Tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi, my name is Emily and I’m in my early 40’s. I work in a community team full-time for the NHS and I’m also a part-time nursing student. I grew up in a small village near Bristol and lived there for 40 years. During my time in the village, I bought a small house in my mid 30s and lived there happily for 5 years but felt myself feeling lonely and as a result my mental health suffered. I felt drawn to city life and wanted to be around more people, closer to my friends and family, and have more opportunities to access social events. Most weekends I’d visit Wapping Wharf as I loved the buzz of the area and friendly atmosphere! Bristol felt like home and it was where I wanted to be, so when I turned 40 I made the decision to sell my beloved home and move to Bristol.
My Shared Ownership journey…
When I first moved to Bristol, I couldn’t afford to rent on my own so I lived in a house share. I missed having a place to call my own and wanted security but knew that Bristol house prices were high and that I couldn’t afford to buy on the open market. I then found out Shared Ownership homes were being built at Wapping Wharf so I immediately applied when applications opened. I was overwhelmed with joy when I was allocated my apartment and I couldn’t believe I was being given the opportunity to purchase my own home again! The process was much easier than I expected and Sovereign’s website made it easy to follow and understand the process of applying for Shared Ownership.
Saving for my home
I’ve worked in health care services for many years on a relatively low wage. I love my job and helping people but being on a low wage made it difficult for me to save money. Owning a home is the best feeling in the world and even if you save a small amount each month, it soon adds up!
My friends and family hadn’t heard of Shared Ownership before but I’ve spoken to them about my experience and it’s now opening doors for others who are looking into buying their own home, especially those who also work in the health care sector.
The perfect location for me
My home is a one bedroom apartment at Wapping Wharf on Bristol’s stunning harbourside. When I was handed the keys on completion day I was absolutely speechless with joy! It was the most amazing feeling, this was my home. Somewhere which felt safe and secure. All my lovely neighbours introduced themselves and everyone was so excited moving into their new homes too.
I chose this location because of the harbour and fabulous Cargo units, it’s beautiful to walk around on a sunny day! There are so many amazing independent shops, restaurants and take away places on my doorstep, and it’s the best feeling being able to just pop downstairs from my apartment and grab a coffee or wander round the little retail units. I love being part of the Wapping Wharf community, supporting local businesses and having everything within walking distance!
Since moving into my new home, my mental health has improved, being able to go for a walk round the harbour area during Covid-19 was especially important to me. I feel grateful every day that I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, the harbour has such a good atmosphere and vibe.
My new home
I love my apartment! The spec was very high and beautifully decorated with a modern kitchen and bathroom. It was amazing to move in and already have carpets and flooring, a dishwasher and tumble dryer included!
My favourite part of my home is the open-plan kitchen/living/dining space with French doors which opens onto a beautiful balcony with slate tiles and beautiful grey paving slabs. The apartment is very light and airy, but also has a warm and cosy feel.
A special thanks to my Sales Consultant
I would like to thank my Sales Consultant Melanie who was amazing throughout the buying process. She was always helpful, understanding and easy to get hold of whenever I needed to discuss something. I’m very grateful to Melanie and appreciative to Sovereign who gave me the opportunity to own my own home which has made such a big difference to my life, mental health and overall wellbeing.
Interested in Shared Ownership in your area? Start your search today
FAQs
We partner with you to share the cost of buying your own home – you pay for the part you can afford and we’ll pay for the part that’s left. It’s an opportunity to buy the home that’s right for you without needing the large deposit or the mortgage that goes with it.
You buy a share in your home that’s right for you. That could be from either 10/25% and up to 75% initially. You’ll pay a reduced rent to us on the share we own and a monthly service charge.
As your finances allow, you can buy further shares in your home as and when you choose, meaning you’ll own more and pay less rent.
Typically, you’ll only need a deposit that is 5% of the value of your share, rather than of the total property value, meaning you could get moving sooner than you thought.
A deposit for a shared ownership home can start from just 5% of the share value you’re looking to buy. So for example:
If you’re looking to buy a home that has a 40% share value of £80,000, then your deposit could be as little as £4,000 - meaning you may be able to get on the property ladder sooner than first thought!
You can speak to our panel of financial advisors for more information around affordability.