HOMES provider Plumlife celebrated Shared Ownership Week (September 21 to 27) after helping 375 individuals, couples and families onto the property ladder.

Shared Ownership is a government-backed scheme which provides an affordable way for prospective buyers to purchase a new home, but who cannot afford a mortgage for the full asking price.

A division of Great Places, a major housing group in Manchester, Plumlife aims to provide affordable home ownership solutions to residents across the North-West.

Lisa Westerman, group head of sales at Plumlife, says: “Shared Ownership has many benefits, but it also allows a small deposit and it gives a huge variety of people a chance to get a foothold on the property ladder. Deposits are one of the biggest challenges for buyers and Shared Ownership, along with other Help to Buy schemes, can make owning your own home more achievable.”

Plumlife gives the example of Louise Blissett who now has an apartment on the Acorns development in Stamford Brook, Altrincham.

Louise, a management accountant, was struggling to get her own home until she was introduced to a Shared Ownership scheme managed by Plumlife.

Louise said: “Plumlife literally changed my life. I could have ended up renting for years and losing my savings, as there was nothing else in the area I could afford on my own, despite how hard I’d worked for a deposit. I now have a beautiful home in a peaceful area and thank my lucky stars for being lucky enough to own my own home as a single person.”

More information on Plumlife and Help to Buy schemes can be found by visiting www.plumlife.co.uk or contacting their sales team on 0161 447 5050.

Plumlife has plans to offer a further 650 homes on a Shared Ownership basis before 2021.