NCHA, Nottingham

"I brought my first house when I was 22 years. Due to a marriage breakdown I had to move into rented accommodation. After years of renting I was then forced to leave as the owner wanted to sell. I was keen to get back on the property ladder. During this period I also discovered that I had stage three bowel cancer. It was a worrying time but the support I received from Sandra and Wendy at NCHA Sales throughout has been much appreciated. I was quite particular when looking for a new home. So delighted when I managed to secure a semi-detached property that was south-facing and over-looking the countryside at Heage in Derbyshire. I feel so lucky to be living in the area where I grew up and close to my mum. By using NCHA's Shared Ownership scheme, I have been able to purchase a brand-new home that I can put my personal touch on and decorate the way I wish. I was also able to use the cash from the sale of my treasured Ford RS and a lump sum from my pension to purchase a 45% share of this house." Martin - Heage

"We had been renting but desperate to become homeowners. It took us two years of house hunting as we struggled to find something within our affordability in the area.We had done a lot of research into the government schemes as we needed help to get us onto the property ladder. So when we came across this house on Rightmove which was available to buy with the help of shared ownership we felt that we were in a position to move fast.We instantly fell in love. We knew it was the house for us. We called the NCHA Sales office on a Thursday to find out what we needed to do. They guided us through the process and over the weekend we had a mortgage offer approved. By the following Thursday we had signed and sealed the deal for this house. It was unbelievably quick but it felt so right. The house was still being built so we had signed off-plan. We used to drive past every day on the way to school hoping the builders would hurry up! On completion, we collected the keys and then organised for the flooring to be fitted before we moved the family in. Everyone on the new development has moved in now and the neighbours are lovely. The children next door go to the same school, so we are already making friends. Our dream was also to own a dog and a cat, which we were not permitted to do in our rented house. Lisa our French bulldog joined our family in the first month of being in the house and we are so happy. The whole experience has been so easy for us and we would recommend shared ownership to others. We have a brand new house in the location we want to live, and a place to call home." Magdelena and Lukasz - Loughborough

"I never thought I'd be able to afford to buy. It's so hard to get a deposit together, to earn money, pay for everything and save at the same time. Then I was unexpectedly left money when my Gran passed away. Suddenly I had what I needed for a deposit, this was my opportunity to get on the housing ladder. It was now or never. I felt guilty about using my Gran's money; but then I worked out I'd paid over £50,000 to my old landlord and that helped me make up my mind! I had heard of shared ownership before, but I never thought of it as something for me. I thought they wouldn't accept me because of my previous debt, but I applied for it and I got it! I've always lived in old houses and I didn't think I liked new-builds, but I've been converted! It's so warm and clean; I've saved on utility bills already. I love the house, I love the location - this is me now - I'm not going anywhere! . Shared ownership is such a great opportunity for people to get on the housing ladder. I think there's a stigma against housing associations and that puts some people off shared ownership, but if it wasn't for NCHA I never could have brought this house." Katy - Farnsfield

"We were really keen to buy. We wanted to buy a really nice house in a great area, but our finances didn't quite stretch to that. I didn't know anything about shared ownership, so I did a quick Google search and read lots of positive reviews from others who had brought houses that way. The sale went through whilst we were in Cyprus. We brought off plan and didn't even see the house until we got the keys! Luckily we loved it! With all our communications with NCHA going through email, it was pretty easy really. We've been able to buy a three bed detached house in a great location, close to both of our families. We never could have done that without the shared ownership scheme. It's been a great way for us to get on the property ladder. I've already recommended it to loads of my mates back in Cyprus who are due to return to the UK soon. It's allowed us to buy what we wanted, where we wanted and I can't wait to properly move in!" Elliott - Wymeswold