Stepping back onto the property ladder at 70 after 17 years of renting, thanks to Shared Ownership
After 17 years renting the same home, Arlene (70) thought home ownership was a chapter of her life that had closed for good. But thanks to Shared Ownership, she has found a fresh start in a brand-new two bedroom apartment at Brooklands Park in Stoke Gifford, proving that it's never too late to achieve the security and sense of belonging that comes with having a place to call your own.
Arlene had previously been a homeowner, but following her divorce found herself in negative equity, leaving her without the deposit needed to stay on the property ladder. As a result, she spent the next 17 years renting, while always holding onto the hope that she would own a home again one day.
Arlene explains: “I’d been renting the same house in Southmead for the last 17 years, which was great because my landlords were lovely. However, you don’t have the same level of security when you’re renting and that was always a worry for me. I would often think ‘what if they want to sell or ask me to move on’.”
Finding Shared Ownership
After retiring from a remarkable 53-year career in nursing, Arlene was looking forward to a new chapter focused on family and making the most of her free time. With her grandchildren living in nearby Stoke Gifford, she hoped to find a home that would bring her closer to them and allow her to be a bigger part of their everyday lives. The opportunity came when her daughter spotted the Brooklands Park development online and sent her a link to take a look. What started as a simple suggestion quickly became a turning point, opening the door to a route back into home ownership that Arlene had thought might no longer be possible.
Arlene comments: “Once I retired, I found myself spending a lot of time in Stoke Gifford with my family and it seemed silly to keep going backwards and forwards, so I thought I’d look for rented accommodation in the area. I had been quite lucky with the rent I was currently paying so the rental prices we’re a bit of a shock. At that point I didn’t really know what to do, I wanted to move to Stoke Gifford, but renting in the area was very expensive.”
Arlene continues: “My daughter knew I was looking for properties there, so she sent me the link to Shared Ownership at Brooklands Park and asked if I’d ever considered it. Thankfully, I looked into it seriously and at that point it seemed like the ideal solution for me, so I started the application process.
Buying with SNG
Having never bought through Shared Ownership before, Arlene wasn't quite sure what to expect from the process. However, she was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward and well supported the experience was. She began by calling to enquire about the homes at Brooklands Park, then completed an affordability assessment with a mortgage broker to make sure the apartment was within her budget. From there, each stage of the journey was clearly explained, with forms and paperwork accompanied by helpful guidance that made everything easy to follow.
Arlene comments: “The application process was relatively straightforward. Every process was easy, and all the forms had clear instructions of how to complete them and where to sign. And when I started the process, I was given a contact at SNG, which was Zach, who was so helpful and very friendly. He gave me lots of information, and if I ever needed to ask him anything he was always available. So yeah, I found the whole process easy, and I was very excited by it. I couldn’t wait to move in!”
Enjoying apartment living
Looking back to the week she got her keys, Arlene says: “All of my family were here to help me move in, they put all my flat pack furniture together which was really helpful, as I’m not very good at that! When they all left, I spent the night here alone and it instantly felt like home. That’s when I knew I’d made the right move and that I was going to be happy here.”
Now settled into her new home, Arlene couldn't be happier: “I’d never lived in an apartment before, so I didn’t know what it would be like to have other people so close around you, but it’s actually quite comforting.”
Arlene continues: “I like the fact that my apartment is so light and airy. My previous home was a two-bed house, but my apartment feels so much bigger because of the light that’s coming in from the floor to ceiling windows. And I absolutely love the balcony! It’s bigger than I thought it would be, and I love sitting out there at any time of day. It’s also great to still have a second bedroom because I’ve got two adult children and six grandchildren, so it’s nice that they can come and stay.”
Life at Brooklands Park
Beyond the apartment itself, Arlene has quickly grown to love life on the development: “There’s lots of places to walk around, and it’s just so peaceful. You’ve also got the Brooklands Park Community Centre and café. I’ve been in there a couple of times and it’s lovely - they offer all sorts of activities, and I’m thinking about joining a couple of them.”
Arlene continues: “I’ve got a great bus network here too, which I didn’t have in my old place. All the metro buses stop the at the Stoke Gifford bypass, so I can go to Bath, Thornbury and Yate if I want. And if I walk towards the nearby Filton Retail Park, I can get the bus to into Broadmead as well.”
Being a homeowner again
After years of believing home ownership might be out of reach, Arlene is now enjoying the security, and peace of mind that come with being a homeowner again: “I feel very settled here and this is definitely my forever home. It really means everything to have this Shared Ownership home. Until you’re out of renting, you don’t realise how stressed you are thinking about the insecurity, but now I don’t have to worry about that at all. It’s so much better living here.”
When asked if she had any advice for people who might be in a similar situation to her, Arlene said: “I would say definitely look into Shared Ownership. I only have one regret… I wish I’d done it sooner! So, all I can say is don’t hesitate, just go for it!”