 for a 25% share.

For more information about Heron Quarter at Woodberry Down contact the Notting Hill Genesis sales team on 020 3815 2222 or visit nhgsales.com

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

QUIZ CATALYST: JOIN THE CATALYST ROADSHOW This spring, Catalyst takes to the road to demystify the first time buyer process and help make homebuying simple The leading housing association is welcoming buyers to submit their questions via a series of in-person events and digital platforms, which the Catalyst team will then answer throughout April.

Meet the team at the National Home Buying Week: Live in London show on Saturday 19 March and the London Home Show on Saturday 2 April and pop your question in the designated “Quiz Catalyst” box. You can also submit your questions via the @CatalystNewHomes Instagram account, @HomesbyCatalyst on Twitter, or via email if you’ve registered your interest on its website, Catalyst.homes.

On the Catalyst website, a dedicated FAQ hub provides another place for you to submit your questions, and Catalyst will also be publishing its responses there, becoming a one-stop shop for queries about getting on to the property ladder.

WHY NOW? According to reallymoving.com, a whopping 33% of first time buyers are confused by the homebuying process. Catalyst is determined to change that.

This is the chance for purchasers to ask any questions they have about the buying process – from the differences between shared ownership and Help to Buy, to understanding what type of mortgage products are on the market.

Catalyst is a proud member of the G15 group and is one of the UK’s leading housing providers in London and the Home Counties, putting it in a unique position to support first time buyers on their homebuying journey.

WHAT DEVELOPMENTS ARE AVAILABLE WITH CATALYST? Catalyst delivers a diverse range of developments in a mix of styles, layouts and finishes, tailored to the neighbourhoods they are a part of; from boutique apartments in London, to transformative multi-phase regeneration projects and family homes in picturesque villages.

The Switch

Newman Place

A flagship scheme in London is The Switch – a development of 181 one to three bedroom apartments in Wimbledon. The homes are part of a joint venture with Galliard Homes delivering 633 homes alongside new retail and leisure space, all set around a new 9,000-seat stadium for AFC Wimbledon. Available exclusively through shared ownership, Catalyst’s apartments feature high-specification finishes, private outdoor space, and access to communal podium gardens. Residents can benefit from fantastic transport connections across the capital with Earlsfield station a 17-minute walk away, providing a direct train service into London Waterloo taking from 13 minutes.

Providing a green escape in north west London, The Folium in Muswell Hill offers a collection of one and two bedroom shared ownership apartments. Ideal for buyers searching for the sought-after mix of city and village living, The Folium puts this affluent neighbourhood within reach of first time buyers, with deposits from just £5,220. Coppetts Wood, Highgate Woods and Alexandra Palace are all close by, giving residents tonnes of green space on the doorstep, without sacrificing an easy commute into the City. Already 60% sold, opportunities to buy at The Folium are growing increasingly slim.

In the picturesque village of Littlemore

The Folium

in Oxford is Newman Place, where Catalyst is marketing a selection of one to four bedroom homes available through shared ownership. Properties range from spacious apartments with open-plan living spaces, to three-storey, four bedroom houses with private gardens. Set within attractive landscaped grounds, less than four miles south of Oxford city centre and moments from rolling Oxfordshire countryside, Catalyst’s Newman Place offers the best in countryside and city living.

Meet the Catalyst team at the National Home Buying Week: Live in London show on Saturday 19 March and the London Home Show on Saturday 2 April, and be sure to submit your queries for “Quiz Catalyst” in person or via Catalyst’s social channels.

Find out more at: catalyst.homes

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

SHARED OWNERSHIP HOMES LAUNCH IN LONDON’S BOROUGH OF CULTURE Getting on the property ladder is the ultimate goal for first time buyers and while many desire to achieve homeownership status independently, the majority struggle to save the deposit they need without leaning on the Bank of Mum and Dad – now the ninth biggest lender in the UK¹.

For those determined to purchase their first property, Peabody’s latest collection of shared ownership homes at Arden at Parkside could be the key to a new home Located in Lewisham, which was crowned London’s Borough of Culture 2022, Arden offers a superb selection of studios and apartments alongside an equally outstanding set of on-site amenities and green space. Buyers who choose to call Arden their home will be well positioned to enjoy the historic charms of Greenwich, the open spaces of Blackheath, as well as a whole host of fun celebrations taking place across Lewisham borough.

Through shared ownership, buyers at Arden can initially purchase a percentage share of a studio, one bedroom apartment or two bedroom apartment, with the opportunity to buy further shares up to outright ownership in the future. The flexibility of shared ownership enables buyers to purchase a property with a much smaller deposit, making it a perfect option for first time buyers to own a home that would otherwise be out of reach.

Bordering the popular and trendy districts of Deptford, Greenwich and Blackheath, Arden is a landmark regeneration development that has transformed the former Heathside and Lethbridge estate into a vibrant new neighbourhood offering more than 1,200 new homes, a community hub, cafe and nursery, enveloped by lush landscaped communal gardens and mature woodland.

Residents can also enjoy access to an enviable range of on-site amenities which include a concierge service, a co-working hub with high-speed wireless internet, charging stations and a refreshment point – the ideal place to work away from home and the office. A cinema-style “snug” is a cool place to have a catch-up and watch a movie with friends or just relax at the weekend, while for residents who enjoy getting a sweat on, a fitness suite with a free weights area and yoga studio creates the perfect environment to indulge in an hour or two of wellness and wellbeing.

Each of the stylish shared ownership

Computer generated images of Arden are indicative only

studios and one and two bedroom apartments have been expertly designed with a high-quality specification throughout. From first time buyers keen to soak up the energetic south east London venues, to City commuters wanting an affordable way to get on the ladder and capitalise on the excellent transport links, sprawling green spaces and local schools in the area – whatever the wish list, Arden is sure to deliver.

Each home features an impeccable bespoke interior specification combined with modern and contemporary detailing.

Open-plan layouts have been well planned to provide spacious and convenient areas for today’s lifestyles, be it working from home, keeping up with fitness goals, entertaining or simply relaxing. Every property features its own private outdoor space in the form of a balcony or terrace, with some enjoying cool, cityscape views across the capital.

Andrew Peglau, Assistant Director of Marketing at Peabody, comments, “The much-anticipated launch of our shared ownership collection at Arden will be a great support to local first time buyers who are unable to afford to buy a property outright. The lower deposit requirement with shared ownership is a great way forward for those who desire to buy a home, especially in London – and Arden at Parkside ticks the boxes on many levels. Affordability, stylish interiors, outdoor space and a fantastic choice of on-site facilities – the homes at Arden have proved very popular and we encourage buyers to register their interest

Computer generated images of Arden are indicative only

as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”

The local area offers a desirable lifestyle, with plenty to do. A unique medley of historic venues and scenic green spaces, alongside a thriving social scene, are all within easy reach of the development.

Notable places to mention include the world-famous live music venue The O2, 26 minutes away via the DLR. In Greenwich, The Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum or Greenwich Market are great for a cultural day out. Deptford High Street is host to plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, a cinema and a regular street market. There are plenty of parks nearby, perfect for enjoying the warmer summer months with friends for a picnic or a family walk – the award-winning Greenwich Park and Blackheath Park are both within walking distance of Arden.

Located in Zone 2, getting around the city from Arden couldn’t be any easier.

Just an eight-minute walk from the development is Elverson Road DLR station, which provides links to Canary Wharf via Greenwich in 17 minutes. Other nearby stations that are within easy walking distance are Deptford, New Cross and Lewisham, which all offer speedy travel into and across London.

Prices for the shared ownership homes at Arden are to be confirmed. For more information ahead of the April launch, please visit peabodysales.co.uk or call 020 7089 1274 to register your details ¹ mortgageadvicebureau.com/expert-advice/first-time-buyer/ the-bank-of-mum-and-dad-is-9th-biggest-lender

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SUSTAINABILITY

PUMP IT UP!

There are 30 million homes and buildings in the UK and around 85% of them are heated using gas. This has a huge impact on our national carbon emissions, but Government and the housebuilding industry have committed to moving us away from using gas boilers and towards using more sustainable heat pumps. Stuart Hensby, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing at Abri Homes, explains what this means for homebuyers now and in the years ahead…

Sustainable homes are a big focus right now. What changes can homebuyers expect to see?

The Government has been busy updating the regulations and policies that set the standards for housebuilding in this country to ensure that new homes are as sustainable as possible. This means that from 2025 onwards, gas boilers, which are the most common source of heat and hot water in our homes, can no longer be installed in new builds.

Fast forward 10 years from there, and from 2035, Government would like all new heating systems installed in UK homes to be low carbon. As part of that, it has set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps every year by 2028.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps are essentially electrically powered devices that absorb heat from the air, ground, or water around a building.

They work a bit like a fridge, but in reverse.

There are different types of heat pumps, such as ground source heat pumps and air source heat pumps. Air source heat pumps are good for individual homes, whereas ground-source heat pumps are better suited to blocks of flats.

The National House Building Council – the UK body that sets the standards for new homes – predicts that heat pumps are likely to be the heating system of choice for homes from 2025 onwards.

Are homes with heat pumps on sale now?

Yes, but if you’re looking to buy a home right now, then the chances are that it will have a gas boiler in it. Gas boilers are still very much the norm in new build homes.

That said, a growing number of housing providers are exploring these newer, more sustainable technologies and there are homes on the market right now that are already being heated by these new low carbon systems. Our Castle Park View development in Bristol is a good example.

Among a range of sustainable features, the homes here are heated by the nearby Castle Park Energy Centre, the largest water source heat pump in the country.

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This will increasingly become more normal and if you’re saving a deposit with a view to buying a new home in a few years’ time then you can expect most new builds to have heat pumps rather than gas boilers.

Is it still ok to buy a home that has a gas boiler?

Absolutely. Modern gas boilers are incredibly efficient, and gas is still a third cheaper than electricity. We can expect to see gas boilers around for at least another 15-20 years as we slowly make the transition to lower carbon heating systems such as heat pumps. The easiest way of thinking about this is comparing it to the transition to electric vehicles. It’s definitely the direction of travel we’re heading in but we’re not going to get there overnight.

Will heat pumps have an impact on energy bills?

It’s hard to predict what will happen with energy prices but as a housing provider we can play a part in tackling our customers’ rising energy bills by installing low carbon heating systems and making our homes as energy-efficient and well-insulated as possible. Heat pumps are great because they are super-efficient – for every unit of electricity you put in, you get three units of heat out.

For heat pumps to be effective, we need to ensure homes are well-insulated and airtight. We call this a “fabric-first” approach

and that’s where we are putting our focus, for both homes with gas boilers and with heat pumps.

Is all this focus on sustainability going to make homes even more expensive?

Ultimately, the more sustainable a home is, the cheaper it is to run. Thanks to Government schemes such as shared ownership and Help to Buy, and the work of the homebuilding industry, having access to a zero-carbon home is very much achievable for future first time buyers.

It’s also worth being aware that the Government has set out a plan to drive down the initial cost of low carbon heating technologies such as heat pumps. It wants to make sure that in future they are no more expensive for homeowners than gas boilers.

This plan includes a £450m, three-year Boiler Upgrade Scheme which from April 2022, will give homeowners new grants of £5,000 to install more efficient, low carbon heating systems.

Where can I get more information and advice?

You can read more about the move to heat pumps and the boiler upgrade scheme on the energy regulator’s site ofgem.gov.uk or see energysavingtrust.org.uk for advice.

For broader tips about getting on the housing ladder, the Abri Homes website has a range of information available at abrihomes.co.uk

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

AN AFFORDABLE ROUTE TO HOMEOWNERSHIP

With ever-increasing property prices, many people cannot afford to buy a property via the traditional methods and are finding it a struggle to get on to the property ladder. If this applies to you, Willo Homes can provide you with an opportunity to purchase a new home through shared ownership. Shared ownership is a more affordable way to get on to the property ladder and start your homeownership dream Shared ownership is a popular partbuy, part-rent scheme for people who can’t quite afford to buy a home with a commercially available mortgage. You buy a percentage of your home and pay rent on the rest, based on your affordability.

You can then increase your stake in the property by buying more shares – this is called “staircasing”. It’s backed by the Government and is a way to buy a share in a home now with the option to buy more of it in the future. You’ll need a minimum level of income and savings depending on the value of the home you want to buy, based on share value. Depending on which lender you use, the deposit can be as little as 5% of the share value.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SHARED OWNERSHIP? Shared ownership is an option for lots of people. You can apply for shared ownership if you meet the following criteria: 9 Can’t afford to buy a suitable home on the open market 9 Your household income is £80,000 a year or less 9 Are assessed as being able to afford and sustain shared ownership 9 If you own a home currently, either outright or through shared ownership, then you will need to sell your existing property before, or at the same time, as buying a shared ownership home 9 You should have savings or be able to put down at least a 5% deposit on the share of the property you’re buying

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST AT THE START?

WHAT ARE THE NEW CHANGES TO SHARED OWNERSHIP?

You will need to be able to pay the cost of the mortgage valuation or survey and legal fees. The minimum amount of savings you will need will depend on the scheme you want to buy into.

You will also need to budget for the cost of moving home, for example hiring a van or a removals company. In most cases, buying a home also involves paying a deposit.

9 Lower minimum shares. The minimum share a buyer can purchase of a shared ownership home is 25%, however, the Government’s new model for the scheme will see this lowered to 10%, meaning that the deposit needed is much lower 9 Buying additional shares. As it currently stands, owners can choose to buy additional shares in their shared ownership home – via a process known as staircasing – in chunks of 10% or more. However, the new format will give shared owners more flexibility and allow them to staircase in just 1% increments 9 Home repairs and maintenance. The revamped shared ownership scheme will introduce a 10-year period for new shared owners whereby the landlord or housing association will cover the cost of certain specified repairs and maintenance in the home. Shared owners will be able to claim up £500 in repair costs per year, with any repair and maintenance costs in excess of this being the responsibility of the owner 9 Introduction of longer leases. On 28 May 2021, Homes England published new model leases that apply to shared ownership. The new model will see the leases on new build homes increased from 99 to 990 years, helping leaseholders to save on the extra cost of extending their leases

WHAT ARE THE MONTHLY COSTS? Every month you will need to make the following payments: 9 Your rent (on the part of the property you don’t own) 9 Your mortgage repayment to your mortgage lender 9 A service charge and management fee for services you receive 9 Buildings insurance

CAN I BUY MORE SHARES IN MY PROPERTY? Yes, you can buy more shares in your home or buy outright whenever you can afford to.

This process is called staircasing.

The amount you pay for additional shares will be based on the value of your home at the time you staircase. When you buy more shares your rent will reduce, and if you buy outright you will no longer be required to pay rent.

TO APPLY 9 Complete an application online with Help to Buy. You need Help to Buy Agent 1 for the North 9 Enter the development name into the “property search” box and the properties will appear. Then click “apply online”, follow the instructions and apply for the property willohomes.co.uk

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First Time Buyer April/May 2022

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

TOR

’S

ICE O H C TOP ★ ★ ★ EDI

X MARKS THE SPOT!

Creating a brand new community in Brighton, Home X is an exciting new development from Optivo, offering studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments and triplexes. Part of a regeneration project of Preston Barracks in partnership with U&I, Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Brighton, Home X will deliver 369 new homes as part of an exciting £300m investment in this area of Lewes Road. The masterplan includes a new boardwalk to the station, public squares, shops, cafes, workshops, play spaces and stunning landscaping

There is something rather magical about living near the sea. I’m not sure if it is the sound of the seagulls, the big skies or the exhilarating air, but I have always imagined it would bring a quality of life that we all hanker for. Visiting Home X made me realise that I am absolutely right, as this superb development offers more than just a home – it’s a whole way of living.

The buzz of Brighton never fails and whether you enjoy wandering around the unique Lanes, eating fish and chips on the beach, exploring the nearby South Downs or drinks in one of the many trendy bars, it offers something for everyone.

The apartments are very impressive, spacious and most importantly are filled with natural light from the large windows (those on the higher floors have incredible views too!). I loved the fluid layout and design – the contemporary kitchens feature eye-catching units in indigo blue with matt black sink and taps. You won’t need to worry about buying any white goods as the integrated appliances include an oven, induction hob, extractor hood, fridgefreezer, dishwasher and a washer-dryer in the utility cupboard.

Bedrooms are roomy and come with a built-in wardrobe to the main bedroom, and en suites and bathrooms are luxurious and perfect to unwind in at the end of a busy day. I was particularly taken with the three

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bedroom triplexes which are ideal for a young family and are so cleverly designed on three levels, plus the large terraces and balconies would be idyllic to enjoy a morning coffee or a sundowner.

But these apartments come with some amazing added extras. Cycling has become more and more popular as we are all becoming far more eco-conscious. There is a cycle store located in the underground parking area in each block and some great travel benefits too. Optivo is giving either a £150 voucher to go towards a new bike or a 12-month BTN bikeshare membership, and all Home X residents will get 10% off the cost of a new bike at Baker St Bikes in Brighton. There will also be a car club membership and details will be provided when you exchange.

Home X is perfectly located to connect to Brighton and beyond. There is a plethora of buses on the doorstep running 24 hours

a day taking you to Brighton, from where you can get to London Bridge in an hour and 23 minutes. Moulsecoomb station is an eight-minute walk away and you will find an Aldi and a Sainsbury’s very close to the development. This area of Sussex is surrounded by the South Downs and some stunning countryside, and a 12-minute walk away you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Wild Park Local Nature Reserve.

Home X really does offer the best of all worlds and certainly ticks every box. As I make my way back to London I feel very envious of all those first time buyers who will not only be buying their dream home but will also be creating the perfect lifestyle.

Prices at Home X start from £244,000 for outright sale and £98,875 for a 35% share with a full market value of £282,500 if you use shared ownership. home-X.co.uk

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AFFORDABLE HOMES

LONDON – A CITY TO CALL HOME Stories Wharf

Parkside Triangle

Stepping on to the London property ladder has never been easier thanks to shared ownership and Hyde New Homes First time buyers eager to stay in the city will be pleased to discover that one of the leading home provider’s latest offerings includes a range of affordable and contemporary new developments in Harrow, Greenwich, North Woolwich and Waddon, giving them ample opportunity to remain living close to their friends and family, without the need to search further afield for more affordable options.

EASTMAN VILLAGE, HARROW This is true for home hunters in Harrow, who have been snapping up apartments in an exciting new residential quarter on the site of the historic former Kodak factory.

Eastman Village has a selection of superbly designed one, two and three bedroom apartments. Each boasts a high specification as standard, including contemporary kitchen units with integrated appliances, en suite and built-in wardrobe to the main bedroom, quality flooring with underfloor heating

throughout, along with private outdoor space and parking available on selected homes.

There are provisions in place for residents to enjoy a gym, as well as cafes, restaurants and a supermarket. Families will also benefit from the excellent array of schools in the vicinity.

Linked by a new network of footpaths and cycleways, the development is just a 10-minute stroll to Harrow & Wealdstone station. The Bakerloo Line underground service takes you to London Paddington in less than half an hour, and the London Overground service to Euston in under 15 minutes.

Buyers will no doubt be attracted to the availability of shared ownership at the development. Typically, a 30% share in a two bedroom apartment at Eastman Village, priced at £133,800, would require a minimum 5% deposit of £6,660, with a subsidised rent payable on the remaining share.

At any time after you buy your home, you will be able to purchase additional shares and even own your home outright.

You can also choose to sell your share at any time.

COPPER CREEK, GREENWICH

Eastman Village

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Heading east, a new development in historic Greenwich which boasts “panoramic views of the city”,

Copper Creek

will be available to buy from spring 2022.

Copper Creek, located just a stone’s throw away from Deptford Creek and the Cutty Sark DLR, offers one, two and three bedroom stylish apartments, some with majestic views across London, including Canary Wharf, the Shard, the O2 and the River Thames.

The homes here come with the same high specification that Hyde New Homes creates as standard, as well as offering fitted white blinds to all homes, and the development is well positioned for commuters heading into the city centre and beyond. Copper Creek’s close proximity to a range of Ofstedrated Good and Outstanding schools also makes it ideal for families, and its convenient location, near shops and parks, helps contribute to its idyllic, community feel.

Prices have yet to be released, so register your interest and be among the first to find out more.

STORIES WHARF, NORTH WOOLWICH Adding to east London’s desirability, is the hotly anticipated Stories Wharf development in North Woolwich.

Comprising 163 new homes,

including shared ownership, Stories Wharf is expected to launch in autumn 2022 and offers modern living with private balconies, terraces or patios.

There is also a landscaped communal terrace, bringing a wonderful community feel to the development.

Just 15 minutes’ walk to King George V station, its Zone 3 location, with various rail lines into central London, makes it an ideal choice for commuters. The Woolwich Ferry is within close proximity, linking to the north side of the river and providing quick access to London City airport – opening up a world of travel, with regular flights available to European and American cities.

Register your interest and we will keep you informed about the launch.

PARKSIDE TRIANGLE, WADDON Moving further south, buyers will also be pleased to learn about Parkside Triangle, located in Waddon, Croydon.

The development’s green initiatives, such as cycle storage and electric car charging points, along with its Zone 5 location, make it ideal for those who want to leave the car at home to commute into the city.

A new pedestrian walking route allows direct access to Duppas Hill Recreation Ground, providing a quicker route to Waddon Station, which lies just 11 minutes away and provides access into central London.

Pricing is to be confirmed ahead of the development’s winter 2022 launch.

For more information, please visit hydenewhomes.co.uk

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SHARED OWNERSHIP

ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS AVAILABLE NOW AT SANDERLING HOUSE & HARLEQUIN HOUSE – ENFIELD In the vibrant north London suburb of Enfield, less than 20 minutes from central London and surrounded by green space, this development is by Newlon Living in partnership with Countryside Properties

Built around landscaped gardens and play areas, the two contemporary buildings will transform the local skyline while giving residents views across the Lea Valley and towards London.

This collection of 24 stylish one bedroom apartments with a high specification throughout are offered under shared ownership, with prices starting from just £87,000, so you can now get a step up on the property ladder.

Just one minute from Ponders End station, with both the City and many of the capital’s cultural hubs less than half an hour away, you will be ideally placed to make the best of London.

The light and spacious interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows, wool mix carpeted bedrooms, and wood laminate flooring to the living areas are designed with both style and comfort in mind. Kitchens are fitted with Electrolux appliances, while the contemporary tiled bathrooms feature chrome towel radiators and branded bathroom suites and brassware. Each apartment benefits from having its own private balcony. Access to the apartments is by a video entry system, while there is also plenty of secure cycle storage.

Sanderling House & Harlequin House sit within one of North London’s most thriving suburbs, a welcoming neighbourhood of riverside and canalside pubs, artisan markets, local restaurants, craft ale taprooms and a great choice of shops for all your needs.

With more than 900 hectares of green space, Enfield offers many ways to unwind.

Just a short walk from your future new home, Enfield Town Park is the perfect picnic spot. Running through it is New River, where you can pass swans and ducks on the way to Forty Hall, one of London’s finest manor houses set in beautiful and tranquil grounds.

Right on your doorstep, King George’s

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Reservoir is a wildlife-rich waterway and home to King George Sailing Club. Both walkers and cyclists can explore The Lee Navigation canal that runs all the way from rural Hertfordshire into the centre of London. Or, for an even more relaxing day out, stroll through the meadows and past the lakes of Trent Country Park, looking out for muntjac deer, rabbits, and pheasants.

When it comes to exploring London you couldn’t be better placed. With Ponders End station moments away, you can be in the City in less than 20 minutes. The same West Anglia mainline trains also take you to

Tottenham Hale in less than five minutes, from where you can jump on the Victoria Line and be in Oxford Street in a quarter of an hour.

For weekends away, St Pancras International is under 25 minutes away.

And with many local bus routes to rural Hertfordshire villages and towns, there’s always somewhere new to explore.

For more information about Sanderling House & Harlequin House, contact the Newlon Living Sales Team on 0800 058 2544 or pay a visit to shared-ownership.co.uk

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HELP TO BUY

FIRST TIME BUYERS INSPIRED

BY INFLUENCER'S INTERIOR DESIGN AT THE GADE Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group has recently worked with social media influencer Chelsea-Scarlett Goslin-Minter (@ohsomint) to create a stunning new one bedroom show apartment at its Hemel Hempstead development The Gade. Chelsea, 28, used her creativity and passion for interior design to create an elegant and beautiful space filled with home comforts that are easy to re-create on a budget. Speaking about her recent project at The Gade, Chelsea offers some useful tips and tricks for first time buyers and shares her advice on how we can all make more sustainable design choices What first started your interest in interior design?

My passion for all things interiors was sparked when I moved into my first home with my boyfriend and I really wanted to make the space feel more like our own.

I love the design process and found that interior design gave me the opportunity to tap into my creative flair. There are so many ways that you can showcase your personality in the spaces you create, not only through the current trends, but it’s also really fun to establish your own signature style – it’s all about self-expression and feeling confident enough to bring your own story to life. Having fun with the space and trying different styles is a great way to see what works and what doesn’t.

I currently work for the interiors brand Heal's, working in its PR team to manage the company's social media channels.

I love everything that the brand stands for and its brilliant to be able to see how Heal's takes inspiration from current trends and hot topics, while still focusing on creating timeless designs. I also set up my own social media page seven years ago – initially just taking pictures of my lounge and bedroom. I’m still doing the same, but I guess I am now showcasing more of my creativity across stories, reels and videos of my own projects.

How did you come up with the apartment design at The Gade?

My brief was to create something that first

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HELP TO BUY

time buyers could engage with and wouldn’t feel overwhelmed trying to re-create for themselves. While I was given a guide, I wasn’t restricted at all, which meant I had free reign and full creative control to transform a blank canvas. The apartments at The Gade are beautiful! Open-plan spaces are combined with floor-to-ceiling windows that completely flood all the rooms with lots of natural light – it’s instantly uplifting when you walk into the space, you can really tell Hill has thought about how the place will look and feel.

Other show apartments at The Gade feature lots of lovely bright fabrics, rich navy blues and teals with pops of pink throughout. So, I wanted to come up with a design that was still inspiring but softened, so that buyers can see the flexibility that these spaces offer to someone who wants to add their own sense of style to their new home. I focused on creating areas that embodied calmness by using a muted colour palette, but also still making sure that each room had its own personality.

What did your finished home at The Gade look like?

Textures are a key part of my style, so I wanted to incorporate a few different elements. In the bedroom, for example, I used a soft rug, rattan baskets and a linen lampshade. These simple additions are an easy way to create a really welcoming and soothing space, yet still add an amazing amount of depth to the room.

Hallways are often seen as tricky spaces and I feel they are often a bit neglected. It’s the first area you see when you walk into a home, so it gives you a great opportunity to make a statement and do something a bit playful with the space. Echoing the natural environment that surrounds The Gade, I chose to paint the hallway ceiling in a delicate shade of green, it’s unusual and creates a fantastic illusion – by going with a slightly bold colour it makes the walls feel taller by drawing your eyes upwards. This also complements the soft sage green colour that I have used on the walls in the open-plan kitchen/living/dining area. By picking up on similar accents of colour, you keep a sense of continuity and flow within the apartment.

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HELP TO BUY What advice would you give to first time buyers looking to transform a home on a modest budget?

I would start off by saying that there is no need to go out and spend loads of money on furniture as soon as you move into a new home. Taking time to live in the space for a short while can be a great way to figure out what will work for you in the long term, seeing how much time you spend in each room and what you use each room for.

If you have furniture from when you have been renting, or you have friends or family that are keen to donate a few pieces, there is nothing wrong with using this furniture in your new home – some of my oldest pieces of furniture have turned out to be a great addition. Facebook Marketplace is also a real treasure trove for free or cheap pieces of furniture or items that would otherwise just go to landfill.

If you do want to buy some new furniture, my advice would be to invest in some key pieces that you really love.

Good design is timeless, so I believe that finding a few items that will last a long time is definitely worthwhile. It’s also better economically and environmentally to spend a little more on these pieces, so that they stand the test of time and won’t need to be replaced so soon. Small things can make a big difference; patterned rugs, textured cushions, artwork and home accessories are all easy ways to make a statement in a room without spending too much money.

How conscious are you of creating sustainable designs?

I always think about the sustainability of my designs. Paints are great for adding splashes of colour to rooms, but many paints aren’t eco-friendly. I therefore like to make more considered choices about the types of paints I’m using when working on projects.

I also like to upcycle where I can. One of the first posts that I shared during lockdown was one where I upcycled an old utensil pot I bought from IKEA to save it from going to landfill. A lot of people can feel intimidated by upcycling, but it’s definitely worth a try – you have nothing to lose! Upcycling also allows you to create something that is truly unique to you yet still reflects your style choices.

Rebecca Littler, Group Sales & Marketing Director at Hill Group, comments, “The use of social media influencers has become a valuable marketing asset enabling us to target and engage with a broader audience of homebuyers. Chelsea’s collaboration with Artspace Interiors created sharable content that has resonated with her followers and echoed the tranquil setting surrounding The Gade.”

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CHELSEA’S TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS...

• "Buy cheap, buy twice!" – invest in key furniture pieces that stand the test of time • If you can give a new lease of life to something, try it – if it doesn’t work you are no worse off than when you started • Don’t be afraid to have fun and try something different – you might surprise yourself • There are so many ways to put colour and style into a home without spending a fortune – patterned rugs, home accessories, wall tile stickers, artwork, candles and even different scents are all very effective and inexpensive • Research online hacks and tutorials for interior design inspiration – there are loads to choose from!

THE GADE BY THE HILL GROUP For Hertfordshire buyers who are on the hunt for a new home that offers first-class living and is available with a Help to Buy: Equity Loan, award-winning housebuilder Hill’s new development, The Gade, is a must-see. Occupying a prime location in the heart of Hemel Hempstead’s old town, overlooking the River Gade, this superbly stylish collection of one and two bedroom apartments offers the best of town and countryside on the doorstep, with London’s buzzing capital only 30 minutes away. Purchasers keen to step into a high-quality home without compromising on style or location can now book an appointment to view the recently launched one bedroom show apartment that Chelsea-Scarlett has designed. The final selection of stylish homes at The Gade offers buyers an exciting opportunity to purchase a property in a well-connected setting that is ready to move into now. Thoughtfully designed to deliver spacious and flexible accommodation, prospective purchasers who pay a visit to the new show apartment won’t be disappointed. An impressive kitchen/living/ diner features direct access on to a private terrace – this area provides a bright and versatile space where owners can cook up a storm to enjoy an evening with friends, spend the day working away from the office or simply relax at the weekend. A generously sized bedroom features fitted wardrobes and full-height doors that also open on to the terrace. Storage needs are taken care of; the hallway is host to a large storage cupboard, as well as a separate utility cupboard for extra space that houses a washer-dryer. Each property also features underfloor heating as standard, on-site cycle storage and secure allocated parking.

Prices at The Gade start from £269,950 with Help to Buy. For more information call 01442 979 599, visit hill.co.uk/all-developments/hertfordshire/the-gade or email enquiries@thegade.co.uk

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REAL LIFE

Help to Buy: Staplehurst, Kent

The one thing that Alex Shorthouse, 25, and Olivia Gray, 26, thought would make their lives complete was a fourlegged friend; but their rental property didn’t allow pets so it seemed like a distant dream until they snapped up their perfect home at David Wilson’s Dickens Gate development in the Kent village of Staplehurst

“W

e had wanted to get a dog for ages,” said Alex, who works in the aerospace industry, “but we were in a small, rented coach house so we didn’t have the right set-up, and pets weren’t allowed anyway. Our long-term goal was to move into our house in 2022, and although we had been looking for a little while, we couldn’t quite find somewhere that we both loved – until we stumbled across Dickens Gate and fell in love with it straight away.”

The development is bordered by fields and has a masterplan that includes wildlife areas, allotments, play parks and lots of green spaces, so the couple knew straight away that it would make a great location for starting a new life with a puppy. They chose a three bedroom house that came with two parking spaces and a generous garden.

“The whole development was much quieter than we were expecting, with a much bigger garden that wasn’t overlooked by other properties, which was a really positive feature for us,” says Alex.

“Inside it’s very spacious, with lots of room to move. We wanted two bedrooms plus a third room that we could turn into an office, so it ticked all the boxes for us.”

Space to work was essential as he was working full time from home, while Olivia, who works in technical recruitment, was planning to continue to work from home once or twice a week and is now delighted to have room for proper office furniture rather than making do with a dining chair and a tiny make-up table.

The couple reserved in January 2021,

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FA C T F I L E

Property: Three bedroom house Price paid: £347,995 Deposit: £17,399.75 Monthly repayments: £857.69 Annual service charge: £315

“WE HAD WANTED TO GET A DOG FOR AGES BUT WE WERE IN A SMALL, RENTED COACH HOUSE SO WE DIDN’T HAVE THE RIGHT SET-UP, AND PETS WEREN’T ALLOWED ANYWAY” despite it being impossible to visit in person because of the Covid lockdown, and moved in at the end of June, two months earlier than expected. “Amy and Jess in sales were very responsive and reassured us every step of the way, which was important as being first time buyers we didn’t know what to expect. They also helped explain the Government’s Help to Buy scheme which we ended up using,” says Alex.

And of course, one of the first things Alex and Olivia did after moving in was to start looking for a furry companion – and they are now settling in with Woody, their five-month-old cockapoo, and enjoying some lovely walks as he gets older.

Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at David Wilson Kent, said, “While it is less than an hour from a desk in the city, Staplehurst offers a great taste of Kentish village life. It has all the amenities you need day to day, including a Sainsbury’s supermarket, pub, small library, butcher’s shop, restaurants and a medical centre, and is surrounded by plenty of countryside to explore. We’re encouraging wildlife at Dickens Gate by installing bat and bird boxes, creating new ponds and planting our green open spaces with bee-friendly

species, as well creating wildflower meadows within our biodiversity areas and setting land aside for allotments and play areas, all helping to create a perfect atmosphere for people and their pets to enjoy the outdoors.”

Olivia works in Sevenoaks, which is around 45 minutes’ drive away, or 25 minutes by train from Staplehurst railway station, only a 15-minute walk from Dickens Gate. For commuters going further afield, trains reach Charing Cross and London Bridge in less than an hour, making the village an ideal base for those looking to move out of London. Road connections are excellent as well, with Maidstone around 25 minutes away and Tonbridge half an hour away by car.

Dickens Gate, which will eventually have around 250 new homes, is rapidly forming a friendly, new community. “Everyone around here is lovely, people always say hello to us and a real neighbourhood feel is starting to develop. We feel right at home already.”

Homes currently available at Dickens Gate start from £414,995 for a three bedroom semi-detached family home. To find out more or to book an appointment, visit dwh.co.uk or call 0333 355 8503

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FOR SALE

FOR SALE THE CREAM OF THE CROP Each month, FTB scours the market to find the best starter homes for first time buyers. So, whether you’re looking for your very first home on a budget or simply a breath of fresh air, we hope you will enjoy our selection.

REAL LIFE

Open market p64 ISLE OF DOGS, EAST LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

E

DREAM

B★I★G★

Affordable homes p66-67

CRESSING, ESSEX

HOIC FIRST C

E

VILLAGE

L★I★FE★

Green and serene p68-69

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FOR SALE

AFFORDABLE HOMES FROM £105,000*

ISLE OF DOGS, EAST LONDON

HOIC FIRST C

E

DREAM BIG ★★★

New Union Wharf A brand new phase of one, two and three bedroom apartments has launched at this popular development that overlooks the Thames, just a 20-minute walk from Canary Wharf.

The new collection marks the fourth phase in the regeneration of a 1970s estate on the iconic Isle of Dogs, which is reviving a stretch of the Thames walkway. The apartments feature flexible open-plan living spaces that open to private balconies, large double bedrooms and sleek fitted kitchens – as well, of course, as some stunning views.

In addition to instant access to all things riverside, residents have excellent DLR and Jubilee Line tube links right on the doorstep.

L&Q 020 7087 5111 lqhomes.com *Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £420,000

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FOR SALE S I D C U P, K E N T

FROM £315,000*

FROM £86,250*

ENFIELD, NORTH LONDON

Hillcross Place Hillcross Place enjoys a prominent location near Sidcup high street, just over a mile from the station.

The one and two bedroom apartments are bright and spacious, with open-plan living areas leading to private outdoor areas. Off-street parking spaces are available, along with electric charging points. Residents also

have access to a car club. Sidcup sits on the borders of south London and Kent, and enjoys a bestof-both-worlds setting – central London is a short commute, while rolling countryside and the Kent coastline are easily accessible.

Shanly Homes 01372 225 007 shanlyhomes.com *40% Help to Buy will be available

H I G H G AT E , B I R M I N G H A M

FROM £255,500

Electric Quarter Located close to the high street in Ponders End, these new homes are convenient for everyday life. The one and two bedroom apartments are housed within a smart, contemporary redbrick building with communal landscaped gardens. Inside, the large windows and open-plan living areas create a great sense

of space. Southbury Overground station is a few minutes from the door, for services towards London Liverpool Street, while shops, supermarkets, cinema, schools, park and open spaces lie within easy reach.

Red Loft 020 7539 3745 redloftsales.co.uk

*Based on a 30% share of the full market value of £287,500

WILLESDEN JUNCTION, LONDON

FROM £102,000*

Berrington Place These two bedroom apartments are superbly positioned within walking distance of Birmingham’s buzzing centre. The development, which has been created around central communal gardens, is in a great spot for enjoying the best of the city or retreating to calming surrounds. The apartments are arranged over four floors,

and have been designed with modern living in mind, with clean design, open-plan living areas, fitted wardrobes, fully integrated kitchens and beautiful tiled bathrooms. Residents also have access to on-site parking.

Barratt Homes 03301 278 329 barratthomes.co.uk

Oaklands Rise This landmark development sits at the centre of the Old Oak regeneration project – a huge transport, commercial and property hub at the only site where the new HS2 and Elizabeth Lines will meet. The two bedroom apartments have been thoughtfully designed, with open-plan living areas that open to extra large

balconies. Residents will enjoy communal gardens as well as shared rooftop gardens. Willesden Junction station offers Bakerloo Line and Overground services, while Acton and Harlesden provide shopping and dining.

Notting Hill Genesis 020 4502 3966 nhgsales.com

*Based on a 25% share of the full market value of £408,000

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FOR SALE

GREEN AND SERENE CRESSING, ESSEX

HOIC FIRST C

VILLAGE LIFE

FROM £370,000

E

★★★

Templar Green This recently launched collection of two, three and four bedroom homes offers residents a best-of-bothworlds location. The peaceful rural setting, complete with pretty village green and open spaces, is only 10 minutes by car from the larger town of Braintree. The properties are thoughtfully designed, with exteriors in keeping with the countryside surrounds, while the well-planned layouts offer flexible living spaces.

All homes have gardens and private parking. The beautiful Essex countryside is perfect for exploring, while rail services from nearby Cressing station reach Liverpool Street in around 55 minutes.

Inland Homes 01376 755 154 inlandhomes.co.uk

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FOR SALE FROM £317,000

NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE

FROM £255,000

C H O L S E Y, O X F O R D S H I R E

Winngton Place With stunning Cheshire countryside on tap, along with good schools, plenty of shops and opportunities for days out, this is great spot for families. The three and four bedroom homes are situated between Northwich and Hartford and have a great sense of space. The four bedroom homes have separate dining

and living rooms downstairs, along with a WC and laundry cupboard. Upstairs, there’s an en suite from the main bedroom as well as extra storage space.

Outside, there’s a rear garden and a driveway to the front.

Anwyl Homes 01606 601 996 anwylhomes.co.uk

GOFFS OAKS, HERTFORDSHIRE

FROM £443,995

Poppy Fields at Yew Tree Gardens This popular development in south Oxfordshire is surrounded by rolling hills. One bedroom maisonettes and two bedroom bungalows are currently available – all with well thought-out layouts with plenty of space. The one maisonettes feature open-plan living areas, with doors opening to private outdoor space for

OAKHAM, RUTLAND

the ground-floor homes. There’s also extra storage space in the hallways. Direct trains to London Paddington and Oxford run from nearby Cholsey station and a supermarket, pharmacy and local shops lie within a 10-minute walk.

Bellway 01491 455 320 bellway.co.uk

FROM £164,995

Hendricks Green Those seeking a taste of the quiet life need look no further than this collection of homes created on a former farm. The 12 new two bedroom properties join a larger development of family properties that enjoy beautiful green space all around, with a wildlife park, parkland and woodland close by. The apartments have a luxury

feel, with French doors and large windows bringing plenty of natural light, and high-quality fixtures and fittings. Cheshunt rail station is a 10-minute drive for services into central London taking less than half an hour.

Redrow 01707 502 314 redrow.co.uk

Farriers Reach Rural Rutland is home to this collection of contemporary homes, ideal for growing families.

The two, three and four bedroom homes sit at the heart of Britain’s smallest county, recently voted as the best rural place to live in the UK. The homes are bright and spacious, with open-plan living areas and high-specification

features. The properties also come with one designated parking space. Residents are close to the market town of Oakham, for a range of shops, restaurants, pubs and a farmers’ market. There’s also a good choice of schools.

Allison Homes 01572 722 262 allison-homes.co.uk

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COMPETITION

Secure your new home with a WIN ! security upgrade from Yale

A SY NC ALA AND OUT RM 6 PI E BUN DOOR S CE KIT DLE FRO ECURITY M YA WO RTH LE £40 0

HOW TO ENTER Answer the following question:

What is the name of Yale’s award-winning smart alarm?

Send your answer with your full name, address and telephone number to: lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk Closing date: 29 April 2022

THE PRIZE… ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN A SYNC ALARM 6 PIECE KIT AND OUTDOOR SECURITY BUNDLE WORTH £400.

T&Cs • The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be given.

The competition is open to UK residents only

According to Home Office statistics, you’re nearly twice as likely to be burgled in the first 12 months after moving into a new property.This is why the experts at Yale are making it their aim to ensure homeowners are aware of the importance of home security when they first move in to a new property Picking the perfect furnishings and finishing touches may be at the top of your to-do list when moving in. But house-movers should consider firstly securing vulnerable spots around their home, including their front door, outdoor spaces and even the garden shed.

And to help make securing your new home even easier, the experts at Yale are giving you the chance to win a home security bundle with some of the brand’s bestselling products to help protect what matters most to you.

Yale’s award-winning Sync Smart Home Alarm can help to step up your home security to the next level. With just the fixing of the siren to an outside wall and the download of an app, installation can typically be completed in under an hour, allowing for your new piece of kit to be up and running and your home protected, in no time.

And the simplicity doesn’t stop there. The Sync Smart Home Alarm allows you to control and monitor the security of your home from anywhere at any time via your smartphone, arming and disarming your alarm at the tap of a button.

If you’re leaving your new abode for work, for an afternoon out or even for a well-deserved holiday, the smart functionalities of the Sync Alarm allow you to be notified immediately if the alarm is triggered, checking the disturbance right away via your smartphone.

Yale’s Sync Smart Home Alarm can also provide protection for your garden and outbuildings with its 200m range, with no need for unsightly wires trailing down the garden.

And gardens are another important area of focus, according to Yale’s home security experts. Protect your new garden shed with the Shed & Garage Alarm – a handy battery-powered, wire-free security gadget. With motion detection functionality, the Shed & Garage Alarm simply sounds – at a staggering 100dB – if movement is detected within the shed or outbuilding, quickly stopping criminals in their tracks.

And with the bonus of a hardened steel padlock included in the prize, you can even provide additional protection for your outbuildings, sheds or garden gates, ensuring you keep the burglars at bay.

Yale hasn’t forgotten to protect the inside of the home too. The experts will also be giving away the Pan & Tilt Indoor Camera; a discreet, effective security camera that can be easily positioned around your home. With two-way conversation capabilities and motion detection straight to your smartphone, you can always be "in the know" over your home security – anywhere at any time.

For more advice and top tips on how to improve the security of your new home, visit yalehome.co.uk

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TRIED AND TESTED

HAVE AN EGG-CELLENT EGG-TASTIC EASTER!

Easter is the perfect time of year for chocolate lovers. This year the supermarkets have gone all-out with quirky designs and extravagant flavours. Should I go for a classic egg or are the new ones all they are cracked up to be? Here at First Time Buyer magazine, we have selected our top picks to help you decide!

TR WA I

OSE

M&S

No.1 Hidden Truffles Blonde Chocolate Easter egg, £10 Walter the Sausage dog, £5

A brilliantly decadent Easter egg made of creamy caramelised white chocolate with crispy caramel flakes and fleur de sel.

Unlock a secret Easter treat with a mystery box of four salted caramel truffles concealed underneath!

These are the sweetest M&S Easter treats around! The adorable Walter the sausage dog is made from paw-fectly creamy milk chocolate. Added this year,don’t miss Walter’s new friend Wilma, made from milk and white marbled chocolate.

M&S Extremely Chocolatey Orange Explosion Egg, £8

Heston from Waitrose The Golden Apple, £15

CO-O

P

No.1 Delectable Duo eggs, £6

Co-op Irresistible Raspberry Ruby Egg, £8 Hand finished, Fairtrade, Belgian milk chocolate egg decorated with raspberry pieces and crunchy cocoa nibs.

Finished with a miniature raspberry ganache egg and a ruby shimmer.

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M&S Collection hand-crafted Belgian Milk Chocolate Floral Egg, £15

Co-op Irresistible Hot Cross Bun Egg, £5

Co-op GRO Choc Orange Eggsplosion (vegan), £3.50

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TRIED AND TESTED

SB SAIN

U RY

'S

R MOR

Sainsbury’s The Yolkers Moustache, £3.50

ISON

S

The Best Chocolate Collection Free From Seville Orange & Choccy Egg, £6

Colourful and fun, The Yolkers Moustache Egg will bring joy to your Easter egg hunt! With a traditional hollow milk centre and a bright orange moustache decoration, this fun fellow is sure to delight family and friends.

This Free From delight is handdipped in crunchy cocoa nibs with added rich Belgian dark chocolate and Seville orange truffles, and is vegan, dairyfree and gluten-free.

Pink chocolate Donut, £5 Sainsbury’s Cookies & Cream Front Loaded Egg, £4

TESC

O

Belgian Milk Chocolate Tiramisu Egg, £8

The Best Chocolate Collection Belgian Dark Chocolate Egg, £5

Free From Honeycomb Crunch Chocolate Easter Egg, £4 Tesco Mega Egg Hunt, £6 Savour this delectable vegan and gluten-free Easter egg with honeycomb and sea salt. Part of Tesco’s Free From range to ensure that everyone can enjoy a traditional Easter egg treat!

Tesco Milk & White Egg Hunt, £5

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FIRST MEAL

FIRST HOME, FIRST MEAL Perfect for this time of the year, this delicious recipe from Lakeland stacks up succulent pulled pork and juicy pineapple, served with a side of slaw for a deliciously different take on a traditional burger

PULLED PORK BURGER AND ASIAN SLAW

METHOD 1

2

3

4

INGREDIENTS Serves 10 Preparation time: 40-60 minutes Cooking time: 4 hours

5

For the pulled pork

9 1.8kg (4lb) pork shoulder, cut

into 10-12cm pieces 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp chilli powder 2 jalapenos, minced 4 garlic cloves, minced Juice of 2 limes ¾ red onion, diced 2 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper For the slaw 9 ½ purple cabbage, shredded 9 ¼ green cabbage, shredded 9 2 carrots, thinly sliced 9 2 spring onions, chopped 9 2 tbsp soy sauce 9 1 tbsp olive oil 9 ½ tsp sesame oil 9 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 9 1 tsp minced garlic 9 1 tsp brown sugar 9 ¼ tsp ground ginger To serve 9 Brioche buns 9 Half a large fresh pineapple, chopped into chunks 9 Fresh coriander leaves 9 2 tsp sesame seeds, to garnish 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

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Add all the pulled pork ingredients to a large slow cooker, and set to High for 4 hours.

About an hour before the pork is ready, make the slaw. Combine the cabbage, carrots and spring onions in a large bowl.

In another bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, both oils, vinegar, garlic, sugar and ginger. Pour the dressing over the veg and toss to coat. Cover the bowl, and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so that the carrot and cabbage will soften and mix with the dressing.

Once the pork is cooked to the point where it’s falling apart, shred it in the pot (removing any large fat pieces) using two forks, then stir to absorb all the juice.

Serve the pulled pork in brioche buns, garnished with griddled pieces of fresh pineapple and fresh coriander leaves, and with a side of slaw, scattered with sesame seeds.

The Lakeland 6L slow cooker can feed your family, friends, and then some! It comes with three different heat settings and also features a glass lid so you don’t have to take the lid off to check the progress of your food, and in doing so release all of that lovely heat and steam that has built up in the crock, giving you complete control to get perfect results every time.

The ceramic cooking pot can also be taken straight to the table. Really easy to clean, both the crock and the lid are dishwasher safe, while the stainless steel exterior cleans easily with a quick wipe using a damp cloth.

Lakeland 6L slow cooker, £42,99 lakeland.co.uk

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TECH

INSPECTOR GADGET "A clean home is a happy home"

Let these cleaning gadgets do all the hard work for you, from simple kitchen hacks to purer and more breathable air. FTB shares our latest gadget finds to ensure you have a clean home and a tidy mind

Sonic Scrubber cleaning tool with 4 brushes, £18.99, Lakeland This Mrs Hinch favourite helps you keep your home sparkling clean by using high-power oscillating brush heads, making tough cleaning tasks easy. This brush does all the hard work for you making light work of shifting grime from cookers, taps, pots and pans, to tile or grouting in the bathroom.

MaxxMee 2 in 1 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, £89.99, JML

Limey Tap Descaling Gadget, £5.99, Lakeland

Coming home to a spotless floor sounds like a dream, but this robotic vacuum cleaner removes dirt and dust and can also wipe up small spills on hard floors using its microfibre cloth. Able to clean for up to 60 minutes at a time, it can fit under furniture and move around obstacles.

Limey is a simple gadget for tap limescale removal. Simply fill Limey with descaling solution and slide it over the end of a tap. The solution inside will break down the limescale. It’s simple to use and fits most taps.

Karcher WV 2 Plus Handheld Window Cleaner, £52.99, Argos The Kärcher WV Black Edition Window Vac comes with everything you need to achieve streak-free and sparkling windows, shower screens and other flat surfaces. The rechargeable battery gives up to 35 minutes cleaning time.

Philips air purifier, 800 series, £126.99, Currys With a push of a button, this air purifier filters viruses, allergens or pollutants in your home. High-grade filters remove 99.5% of ultrafine particles such as dust, pollen, allergens, gases, bacteria and viruses. It is also as quiet as a whisper.

Steamworks Handheld Garment Steamer, £26.99, Argos Make creased clothes a thing of the past with this compact steamer. No ironing board is needed and it's safe to use on delicate fabrics. The auto shut-off is a nice safety feature.

CO NTA CTS

» JML Jmldirect.com » Argos argos.co.uk » Lakeland lakeland.co.uk » Currys currys.co.uk

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LEGAL

How to choose a conveyancer Once you reserve or make an offer on the property you want to buy, the next step is to find a solicitor to help you through the legal process. Lesley Price FCILEx of CGM Hampshire runs through some of the frequently asked questions about who to choose DO I NEED TO CHOOSE A LOCAL SOLICITOR OR ATTEND THE SOLICITORS’ OFFICES? Unless you feel you would like specifically to see your solicitor face-to-face during your transaction, then new methods of electronic ID verification mean you can pick a solicitor wherever you are in England or Wales. Your transaction can be dealt with online or via phone and post, depending on that firm’s systems, without you having to visit in person.

HOW MUCH DOES CONVEYANCING COST? Most conveyancing cases are dealt with on a “fixed fee” basis so you should be able to get an idea of the overall costs at the outset.

However, these can vary between firms depending on the experience of the person working on your case and whether it is done online or face-to-face. It is always worth getting a range of estimates and asking questions as to how your case will be dealt with before you make a final choice.

The cheapest quote will not always guarantee the best service.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO MOVE IN? That can vary from weeks to months, depending on whether you are buying a flat or a house and whether the property is complete and ready to move into if you are buying a newly built home.

Keep your timescales flexible and inform your solicitors as soon as you instruct of any dates you cannot do. Once they have the legal pack for the property and a brief overview of what will need to be checked, your solicitor should be able to give you a rough timescale for your move.

But bear in mind that things can crop up that require further investigation and that the more people involved in your property chain then the more complicated it will be to find a date that everyone can do.

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DOES “NO COMPLETION, NO FEE” REALLY MEAN NO FEE? Yes, but “fee” has a narrow definition when you come to look at your conveyancing quotation. Fees are those aspects of your quote that are based on the solicitor’s time doing their work.

Disbursements or costs are those things we pay out for to third parties such as searches, ID checks and copy documents.

Check any “no fee” agreement carefully, but you will usually find you will still pay for these costs even if your fees are waived.

DOES CONVEYANCING COST MORE FOR A FLAT THAN FOR A HOUSE? Yes. It will almost always cost more to buy a flat than a house. This is because flats are sold under leases which require more complex investigations than a freehold title and there will also be a landlord and managing agents or a management company of whom

enquiries need to be made. Your solicitor will not only need to check the title, but the responsibility for things like repairs and maintenance, service charges and insurance costs. Because the work involved is more detailed, then the legal fee will almost always be more.

But it is important that all these checks are done properly to ensure you can live in the flat happily without issue and that you will not face unexpected bills.

WHEN SHOULD I INSTRUCT A CONVEYANCER? As soon as you know the type of property you are looking for and your budget it is worth starting shopping round for estimates. That way you have plenty of time to review the type of service offered and fees and ensure you have instructed the solicitor whose method of working and of communication is the right fit for you. c-g-m.co.uk

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FINANCE

Ask Emilia...

Emilia is the Sales Director at Metro Finance,, the largest shared ownership mortgage provider. Metro Finance helps around 2,400 shared ownership buyers each month, working with more than 90 housing associations to make the process for the buyer as simple as possible, and helping to innovate the shared ownership product. Emilia has worked with Metro Finance for over 10 years, specialising in shared ownership Q: SHARED OWNERSHIP… WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT AND BENEFICIAL TO MAXIMISE THE SHARE YOU BUY?

further 20% in five years’ time it could cost in total £172,400 – that’s an additional £11,600 you will have to pay.

If you can afford to do it earlier, then why not? It may cost you a little more each month, but in the long run you could be saving money.

When buying a shared ownership property, you’ll go through an affordability assessment to determine what the highest share is you can buy. If you’re wondering why you can’t just buy the advertised share, or a share that you choose – then read on.

Shared ownership is very much geared to the individual person and their circumstances, here’s why:

EASIER TO STAIRCASE TO 100%!

For many people buying shared ownership, the ultimate goal is to own 100% once circumstances allow.

If you buy a higher share to begin with, it becomes easier to buy that final tranche.

Each time you staircase you have additional solicitor’s costs and possible fees. So, the fewer times you staircase, the more you will save on fees.

HOW DOES THE AFFORDABILITY WORK? Before I go into the benefits of maximising the share, a bit of background into how the affordability works. The adviser will look at all your income, determine what can be used and consider any credit commitments you have such as loans or credit cards.

Shared ownership rules state no more than 45% of your take-home pay should be used towards your mortgage, rent, service charge and any credit commitments. This is the adviser’s first anchor point when assessing the affordability.

The adviser will then cross-reference this with a lender affordability check and complete a budget planner with you to include all your outgoings.

These three points will determine the most suitable share that’s available for you.

And the most suitable is usually going to be the maximum, that’s the expectation of shared ownership rules.

BENEFITS OF BUYING A BIGGER SHARE – LESS RENT! This is the biggest factor. You’re buying your first home, you want to get away from the aspect of paying rent, you want security and to build up your own equity. The monthly mortgage payment you make will be reducing the mortgage balance each month, therefore building up a higher amount of equity for when you sell the property on.

Based on an approximate average property price of £250,000:

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MORE PROFIT WHEN YOU SELL! • 40% share – total monthly costs approximately £760, of which £344 would be rent • 60% share – total monthly costs approximately. £870, of which £229 would be rent That’s £110 more in overall costs – but £115 less in rent. So that extra money is going straight into your property, and your equity in the property (minus lender interest of course – incidentally why it’s so important to find the best deal!).

IT COULD BE CHEAPER TO BUY NOW! Over the next five years, sources have stated that house prices are expected to grow by 21.7%. The average house price at the moment is approximately £268,000. This means in five years’ time the same property could cost £326,156. When you staircase, the price of the extra shares is based on the property value at the time. So, if your property has gone up in value, it means the cost of buying more shares could be higher.

It makes sense to buy the extra shares at the lowest price possible.

So, if you bought a 60% share at the average house price, it would cost £160,800.

If you brought a 40% share now, and a

When you sell the property, if you have bought a bigger share at the outset, you get a bigger proportion of the profits if house prices rise.

THE HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS’ RULES STATE THAT SHARES MUST BE MAXIMISED Just like mortgage advisers and lenders have the FCA, or television/radio has Ofcom, the housing associations are regulated by Homes England, a Government agency. They have to follow the Capital Funding Guide, which effectively holds the rules of shared ownership. One of these is that the housing association must be encouraging buyers to purchase the maximum share available to them.

But that’s just a rule… In the majority of purchases, it simply makes sense to buy the largest share affordable – it’s less rent to pay – it could create more equity – it could be easier to staircase – and it could create more profit.

And I only state “could” in the above, because most are linked to house price increases – which are almost certain, or you probably wouldn’t be reading this... metrofinance.co.uk

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FINANCE

Energy emergency

EXPERT COMMENT Just a fraction of new homes in the UK are built to an EPC A-rated standard. Creating homes today which aren’t fit for the future and will need to be retrofitted in a matter of years is simply not right. We will be calling for Government, housebuilders and lenders to work together to tackle any remaining barriers to improving the environmental standards of new homes. Buildings are the second largest source of emissions in the UK. Creating sustainable communities is possible and we are demonstrating this through our Oakfield

Energy prices are set to soar, so it’s more important than ever to make wise choices about the home you buy, the suppliers and tariffs you choose and the way you live. Kay Hill offers some advice

development in Swindon – delivering one of the greenest communities in the UK with all 239 homes hitting EPC A-rating. We all need to play our part in delivering high-quality homes that are fit for the future. We will be sharing all our learnings and plans, helping developers commit

There is no getting away from the fact that gas and electricity are becoming more and more expensive. The energy price cap – the amount companies are allowed to charge per kWh on a standard variable tariff – will rise by 54% on 1 April, meaning an average increase of £690 a year on bills (more if you’re a heavy user) and a further 47% rise is predicted for October.

LEARN YOUR EPC Whenever a home is sold or rented out, the owner must obtain an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which gives a rating from A down to G according to how energy efficient the property is, and tells you what improvements would need to be made to move to a higher band. It is already illegal to let out a property with an F or G-rating, and the Government has plans to force

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landlords to upgrade to a C in the next couple of years. There are also plans to make homeowners improve their property to at least a C if they want to sell after 2035.

Yet according to a recent study by Nat West, only 15% of house hunters think it is essential that their new home is a C or above – meaning that a lot of buyers will inadvertently find themselves walking into a new home that will be costly to heat and may require expensive upgrades before they can move longer term. At present, three in five homes for sale have a D rating or worse, according to research from Rightmove, and, even more worryingly, 1.7 million homes across England and Wales are deemed impossible to upgrade to a C. You might assume that buying a new home means you don’t have to worry about the EPC, but astonishingly there is no minimum EPC rating requirement.

to a clear roadmap for more a sustainable future. In addition, with more than 1.5 million homes on our mortgage balance sheet, we are also developing new products to help our members make a real difference to the environment by making improvements to existing properties. Together we can tackle the climate crisis and create greener and more sustainable homes.

Sara Bennison, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Nationwide Building Society

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FINANCE

According to Government figures for last autumn, less than 2% of new homes were rated EPC A, 83% were rated B, 12% rated C and a dismal 5% gaining a D or E (probably conversions of older buildings).

What makes it harder for buyers to make an informed decision is that although it is a legal requirement for all homes, including new builds, to have an EPC featured in all advertisements (or a PEA – Predicted Energy Assessment for homes being bought off-plan), a quick glance at housebuilders’ websites and new homes on Rightmove shows an almost total disregard for the law.

So the first piece of advice is before you put a deposit on any home, new or old, request an EPC or PEA and look at it very carefully. The rating is important, but so is the improvement advice – for example, one property might only need a better hot water tank jacket, loft insulation or energy efficient bulbs to push it from a D to a C, whereas another might need £15,000 of disruptive wall or floor insulation to achieve the same result. You can also check EPCs on the Government’s online register which you’ll find at gov.uk/find-energy-certificate.

You will pay a little more for a higherrated home – research by Nationwide last year found that A or B-rated homes cost around 1.7% more than a similar D-rated home – but even at last year’s energy prices, each step up the EPC alphabet ladder saves around £250 year, and many buyers in A-rated homes say they have very little need for heating at all! In addition, there are a number of mortgage providers who provide better mortgage deals for A and B-rated homes.

TIME TO SWITCH? Shopping around for the best fixed gas and electricity deal used to be an annual pastime that could save hundreds of pounds every year over remaining on a standard variable tariff with a big six company. Sadly, the financial collapse of more than 20 smaller energy companies has meant that few are even offering fixed tariffs, and if they do, they are outrageously expensive – in fact, there are so few choices that many comparison sites have stopped their service temporarily. In general, paying monthly

by direct debit and taking both gas and electricity from the same supplier is the cheapest option.

There are also worrying cases of energy companies trying to force new customers on to expensive fixed rate tariffs by not offering them the standard variable rate – energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed that while suppliers don’t have to advertise the standard rate, they must put customers on it if they ask.

Most experts recommend that if you have to move suppliers at the moment that you insist on the standard variable tariff as this is protected by the price cap, plus it has no early exit fees, so if energy prices fall you can then move to a more economical fixed tariff.

EXPERT COMMENT EPCs have had a bit of a rough ride, with many viewing them as an administrative hassle. However, they have done much to make us more aware of energy performance issues. Now, with the UK legally obliged to cut emissions by 78% by 2035, EPCs can play a key role in

WATCH THE WATTS

helping us to re-evaluate energy use

Whether you are about to move in to your new home or struggling to save your deposit, the less you can spend on the bills the better, so think about the following: Turn the thermostat down – dropping your room temperature by just 1°C can lower your heating bill by 10% (and who doesn’t love a fluffy winter jumper!).

Even if you are in rented accommodation there are small steps you can take yourself to make it more energy efficient – you could stop up draughts with a homemade fabric “sausage” draught excluder, buy a removable jacket for the hot water tank, put a fluffy rug over floorboards and change regular lightbulbs for energy efficient ones.

Use your appliances effectively – only run dishwashers and washing machines when full, and choose short, lowtemperature programmes; don’t leave appliances on standby, turn them off at the mains – this alone could save £40 a year; check the temperature of your fridge and freezer and defrost if necessary; choose short showers rather than long baths and only fill the kettle with the water you need.

If you are buying new appliances, check their efficiency rating.

If your employer has required you to work from home, even for a single day, you can claim £125 from the Government towards additional energy costs. Take a look at gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees.

approach to technology, they can

in our buildings. And with the right become dynamic tools that help us progress more swiftly towards net zero. Planned policy introductions such as banning homes to be rented if below EPC rating Band C, means that as we approach 2035, EPC ratings will become a bigger variable when evaluating house prices. As we approach the net zero deadline, we expect to see higher valuations for more energy-efficient homes. That’s why at houzen we have worked on supporting homeowners in getting ready for the upcoming changes. We have now released our online tool which adds a more action-based approach to EPCs and analyses a property and its potential in seconds. It scans pictures using Computer Vision and plans a sustainable refurbishment, together with costs and timeline.

Saurabh Saxena, Founder, houzen

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MARKET

Is this the year for first time buyers?

Ginetta Vedrickas looks at what the 2022 property market holds for first time buyers 2021, A BUMPER YEAR FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS With Stamp Duty incentives and continued low interest rates – despite recent increases – 2021 proved to be a good year for first time buyer numbers. Figures from the Halifax’s First-Time Buyer Review looking at house purchases throughout 2021, saw first time buyer numbers rise by what the lender describes as “a record rate”, up by 35% on 2020, in spite of what the lender sees as “low affordability”. Digging deeper into the stats, research revealed that the average age of a first time buyer is now 32 who, on buying their first home, on average puts down a deposit of £53,935 on a property with an average purchase price of £264,140.

BUYING PATTERNS OVER THE YEARS Today’s first time buyers may be on average age 32, a figure that has risen from 29 in 2011, and – across all regions across the UK – first timers are now aged over 30 on average. Looking back to 2009, when 193,940 buyers managed to get on the property ladder, recent figures show that first time buyer numbers have more than doubled. And, with a steep increase

of over 100,000 in the last 12 months, a total of 409,370 new buyers entered the housing market in 2021. Despite this surge in numbers, first time home purchasers constituted around half of all home loans.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES All regions across the UK saw a marked rise in the number of new buyers in the market last year. The biggest increase was in London, where numbers rose by 49%. The smallest, Scotland, still saw an increase by nearly a quarter at 24%. The number of first time buyers has more than doubled over the last 10 years in every region except London.

EXPERT COMMENT 2022 is already proving to be a fiercely competitive and frenzied market. FTBs need to ensure they have their done their homework, have their mortgages or AIPs in place and be ready to act swiftly if they want to avoid missing out. We have already seen twice as many new buyers registered in January this year compared to last year, with

AVERAGE DEPOSITS FALL

more enquiries in a month than any

As more buyers entered the market, the average first time buyer deposit fell by 6% for the UK, with only Wales and Scotland noting an increase regionally. This fall in the UK average was set against a rise in the average purchase price of first homes, which meant that, overall, the gap between purchase price and deposit widened in every region. In London for example, in 2020 an average house cost £488,771 with an average deposit of £130,281. In 2021, prices in the capital on average dropped to

that FTBs are going to face a lot more

single month last year, so it’s clear competition than in previous years.

Matt Johnson, Director, JOHNS&CO.

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MARKET £475,819 requiring a deposit of £115,759, an 11% drop.

So far this year, the latest figures from Halifax show that monthly house price growth fell to +0.3%, the lowest rise since June 2021. But annual rate of growth remains steady at 9.7% and average house prices have edged up to a record high of £276,759 with transaction volumes returning towards pre-Covid levels. Overall, prices remain around £24,500 up on this time last year, and £37,500 higher than two years ago.

Halifax’s MD, Russell Galley, says that, despite record levels of first time buyers stepping on to the ladder last year, younger generations still face significant barriers to homeownership as deposit requirements remain challenging, “This situation is expected to become more acute in the short-term as household budgets face even greater pressure from an increase in the cost of living, and rises in interest rates begin to feed through to mortgage rates.

While the limited supply of new housing stock to the market will continue to provide some support to house prices, it remains likely that the rate of house price growth will slow considerably over the next year.”

HOUSE PRICES OUTSTRIP INCOMES The Halifax review looked at the cost of homes versus average incomes to examine affordability for those trying to get on the housing ladder. Affordability is measured simply as the average house price divided by average income, before any tax or other deductions, giving the price to earnings ratio (P/E). Homes are generally considered to be unaffordable when the price is more than four times the average income – if a house costs £200,000 it would be considered affordable for a household with an annual salary of £50,000 ie four times P/E. Today, the average price to earnings ratio for UK first time buyers stands at 6.9 x P/E, 75% over the affordability threshold. Affordability in all but three local authorities across the UK has fallen since 2011: Scotland proved to have better hunting grounds for first time buyers with the top five most affordable local authorities all north of the border with Clackmannanshire topping the charts as the most affordable spot. The price of an average FTB home is now less than four times the average income, considered the limit for affordability, in just 15 local authorities across the UK. Examining the statistics, mortgage director for Halifax, Esther Dijkstra, explains why first time buyer numbers were on the up, despite growing unaffordability, “There were a number of factors influencing homebuying decisions in 2021. While working from home and the

“race for space” was key for many, it’s clear that the Stamp Duty holiday increased the availability of first-rung homes as others moved up the ladder.” Dijkstra also believes that lifestyles have changed over the years as more of us choose to go on to higher education, travel or have more work mobility, travelling around the UK for work, which she suggests could all be factors in the increase in age of today’s first time buyers, “Undoubtedly, the biggest drivers are the cost of homes and the need to save a significant deposit to get on the housing ladder. In 2021, the increase in average house price to £264,140, combined with difficulties in raising a deposit, meant that the gap between purchase price and deposit widened in every region in the UK.”

EXPERT COMMENT With a lack of quality supply still driving competition between prospective buyers, the landscape remains overwhelmingly in favour of sellers. This has proved challenging for first time buyers.

Emma Cox, Sales Director, Shawbrook Bank

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2022?

In 2021 we might have seen more first time buyers get on to the property ladder, but we all want to know what will happen this year. According to RICS UK Residential Market Survey, based on figures for the end of last year, surveyors across the UK predict that new buyer enquiries will continue rising modestly, but they warn that the lack of new listings remains a challenge.

The study found a continued shortage of new properties being listed for sale, despite a rise in new buyer enquiries, is still preventing a pick-up in sales volumes, with house prices continuing to rise.RICS found that this imbalance between demand and supply is currently underpinning growth in house prices. In December 2021, 69% of respondents reported a rise in house prices, and over 67% believe that prices will continue rising over the coming year too.

EXPERT COMMENT The continuous house price growth is showing no signs of slowing down as they have once again risen. At a time where the cost of living is increasing, potential homeowners are faced with a real challenge to raise the necessary funds for a deposit and be in a strong enough financial position to pass affordability checks for a mortgage, even with some attractive low-deposit deals around.

Chris Hutchinson, CEO of rental platform Canopy

ZOOPLA’S NEW YEAR FINDINGS Research by Zoopla saw demand for property soar by 49% compared to the new year markets of 2018-2021, rivalling the record demand seen during the Stamp Duty holiday. The property portal found that demand for flats is on a sharp upward trajectory for the first time in several years, with demand outside London hitting the highest level in five years. Meanwhile, demand for family houses outside London is four times higher than the five-year average. The portal says that the pandemic is having the biggest influence on the property market thanks to ongoing demand for space, and three-bedroom houses, especially outside London, are the most sought-after. Geographically, the suburbs remain in the highest demand, with Thurrock in Essex, and the suburbs of Birmingham, Glasgow and east London, such as Barking & Dagenham, all topping the list of most sought-after areas.

EXPERT COMMENT Although respondents to the latest survey continue to highlight a lack of stock on the market, they do encouragingly still see some scope for transaction volumes to edge upwards over the coming months. More of a concern is the suggestion that the mismatch between demand and supply will drive house prices even higher through the course of 2022.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist

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EXPERTS

Agony agent Readers put their property questions to our guest panel of experts: solicitors, mortgage advisers, property gurus and Help to Buy providers

THIS MONTH’S PA N E L O F E X P E R T S Sue Dance, Sales & Commercial Manager, Grand Union Housing

Simon Scott, Assistant Director of Commercial & Property Marketing, Origin Housing

Plot 5 Benedictine Close, Wellingborough, Northants – a two bedroom house due to launch summer 2022

Minnie Dando, Head of Marketing & Communications, Hyde New Homes

T E S T T H E PA N E L

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, Help to Buy, 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@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

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Help with shared ownership

Q

My partner and I have been saving for a while and were hoping to buy a shared ownership property as our first home together, to enable us to plan for a family.

We’re currently renting on the outskirts of Kettering but ideally looking for a two bedroom house close to local amenities.

However, we’ve just spoken to a financial adviser, hoping to get qualified for a scheme we’ve seen nearby, and unfortunately, we can’t quite afford the minimum share on offer, which is 35%. My partner works in retail as a supervisor and I run a mobile dog grooming business. With prices going up all the time we’re wondering if we’ll need to move away from this area to afford our dream home?

Katy Fletcher, Kettering

A

There’s good news on the horizon for potential buyers like yourselves, as the Government has just introduced the new shared ownership product which will allow the purchase of initial shares as low as 10%. The other benefit with the new product is that you’ll be able to purchase additional shares as you can afford to do so, in as little as 1% portions instead of the current 10% minimum (this process is known

as staircasing). For full details on the new product, please take a look at sharetobuy.com which has all the latest news on the new model and will enable you to search for properties in your area. It’s worth noting though, that the old product will still be in existence for some schemes, so you will need to check with each provider which model they are offering, and this only applies to new build properties.

As an example, our first Grand Union Living scheme offering the new model of shared ownership will be Benedictine Close, Wellingborough, where you could buy a 10% share of a two bedroom mid-terrace house for just £23,700 (full market value approximately £237,000, although prices will be released nearer the time). This scheme is in a great location, close to shops and schools.

Speak to an independent financial adviser who specialises in shared ownership to check you can qualify.

With most shared ownership properties, you could purchase more shares until you own 100%, as your careers progress and you can afford more. You pay rent on the balance you do not own, and this reduces as you buy more shares. Do go to grandunionliving.co.uk for more details. Good luck with your search!

Sue Dance

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How do we staircase?

Q

We are a young professional couple living in London, currently living in a shared ownership home, which we bought a 25% share in four years ago. Our salaries have recently increased, so we’re eager to own more shares in our home. We’ve heard of staircasing, but we don’t know where to start! Can you advise on how to start the process, please?

Harry and Ellie Brown, Harrow

A

For shared ownership buyers, staircasing is an excellent way to purchase more shares in your property over time, giving you flexibility to buy a greater proportion of your home as and when you can afford to. Depending on your lease, staircasing is applicable to both new build and resale properties.

The first stage in the staircasing process is to arrange a valuation to confirm the current market value of the property.

This will mean the valuer can calculate how much you need to pay for additional shares. For example, if your property is valued at £400,000 and you want to buy an additional 25% share, the purchase price of the extra share would be 25% of the valuation, which is £100,000.

A major benefit to staircasing is that the greater the share you buy in your home, the less rent you

pay to your housing association. Once you staircase to 100%, you become the outright owner, and will no longer need to pay rent.

As the outright owner, if you choose to sell your home, you can do so on the open market to whoever is interested.

When staircasing, buyers must be aware of expenses involved in the process, which include the valuation fee, legal fees and any Stamp Duty costs. You may also be required to pay mortgage fees or pay penalty charges to your existing lender if you remortgage before the product end date.

Buyers are advised to check the terms of their lease for any restrictions on staircasing.

For more information about staircasing with Origin, please visit originhousingsales.co.uk/staircasing Simon Scott

Buying off-plan

Q

We are first time buyers and feel ready to get on to the property ladder. We have seen a home we really like but we are nervous about purchasing our home in a development off-plan; how can you reassure us?

Brogan Smithhurst, Brighton

A

Considering buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase we will ever make, so it is no wonder that we hesitate, particularly when one can’t actually set foot in the finished home prior to making this massive commitment.

There are positive benefits for offplan property transactions, for both the buyer and vendor. For the vendor, sales are de-risked by knowing that there is a purchaser out there and income is more or less secure. For the buyer, it presents an opportunity to select a home in a development early on, when the choice is wider, offering a better chance of securing the type of home which best suits your needs. You are also likely to benefit from a better opportunity on pricing, as most vendors are likely to maximise their sales values as sales progress and the development is approaching completion.

At Hyde, we always ensure that we have one or more show homes available for visitors to view when we launch.

These showcase the specification, as

well as providing you with an accurate expectation of the standard of finish of our homes. We are very careful to only open our show homes to visitors once we have ensured that the finishes reflect the standard expected from all the other homes on the development; in fact, the show home is used as a benchmark for this. During the planning process, we try and select show homes which are representative of the majority of house types that will be available, so that you are able to get a feel of the space and layout.

We also dress our show homes, so that you can envisage how furniture can fit into it

and also pick up ideas around how space can be optimised.

We conduct our sales in-house, so that our team is fully conversant with the standard of product and service that we offer our customers. Your sales consultant will be there to support you with any questions you may have and smooth over any bumps which may arise along your journey to homeownership.

Hope you find the home of your dreams and wish you all the best with your exciting purchase!

Minnie Dando

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Buyers’ guide FTB EXPLAINS ALL THE OPTIONS TO HELP FIRST TIME BUYERS

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 to the property ladder. The best known is the Help to Buy: Equity Loan, which is open to all buyers purchasing a new home costing up to £600,000 from an approved provider. There are no income restrictions and you can use it to upsize, but not to buy an additional property. For more details, contact a Help to Buy Agent. There is also shared ownership, which is open to families with a household income of up to £80,000 (£90,000 in London).

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 house builders.

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

FUNDING OPTIONS

JARGON EXPLAINED

G O V E R N M E N T- B A C K E D SCHEMES

EQUITY LOAN

Help to Buy: Equity Loans The Government provides equity loans of 20% of the full property value (40% in London boroughs). The loan is interest free for the first five years with interest at 1.75% in year six, rising by RPI (retail price index) inflation plus 1% after that. The loan must be repaid when the property is sold or within 25 years. You will need to raise a deposit of 5% and a 75% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage. New build homes priced up to £600,000 can be bought. The current Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme runs until the end of March 2021 and will be restricted to first time buyers after that.

This is a Government loan for a percentage of a property’s value (20% outside London, 40% in London). If you remain living in the property, you repay the equity loan within 25 years. If you sell the property, you repay the percentage of the property price the loan was for. For example, if the equity loan was originally £30,000 on a £100,000 property (30%) and you sell the property for £200,000, you’ll have to repay £60,000 (30% of £200,000).

Shared Ownership or Part-Buy, Part-Rent The Government shared ownership scheme is available for households with an income of up to £80,000 (or £90,000 if buying in London.)

The scheme allows you the chance to buy as little as a 25% share in a property and pay a subsidised rent on the rest. Rent is calculated at 2.75% (sometimes less), with annual increases of RPI + 0.5%. In most cases, you can buy more shares after you move in with the opportunity to own the property outright.

This is called staircasing. 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.

There are a few less well known Governmentbacked schemes; more details of these can be found on ownyourhome.gov.uk:

Rent to Buy or Intermediate Rent With this scheme you rent a newly built property for up to five years and pay a reduced rent. This gives you time to save up for a deposit so you can apply to buy a share of the home later. Homes available with Rent to Buy are few and far between.

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.

Older People’s Shared Ownership (OPSO)

PRIVATE INITIATIVES

*NEW!* First Homes

Some builders offer incentives on new build homes such as cashback, free legal fees, help with moving costs or money towards Stamp Duty. Some developers may offer shared equity, a private version of shared ownership.

This is a new option announced by the Government in late 2019. With First Homes, first time buyers and key workers will be offered discounts of 30% on new build homes. Further details are awaited.

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 designed to help people with long term disabilities to live independently in a shared ownership property where, in some cases, repairs and maintenance services are offered by the housing association provider.

HOMES ENGLAND This is a Government organisation tasked with increasing housing supply. They also fund affordable homes including Help to Buy.

STAIRCASING If you buy a home with shared ownership, you will be given the right to buy more shares at any time 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 right from the moment you move into your new shared ownership home.

FUNDING OPTIONS BUYING ON THE OPEN MARKET & P R I VA T E I N I T I A T I V E S

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.

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

The ftb process TIPS

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

F

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.

inance

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.

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

FINANCE

88

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 file, and pay off any debts you can.

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.

SHOP AROUND

Speak to a mortgage broker, but also look at lenders’ direct products and search the internet.

RESEARCH

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

TIPS

RESEARCH AN AREA

T

Buying a property is a big investment. horough You need to make research 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 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.

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.

Aerial shots of an area can be viewed at google.co.uk/maps; switch to “satellite view”.

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.

SEARCH

Register with local estate agents, and use the internet to search for properties. Set up alerts.

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.

VIEWINGS

Look at several properties, and visit ones you like more than once and with someone else.

Take a checklist.

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.

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

BUYING

Make sure you have a survey – it could save you money in the long run by spotting any problems.

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

BUYERS’ COSTS

B

uying process

SURVEYS AND VALUATIONS

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.

SOLICITOR’S/CONVEYANCING COSTS (ESTIMATED)

£700-£1,500

LOCAL AUTHORITY SEARCH FEES (ESTIMATED)

£200-300

LAND REGISTRY FEES: For an existing property: For a purchase of £80-£100k £40.00

For a purchase of £100-£200k £95.00 For a purchase of £200-£500k For a new build property: For a purchase of £80-£100k £80.00

For a purchase of £100-£200k £190.00 For a purchase of £200-£500k £270.00

SOLICITORS

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.

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.

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.

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.

90

STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (SDLT) (UNTIL 31/03/2020):

£0-£500,000 Zero

£500,000 to £925,000 5% £925,001 to £1.5m 10% Above £1.5m12%

Example: on a £600,000 purchase SDLT would be £5,000 – 0% on £0-£500,000 and 5% on £100,000 (being the £100,000 above £500,000)

OTHER FEES TO CONSIDER (ESTIMATED, DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES): MORTGAGE ARRANGEMENT FEE

EXCHANGE AND COMPLETION

Use a recommended solicitor who you know to be reliable and who can move fast.

SOLICITORS

For a purchase of £500k-£1m £540.00

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.

TIPS

INSURANCE

You must have buildings insurance in place for when you exchange contracts (not complete). This will be a condition of your mortgage offer.

MORTGAGE VALUATION £0-£300

SURVEY £300-£700

MORTGAGE BROKER’S FEE £0-£500

BUILDINGS INSURANCE £200-£300 annually

GROUND RENT (LEASEHOLD ONLY) & SERVICE CHARGES £100-£4,000 annually charges for maintenance of communal areas

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.

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.

£0-£1,500

New freehold homes may also have service/estate

TIME SCALE

SEARCHES

£135.00

For a purchase of £500k-£1m £270.00

REMOVALS

Shop around for a removals firm, and find one that can move your possessions on completion day. You could also look at van hire to do it yourself.

REMOVALS (IF REQUIRED) £1,000-£2,500

COMPLETION

Your solicitor or estate agent will call you to tell you the property is yours. The solicitor will have some final paperwork to do, and you will then have to pay the solicitor’s bill and your Stamp Duty payment (if applicable).

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BUYERS’ GUIDE

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

DISBURSEMENTS

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.

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.

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.

EARLY REPAYMENT CHARGE

ARREARS

EQUITY

This is a term used to describe payments that haven’t been made on time.

The difference between the value of the property and the value of the mortgage you have secured.

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

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.

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.

A broker is someone who gives you advice on your mortgage. Some are independent, while others work for particular lenders.

FREEHOLD

BUILDING SURVEY

When a seller accepts an offer and then later on rejects it in favour of a higher offer from another bidder.

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.

A freehold is when you fully own a property and the land it stands on.

GAZUMPING

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.

LAND REGISTRY FEES This is a fee you have to pay in order to register your ownership of the property with the Land Registry.

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.

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LEGAL

Shared ownership – the New & Improved Product With a new shared ownership product and lease having recently been launched

by Homes England and bringing the biggest changes to shared ownership in years, Adam Crawford, Partner and Head of New Build Homes, at Prince Evans Solicitors LLP looks at what this means for buyers BACKGROUND – WHAT IS SHARED OWNERSHIP? Shared ownership is a Government-backed scheme that allows you to purchase a share in a property and rent the part of the property you do not own (also known as part-buy, part-rent) from the landlord (which is usually a housing association or a local authority).

Provided you meet certain criteria, such as a maximum household income of £80,000 outside of London or £90,000 in London, and you are a first time buyer or home mover (ie not buying as an investor), then you may be eligible to purchase a shared ownership property.

You will still have to apply for a mortgage and save for a deposit; however, the deposit can be as low as 5% of the share you are buying. As shared ownership is Government backed, your landlord is under an obligation to act responsibly and ensure it only allows you to purchase the property if you can afford to keep up with the repayments on your mortgage and the rent you pay it and other associated outgoings. You will need to meet the affordability criteria, about which the housing association will be able to advise you.

Shared ownership is, generally, considered by most (including the author) as an excellent route into homeownership for those who may not otherwise be able to afford it.

WHAT WAS THE PREVIOUS SHARED OWNERSHIP PRODUCT? Previously if you purchased a new build shared ownership property you would buy the property and be granted a lease on the following basis: 9 You purchase the maximum share you are assessed to be able to purchase of between 25%-75% 9 You pay rent on the share you do not own to your landlord 9 You have the right to buy additional shares in the property in minimum

92

tranches of 10% (a process known as “staircasing”) up to 100% in most cases (some leases restrict staircasing to 80%).

9 For a minimum 99-year lease term (or more typically a 125-year term) 9 When you wish to sell the property, you must first give the opportunity to your landlord to find a buyer for the property – it has eight weeks in which to find a buyer after which you can sell on the open market (this is known as the “nomination period”) 9 The price for a sale agreed by the landlord referred above is set by a valuation, with the valuation being valid for eight weeks (exchange of contracts must take place within eight weeks and if not achieved, a new or extended valuation may need to be obtained).

Please note as per the comments later in this article, this product will continue to be available for new builds constructed from pre-2021 funding and on resales.

SO, WHAT HAS CHANGED? Under the new shared ownership product, you will now buy a new build shared ownership property and be granted a lease on the following basis: 9 You purchase the maximum share you are assessed to be able to purchase of between 10%-75% (25% was the previous minimum) 9 You pay rent on the share you do not own to your landlord 9 You have the right to buy additional shares in the property in minimum tranches of 5% (a process known as “staircasing”) up to 100% in most cases (some leases restrict staircasing to 80%).

Previously a 10% minimum was required 9 In addition, during the first 15 years of your ownership you will now have the right to buy an additional 1% share each year. This will be based on a value adjusted in line with the House Price Index (“HPI”) rather than the need for a valuation and the 1%

staircasing will be subject to reduced administration and therefore reduced costs for you 9 For a minimum 990-year term (previously 99 years) 9 When you wish to sell the property, you must first give the opportunity to your landlord to find a buyer for the property (nomination) – it has four weeks in which to find a buyer after which you can sell on the open market (previously eight weeks) 9 The price for a sale under a landlord nomination is set by a valuation with the valuation being valid for 12 weeks (exchange of contracts must take place within 12 weeks and if not achieved a new or extended valuation may need to be obtained). Previously eight weeks 9 Your landlord will be responsible for the cost of essential repairs to the external fabric of the building and the structure in the first 10 years – your conveyancer will explain in more detail what this means to you (previously you were responsible for these costs) 9 You may be able to claim up to £500 per annum from the landlord for essential repairs/replacement inside the home for the first five years – again your conveyancer will explain in more detail what this means to you; (previously you were responsible for these costs without any contribution).

Please note the changes will not be retrospectively applied to shared ownership property previously sold or being sold on the previous model.

WHEN DOES THIS COME INTO EFFECT? This is where it becomes a little tricky as shared ownership is often, but not always, grant-funded (ie the Government provides public funds towards the cost of shared ownership). It is only shared ownership properties which are built and sold from the Government’s Affordable

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LEGAL

Homes Programme 2021 to 2026 which are obliged to use the new shared ownership lease/product. However, some housing associations have already adopted the new model for new shared ownership sales for properties which are grant funded pre-2021 on a voluntary basis.

It is probably the case right now that the vast majority of new sales are still on the old form of shared ownership as it takes time for grant funding to result in a built property ready to be sold and lived in.

However, over the coming months we will see an increasing number of properties sold under the new shared ownership model.

Shared ownership resales (where an existing shared ownership leaseholder sells their property) will not be under the new form of lease and it is likely therefore that this will only be seen on new build properties for at least the next couple of years until there are resales of properties sold under the new model.

I’VE HEARD OF SOMETHING CALLED A RIGHT TO SHARED OWNERSHIP – WHAT IS THIS? This is also a new scheme as part of the Government’s Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026 and only applies to properties that were built for social and affordable rent.

Essentially, if you live in a property built under this grant funding programme, and

provided you are an eligible tenant renting an affordable or social rent home, you will be given a right to buy the property you rent on shared ownership terms, under the terms of the new shared ownership lease outlined above.

If you are unsure if you, or your property, are eligible, you should speak to your housing association landlord which will be able to assist you.

THIS ALL SOUNDS GREAT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE AWARE OF? You need to be aware, as advised earlier, that this only applies to new grant-funded shared ownership properties. Nongrant-funded shared ownership, shared ownership sales arising from pre-2021 grant funding and shared ownership resales will continue in their current/original form and not benefit from the changes (unless landlords voluntarily opt to sell under the new model). This can create confusion for buyers in understanding precisely what product they are buying.

It is also possible over time, as has happened in the past, that mortgage lenders and the legal and consumer market may come to find the older form of shared ownership less desirable. Hopefully this will not be the case as it is still a very good product for both buyers and mortgage lenders, but it is a risk that cannot be

Prince Evans specialise in all aspects of conveyancing.

Please contact Prince Evans for all your conveyancing needs and for a friendly no obligation quote on 020 8567 3477 or nbh@prince-evans.co.uk

discounted (albeit one would hope Homes England would then dictate a variation to the previous leases as it has done before).

The shared ownership lease has also been subject to a general “tidy up” and modernisation (such as allowing working from home in a home office or the ability to sub-let in some exceptional circumstances) to reflect changes in society.

SUMMARY Clearly the changes will be very welcome to buyers, with a longer lease term, a lower purchase/deposit entry level (enabling more people to take a first step on to the housing ladder), less cost for buyers, reduced administration, a more flexible approach to buying additional shares and fairer resale procedures.

However, for housing associations it does mean they will need to quickly adapt to a new product, new working practices and new financial responsibilities. They will also need to ensure their staff are fully trained in both the old model of shared ownership as well as the new model so they can help prospective buyers on their journey to homeownership.

Introducing a new product also adds another layer of complication to shared ownership with a number of variations of shared ownership now running side by side.

This only highlights more than ever the importance of ensuring you instruct shared ownership specialists when you buy a shared ownership property, none more so than your conveyancer who will need to fully understand and advise you on the new shared ownership model lease.

Prince Evans Solicitors LLP specialises in all aspects of shared ownership conveyancing including the new shared ownership model and we are ready to assist you on the contact details shown.

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Directory HELP TO BUY - NORTH PlusDane Tel: 0300 790 0570 helptobuyagent1.org.uk Cheshire Cumbria Durham East Riding of Yorkshire Greater Manchester Lancashire Merseyside North Yorkshire Northumberland Tyne and Wear South Yorkshire West Yorkshire

HELP TO BUY - MIDLANDS AND LONDON bpha Tel: 03333 214 044 helptobuyagent2.org.uk

ZONES, HELP TO BUY AGENTS, HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS AND MORE...

HELP TO BUY - SOUTH Radian Tel: 0800 456 1188 helptobuyagent3.org.uk Bedfordshire Berkshire Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cornwall Devon Dorset East Sussex Essex Gloucestershire Hampshire Hertfordshire Isle of Wight Kent Norfolk Oxfordshire Somerset Suffolk Surrey West Sussex Wiltshire

Derbyshire Herefordshire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Rutland Shropshire Staffordshire Warwickshire West Midlands Worcestershire

94

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USEFUL CONTACTS

ZONES, HELP TO BUY AGENTS & HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS – RECEIVE ADVICE ON PROPERTY FUNDING OPTIONS

NORTH

Shropshire Staffordshire

PlusDane

Warwickshire

Tel: 0300 790 0570

West Midlands

helptobuyagent1.org.uk

Worcestershire

Cheshire

SOUTH

Cumbria Durham

Radian

East Riding of Yorkshire

Tel: 0800 456 1188

Greater Manchester

helptobuyagent3.org.uk

Lancashire Merseyside

Bedfordshire

North Yorkshire

Berkshire

Northumberland

Bristol

Tyne and Wear

Buckinghamshire

South Yorkshire

Cambridgeshire

West Yorkshire

Cornwall Devon

MIDLANDS AND LONDON

Dorset East Sussex Essex

bpha

Gloucestershire

Tel: 03333 214 044

Hampshire

helptobuyagent2.org.uk

Hertfordshire Isle of Wight

Derbyshire

Kent

Herefordshire

Norfolk

Leicestershire

Oxfordshire

Lincolnshire

Somerset

London

Suffolk

Northamptonshire

Surrey

Nottinghamshire

West Sussex

Rutland

Wiltshire

ADVERTISE HERE Speak to our advertising team to find out the best ways to give your organisation maximum exposure.

Call 020 7258 0036 or email lynda@firsttimebuyermag.co.uk

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS – OFFERING NEW BUILD SCHEMES, INCLUDING HELP TO BUY (SHARED OWNERSHIP) AND RENT TO BUY PROPERTIES

LONDON Catalyst Housing

BMA Property Group

Hastoe Housing

Optivo

octaviahousing.org.uk

bmapg.com

Association

optivo.org.uk

020 8354 5500

020 8942 4062

hastoe.com

0800 012 1442

catalyst.homes 0333 444 3500 Clarion Housing

01235 515 900

Octavia Housing

0300 555 2171

Optivo

Chelmer Housing Partnership

optivo.org.uk

chp.org.uk

Home Group

originhousing.org.uk

0800 012 1442

0300 555 0500

homegroup.org.uk

0300 323 0325

myclarionhousing.com/

Southern Home Ownership shosales.co.uk

0300 123 2250 Origin Housing

Sovereign Housing sovereignliving.org.uk

0345 141 4663

0300 500 0926

sharedownership

Origin Housing

CHS Group

020 7378 5638

originhousing.org.uk

chsgroup.org.uk

Housing Solutions Group

Association

0300 323 0325

0300 111 3555

housingsolutions.co.uk

orwell-housing.co.uk

Stonewater

0800 876 6060

0345 601 0030

stonewater.org

Estuary Housing Association

Orwell Housing

01202 319 119

estuary.co.uk

Paradigm Housing

Clarion Housing

0300 304 5000

paradigmhousing.co.uk

myclarionhousing.com/

Hyde New Homes

PA Housing

0845 337 4877

sharedownership

hydenewhomes.co.uk

pahousing.co.uk

Swan Housing Association

Fabrica

Peabody

020 7378 5638

0345 606 1221

0300 123 2221

swan.org.uk

fabrica.co.uk

peabodysales.co.uk

0800 783 2159

020 7021 4842

Crown Simmons

L&Q

Paradigm Housing

crownsimmons.org.uk

lqhomes.com

paradigmhousing.co.uk

Thames Valley Housing

Gateway Housing

Places for People

01372 461 440

0300 456 9997

0300 303 1010

Association

Association

placesforpeople.co.uk

gatewayhousing.org.uk

01772 667 049

Estuary Housing

Metropolitan

Peabody

Association

metropolitansales.org.uk

peabodysales.co.uk

020 3535 2555

020 7021 4842

Moat

Places for People

Fabrica

moat.co.uk

placesforpeople.co.uk

0300 323 0011

01772 667 049

Notting Hill Genesis

Rosebery Housing

Flagship Homes

nhgsales.com

Association

0333 000 4000

rosebery.org.uk

020 8709 4300

0300 303 2500

tvha.co.uk

Sanctuary London

estuary.co.uk

Guinness Partnership

sanctuary-homes.co.uk

0300 304 5000

guinnesspartnership.com

0800 916 1444

0303 123 1890 Site Sales

fabrica.co.uk

Hexagon

site-sales.co.uk

0800 783 2159

hexagon.org.uk

020 8502 5758

020 8778 6699 Shepherd’s Bush Housing

flagship-homes.co.uk

Home Group

sbhg.co.uk

0808 168 4555

homegroup.org.uk

020 8996 4200

020 8607 0550 Town and Country Housing tchg.org.uk 01892 501 480 Worthing Homes worthing-homes.org.uk 01903 703 108

SOUTH WEST

01372 814 000 Aster Group

Nu Living Guinness Partnership

nuliving.co.uk

Sanctuary South East

buyanasterhome.co.uk

Southern Home

(South)

0800 819 9390

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

01380 735 480

Hyde New Homes

Ownership

guinnesspartnership.com

hydenewhomes.co.uk

shosales.co.uk

0303 123 1890

0345 606 1221

0300 555 2171

0345 141 4663

Islington and Shoreditch

Swan Housing Association

Housing Association

swan.org.uk

isha.co.uk

0300 303 2500

0800 131 3348 Cornerstone Housing

One Housing Group onehousing.co.uk

Soha Housing

cornerstonehousing.net

0300 123 9966

Soha.co.uk

01392 273 462

0300 131 7300 Thames Valley Housing L&Q

Association

lqhomes.com

tvha.co.uk

0300 456 9997

020 8607 0550

Metropolitan

Wandle Housing

metropolitansales.org.uk

Association

020 3535 2555

wandle.com 0300 200 0120

Newlon Living newlonliving.co.uk

SOUTH EAST

0800 058 2544 Accent Group Notting Hill Genesis

accentgroup.org

nhgsales.com

0345 678 0555

0333 000 4000 Aster Group Nu Living

buyanasterhome.co.uk

nuliving.co.uk

01380 735 480

0800 819 9390

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS CURO

Rooftop Housing Group

Accord

Friendship Care & Housing

Nottingham Community

South Staffordshire

curo-group.co.uk

rooftopgroup.org

accordgroup.org.uk

fch.org.uk

Housing Association

Housing Association

01225 366 000

0800 042 1800

0300 111 7000

0300 123 1745

ncha.org.uk

ssha.co.uk

0800 013 8555

01785 312 000

Elim Housing

Sanctuary Southwest

Acis Group

Home Group

elimhousing.co.uk

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

acisgroup.co.uk

homegroup.org.uk

Orbit

Waterloo Housing

01454 411 172

0800 131 3348

0800 027 2057

0345 141 4663

orbit.org.uk

Association

0800 678 1221

waterloo.org.uk 0800 435 016

Green Square

Severn Vale Housing

Bromford Group

Guinness Partnership

greensquaregroup.com

svhs.org.uk

bromford.co.uk

(Northern Counties)

PA Housing

01249 465 465

01684 272 727

0330 123 4034

guinnesspartnership.com

pahousing.org.uk

WM Housing Group

0303 123 1890

0116 257 6716

wmhousing.co.uk 0300 790 6531

Guinness Partnership

Sovereign Housing

Caldmore Accord

(Hermitage)

sovereign.org.uk

caldmoreaccord.org.uk

L & H Homes

Places for People

guinnesspartnership.com

0300 500 0926

0300 111 7000

landh.org.uk

placesforpeople.co.uk

0345 309 0700

01772 667 002

0303 123 1890

NORTH WEST Accent Group

Stonewater

Clarion Housing

Hastoe Housing

stonewater.org

myclarionhousing.com/

Metropolitan

Riverside Housing

accentgroup.org

Association

01202 319 119

sharedownership

metropolitansales.org.uk

Association

0345 678 0555

020 7378 5638

020 3535 2555

riverside.org.uk

hastoe.com 0300 123 2250

Westward Housing

Liverty

westwardhousing.org.uk

Derwent Living Housing

Midland Heart

dchliverty.com

0300 100 1010

Association

midlandheart.org.uk

Rooftop Group

derwentliving.com

0345 602 0540

rooftopgroup.org

0300 123 8080

MIDLANDS

0345 155 9029

01332 346 477

Places for People

Adactus Housing Group adactushousing.co.uk 0300 111 1133

0800 042 1800

Arcon Housing Association

Muir Group

placesforpeople.co.uk

Accent Group

East Midlands Housing

muir.org.uk

Sanctuary Midlands

arcon.org.uk

01772 667 049

accentgroup.org

Association

0300 123 1222

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

0161 214 4120

0345 678 0555

emhhomes.org.uk

0800 131 3348

0300 123 6000

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USEFUL CONTACTS HELP TO BUY PROVIDERS CDS Co-operatives

0117 407 2415

0345 678 0555

cds.coop 0333 321 3030 Eden Housing Association

Equity Housing

Guinness Partnership

Acis Group

manninghamhousing.co.uk

Accent Group

muir.org.uk

acisgroup.co.uk

01274 771 144

accentgroup.org

0300 123 1222

0800 027 2057

0345 678 0555

Places for People

Broadacres

muir.org.uk

Bernicia

placesforpeople.co.uk

broadacres.org.uk

0300 123 1222

bernicia.com

01772 667 002

01609 767 900

Progress Housing Group

Crucible Homes

placesforpeople.co.uk

Castles and Coasts

progressgroup.org.uk

cruciblesalesandlettings.co.uk

01772 667 002

castlesandcoasts.co.uk

0333 320 4555

0114 241 3430

0800 085 1171 Together Housing

Regenda Homes

Equity Housing

togetherhousing.co.uk

Erimus Housing Ltd

regenda.org.uk

equityhousing.co.uk

0845 077 0027

erimushousing.co.uk

0344 736 0066

0300 123 4460

Home Group

0300 111 1000 Sanctuary North

homegroup.org.uk

Riverside Housing

Guinness Partnership

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

Guinness Partnership

0345 141 4663

Association

(Northern Counties)

0800 131 3348

(Northern Counties)

riverside.org.uk

guinnesspartnership.com

0345 155 9029

0303 123 1890

impacthousing.org.uk

guinnesspartnership.com Stonewater

0303 123 1890

stonewater.org Sanctuary North

Home Group

sanctuary-housing.co.uk

homegroup.org.uk

0800 131 3348

0345 141 1663

Association

01202 319 119

Home Group homegroup.org.uk

Wakefield and District

0345 141 1663

Housing

irwellvalleyha.co.uk

Your Housing Group

Leeds Federated Housing

wdh.co.uk

Karbon Homes

0161 610 1000

yhghomes.co.uk

Association

0345 850 7507

karbonhomes.co.uk

0845 618 5008

lfha.co.uk 0113 386 1000

Knowsley Housing Trust k-h-t.org 0151 290 7000

0300 111 1000

0344 800 3800

0303 123 1890

Irwell Valley Housing

Thirteen

Places for People

guinnesspartnership.com

0344 873 6290

0800 131 3348

thirteengroup.co.uk

Muir Group

(Northern Counties)

Impact Housing

Sanctuary North sanctuary-housing.co.uk

Muir Group

equityhousing.co.uk 0300 123 4460

NORTH EAST

Association

edenha.org.uk 01768 861 400

Manningham Housing

YORKS/ HUMBER

L&H Homes

0808 164 0111 Your Housing Group yhghomes.co.uk

Places for People

0845 618 5008

placesforpeople.co.uk

landh.org.uk Liverpool Housing Trust

Accent Group

lht.co.uk

accentgroup.org

01772 667 002

0345 309 0700

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100 First Time Buyer April/May 2022

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20 QUESTIONS Bevin Woby is the Head of Business Development & Marketing at Direction Law. Direction Law is one of the most established and largest specialist affordable housing solicitors in the country, which for over 45 years has specialised in affordable housing conveyancing. Direction Law offers a nationwide service with offices in London, the South East, South West and the Midlands, whose specialism is in shared ownership, new build, Help to Buy, staircasing and resales. Bevin is now in her 10th year at Direction Law, with a penchant for shared ownership

20 QUESTIONS th Wi

Bevin Woby

What room at home is your favourite?

The dining room, I’ve become very familiar with it over the past few years as it’s doubled up as my office for the most part! It gets lots of natural light in the daytime and I have a log burner, which makes it cosy in the evenings.

What’s your favourite gadget or technology that at home? *Whispers so she doesn’t hear me* The Alexa. I have one in the kitchen, living room and bedroom so you can fill the house with music; the alarm and timer features are super handy too.

What colour do you think everyone should have in their home?

Sage green. Contrary to popular belief there are many shades of sage green and I encourage wide use of all.

Which three people would you invite over for a housewarming party if you could have any guests?

An eclectic mix of characters that would all bring some sparkle to the evening – accompanied by a fun fact about them. Cher (she is the only artist to have had a number one single in each of the past six decades), Ainsley Harriott (he has blessed us with 21 series of Ready, Steady Cook) Joe Lycett (who changed his name to Hugo Boss by deed poll briefly in 2020 as a protest against the fashion brand of the same name, when they tried to sue a small start up Brewery from Swansea using "Boss" in their name).

What’s your favourite memory from your childhood home?

My childhood home is actually a shared ownership house, sold

by Moat Homes in 1995! The first day we moved in my dad took me into the garden (which was amazing in itself as we had lived in a flat without one previously) and showed me how to spot the North Star.

What is your favourite song and why?

In My Life by The Beatles, it’s such a comforting, beautiful song that fills my heart up each time I listen to it.

Would you rather have a garden or a balcony?

A garden in England, a balcony if I lived in Europe, namely to watch sunsets and drink wine on.

Do you prefer modern homes or period properties?

I prefer the features of a period property, but not the cost of maintenance, so I envy modern homes on that front!

Would you rather have a library room or media room at home?

A library room with a record player would be the best of both worlds for me!

Would you prefer to have luxurious bathtub or a sumptuous shower?

Absolutely a luxurious bathtub. Preferably freestanding for the fancy aesthetic.

Would you rather live in the bustling city or in the country?

I’d rather live in the country as I love a long walk with the dog (usually to a pub) but it’s important for me to have good travel connections so I can dip in to the bustle!

If you were buying a property overseas, in what country would you buy a home?

The dream would be an antebellum house in New Orleans, a little outside the French Quarter.

Would you rather have a bigger property or a better location?

A better location, I think that’s important to the feeling of "home", and you can make your living space your own regardless of size.

What is one thing you couldn’t live without at home?

This is two-fold. Firstly my Shark vacuum cleaner, because secondly I have a pug who is an almighty shedder so they go hand-in-hand!

What’s your favourite way to unwind at home after work?

I like to put music on while I prep dinner and have a kitchen disco all by myself.

What’s your favourite thing about your home?

The frontage is quite striking, it’s painted black and white so has a gothic-esque look to it (which means I get a lot of trick or treaters at Halloween!)

Where did you buy your first home?

In Kent, where much of my family and friendship base is. It has the benefit of the countryside, coast and is close to London, which is great for both work and socialising.

What advice would you give a first time buyer?

Trust the process and if you’re unsure do ask questions (nothing’s too "silly"), speak with your solicitors before making completion arrangements, get your ID documentation for AML organised nice and early. If you’re buying an affordable product then use specialists in that field for your legals and your mortgage. And make sure the corkscrew is at the top of your box for when you unpack!

What are your views on shared ownership?

I am a proud member of the shared ownership fan club. It can be misunderstood and I am all for unpacking the myths around it.

Shared ownership gave my family the opportunity to move in to a better area for my childhood and has had such a positive impact on the lives for a number of my friends in both the new build and resale markets.

What are your views on the property market?

It's going from strength to strength, with so much more choice than there has been, not only for different tenures, but also more lenders expanding their portfolios by offering mortgage products for affordable housing, making it more accessible and attractive. directionlaw.co.uk

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