Winchester City Council’s innovative shared ownership scheme helps couple onto housing ladder
First-time buyers, Naomi Beamish and Olly Biggs, who are in their early 30s, had been struggling to find an affordable home in the district close enough to the city centre where they run their business, Forte Kitchen in Parchment Street.
The couple, who had been living in a one-bedroom flat in Chesil Street, were looking for a larger property that would allow them to grow their family.
Thanks to the scheme they were able to purchase an idyllic, two-bedroom house in the heart of Alresford that ticked all of their boxes.
The council’s Partnered Home Purchase Scheme, called Myhome, offers residents the chance to choose a home on the open market which is then purchased by the council. Residents purchase a 50%-70% share of the lease and pay rent on the remaining share.
The move comes at a busy time for the couple as they recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Poppy, and are due to open a new restaurant in Farnham in November.
Naomi said:
“I cannot believe how much freedom this scheme provides, especially when compared to help to buy schemes, which are really strict on what you can and can’t do. There is no way we could have afforded this home otherwise, it really has worked out perfectly for us.”
Winchester City Council Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Caroline Horrill said:
“It is wonderful to see a young family take their first steps onto the housing ladder by taking advantage of this fantastic scheme.
“We know only too well that affording a house in and around Winchester is extremely difficult, especially for young buyers like Naomi and Olly, and this is exactly why we have launched this scheme to ensure that there are more ways for our residents to continue to live and work in the district.”
To register for Myhome call 01962 848 075.
Further information regarding the terms and conditions is available on www.winchester.gov.uk/myhome