"A single income didn’t stop 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.

Mirella, aged 33, really wanted to own a brand new home in a rural setting and she wasn’t going to let her single income quash her dream. After an easy application process, she now lives in a stunning two-bedroom bungalow in Rainworth, north Nottinghamshire.

In early 2020, Mirella started saving for her own place, having decided that living in a rented flat was not for her. When lockdown struck she found it easier to save. Living in a flat on her own during the pandemic was difficult, so she knew she wanted to find a new build property with a garden, which gave her added incentive to save.

In March 2021, Mirella decided to apply for a new build property on a new development in Rainworth, and found the process simple with the help of sales consultant Sandra Wright.

“Just three months after submitting my reservation deposit, I had completed and was moving in! The property itself was perfect for me and I still get emotional when reality kicks in that this is actually my home.

“Over the last six weeks I’ve been making my house a home - and although I don’t own the property outright, you are still able to do a lot with it!

“There is a great community and everyone is very friendly – I especially love my neighbours who have been very helpful to me since I moved in.”

Mirella was very grateful to finally stop renting and to have a home to call her own “Shared ownership has certainly allowed me to get on the property ladder as a single person, where other options were making it impossible. It is a great investment and one that will hopefully allow me to completely own my home in the near future with the help of staircasing.”

We are delighted that Mirella has been successful in her shared ownership journey. She now has the safety and security of owning her own property, the freedom of making her own choices and the feeling of contentment that all her hard work and saving have paid off.