Case Studies

Hear what our customers have to say about us and their new homes

Roy Smith

Roy Smith, 27, knew it was time to buy his own home. He’d saved a deposit and found the ideal new flat offered on part buy, part rent basis at Meridia Court in Stratford, a new development by East Homes and Telford Homes with communal courtyard and gym. But despite having a good job as a retail branch manager, Roy’s savings didn’t quite match the banks requirements to secure a mortgage.

“I fell in love with the flat and knew it was the one for me. I was determined to get on the property ladder, but my bank wanted 20-30% deposit,” explained Roy. Then East Homes introduced Rent Now Buy Later. “It’s brilliant,” said Roy. “It allows me to save for a deposit while renting the home I will eventually buy.”

Roy was so hooked on Meridia Court as he is a keen footballer and loves to keep fit. “I can even cancel my gym membership as I have use of the complex’s gym. That’s more money that can go to my deposit!”

Alex and Corianne Ferraby

Keyworkers Alex Ferraby and his wife Corianne initially looked into various subsidised housing options, in an effort to get on the housing ladder. Keen to buy a home, but anxious about the uncertainty of the market, a friend recommended that they contact East Homes to find out about the New Build HomeBuy, part-buy, part-rent scheme.

On contacting East Homes, they also learned about ‘Rent Now, Buy Later’ - an innovative ‘try before you buy’ option, which allows first time buyers to rent a brand new home at 20% less than private rent, with the opportunity to buy a share in the property within five years.

Rent Now, Buy Later is a quick and easy process. “It took about two to three weeks from when we first viewed our apartment, until we moved in – it was very slick! Anita – Sales Consultant for East One, was very helpful and professional. We genuinely felt that she wanted to cover all basis, not like private renting where they just throw the keys at you”.

Sarah Kingman and Sergei Batsurko

Sarah Kingman, 22, and her partner Sergei Batsurko had been living with Sarah’s parents in Brentwood because they couldn’t afford a property of their own. Now they’re renting a beautiful new apartment in Market Place, Romford – with a view to buying shares in it (on a part-buy, part-rent basis) within the next three years.

The couple were introduced to the idea by Sarah’s sister, who had purchased a part-buy, part-rent home through at another East Homes development before Christmas. Once they had decided on the apartment they wanted, Sarah and Sergei were stunned at how easy the whole process was.

Sarah said, ‘The people we dealt with were so helpful. We looked at the place on the Saturday, decided on the Monday that we wanted it, and were in within two weeks! It’s a really lovely place, very pretty, and it feels like a little house because it’s built around an open courtyard’ Sarah and Sergei put down only one month’s deposit, and pay just £720 a month for a spacious two-bed apartment.