Shared ownership scheme saved me

Shared ownership is an affordable way to buy a home of your own. NCHA's customers have written about their experiences in a series of case studies, to explain what shared ownership has done for them.

In January 2023, Ava and her rescue dog Bonnie were being evicted from their rented home. She was unable to secure a private rented home or buy a home on the open market.

Ava is a domestic abuse survivor who suffers with anxiety and PTSD so the impact of losing her home was really difficult. As a single woman, she struggled to find a suitable home. Rentals were too pricey and she couldn’t get a full mortgage on her own. She soon realised that shared ownership was her only option.

“I found this two-bedroom mid-terraced house on College Way in Bilborough online. The house was £180,000 and I could afford to purchase a 30% share. But I had to move quick as my landlord was about to make me homeless. I had to sell most of my belongings to raise the £6,000 deposit to secure this house. I was determined to make this house my home.”

“I am now fully moved in and I love it here. I prefer to be close to nature than something more urban, so having my own garden in addition to living in a quieter location surrounded by open space and lovely walks has been amazing. Out the front we have a shared green space and we back onto some allotments and a school. I have enjoyed watching the wildlife with an array of foxes, squirrels and birds. We even have hedgehog holes in the gardens to let them explore freely.”

“The house is energy-efficient and gas-free. It is extremely well insulated and I am adjusting to the warmth having come from a damp rented home. I received training on how to operate the air source heat pump, so it didn’t take me long to understand how to work it. The house is also fitted with solar panels so I am sure my energy bills will be much lower than my previous house.”

“NCHA has helped saved my life. I am spiritually connected, and feel that the universe is looking after me. I had nowhere to go and the Sales team at NCHA supported me through the whole process. It was that smooth that I was the very first buyer to move in on this development. It did feel a bit strange to begin with but more people have moved in now and I am getting to meet them. I am going to start a WhatsApp group so I can help others find their way round their new home and community.”

“Shared ownership is an excellent stepping stone onto the property market – it’s worked so well for me. I couldn’t afford to buy on the open market. If it wasn’t for shared ownership I would be homeless. Now I am safe and secure in a home of my own with a respected landlord. I plan on living here long term and to staircase so I can own 100% of the property.”

“It feels like this house was meant for me. It has such positive energy and I am looking forward to building my future here.”