The government’s Mortgage Guarantee Scheme explained

Hannah Godwin 2 Comments

Saving a deposit to buy a home is no small feat. Especially in London, where first time buyers typically need around £45,000 for a 10% deposit, according to research from Nationwide.

The government recognises this affordability challenge of raising a sufficient deposit to step onto the housing ladder. So, it launched a 5% deposit mortgage initiative: the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, allowing home buyers to borrow a 95% mortgage.

Introduced in 2021 as a temporary response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the mortgage market, which caused lenders to withdraw low-deposit mortgages, an updated version of the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme became permanently available in July 2025.

Here, we’ve broken down what the scheme is, how it works and how it can help you buy your first home.

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Resident making a coffee in the kitchen of her Pocket home.

Saving money on gas and electric bills for first time buyers

Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The UK’s rising cost of living affects everyone. But as a first time buyer, you might be particularly keen to keep your finances in check.

Pocket residents are first time buyers on middle incomes, so we understand how important it is to save where possible. Buying an energy-efficient new build home is a great place to start, and you can save on your gas and electricity bills further by making sustainable choices at home.

Read on for practical tips to help you save on energy bills. They may seem small, but they can make a noticeable difference over time, so why not start now?

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Things to do in Walthamstow

Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

Living in Walthamstow means living in an area that’s alive with activity. From markets to museums, the neighbourhood is full of sights to see and places to visit. It’s even been named one of the best places to live in London.

If that sounds good to you, explore our Pocket homes in Walthamstow that will put you right at the heart of the action. The community is located on Forest Road, just across the road from Lloyd Park and William Morris Gallery, with easy access to Walthamstow Central station and a host of cafes, bars and restaurants.

Keep reading this Walthamstow area guide to find out more.

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Is it better to rent or buy in London?

Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

While renting in London is basically a rite of passage for city makers, there comes a time when the prospect of owning your own place becomes ever more appealing.

Deciding whether to buy a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make, and what you can afford will most likely sway your decision. For many first time home buyers, the monthly cost of owning a home could actually be cheaper than renting. In 2025, average rents in London reached £2,736 per month, whereas the average first time buyer’s mortgage repayments were £1,162 per month.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but if you’re thinking about moving from renting to owning, this blog will help you decide whether buying a home in London is right for you.

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Moving home and broadband with Pocket Living

Hugo Owen Leave a comment

Amid the upheaval of moving home – packing boxes, unpacking boxes and deciding where to put everything in your new place – staying connected can make the transition smoother.

Especially if you’re a first time buyer. Something as small as being able to stream your comfort series on your first night living there can go a long way in helping you settle in.

On average, movers face 7.2 days without broadband during a home move. Although a week isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things, it’s more than long enough to disrupt your daily life, especially if you work from home.

To help you stay online when moving into your Pocket home, we’ve put together this handy guide with everything you need to know.

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Financial-Stability

First time buyer stamp duty explained

Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

When you’re getting ready to buy your first home, knowing how much it will cost can help you budget accordingly. On top of your deposit and mortgage, there are other costs to consider – stamp duty is one of them. The good news is that as a first time buyer, you could benefit from a stamp duty exemption or relief.

We know stamp duty can be a confusing subject, so we’re breaking it down to help you understand what it is, how it’s calculated and when it applies to first time buyers.

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The best London boroughs for first time buyers

Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

As a first time buyer in London, you’ve probably asked yourself which borough is right for you. Of course, affordability matters, but so do local amenities and good transport links. Choosing where to buy your first home is a big decision, so it’s important to pick somewhere that suits your lifestyle.

In 2021, we conducted research to rank the best London boroughs for first time buyers, based on factors that matter to them, such as property prices, access to Cycle Superhighways and Green Flag parks and the number of train stations and bus stops. Boroughs that performed well included two locations of current Pocket developments: Croydon and Waltham Forest.

Below, find out why the locations we’ve chosen for our available Pocket homes are perfect for you, the city makers.

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How to make your home look bigger

Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

Interior design is so much more than how our homes look; it’s also how they make us feel. Between working and relaxing, we spend a lot of time at home, so the design and layout matter because they shape our experience of living in the space.

We’ve designed Pocket homes to enable you to live and work comfortably, but there are many ways to make them look and feel bigger. All it takes is a few simple steps to have an immediate impact.

From clever lighting to paint colours, we’ve compiled a list of decorating ideas for small rooms to make them appear larger. Read on for our top space-enhancing design tips and tricks.

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Tips for working from a Pocket home

Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Snuggling up on the couch as you work from home may be comfy at first, but before you know it, you’re still wearing your pyjamas at lunchtime, and your posture resembles a prawn. That’s why it’s essential to have a working-from-home setup that supports productivity and wellbeing.

Thankfully, you don’t need a separate home office to effectively WFH. While smaller living spaces can present challenges, there are various ways to make them work for your needs. Whether you follow a hybrid or remote arrangement, these tips will help you create your ideal working-from-home setup in your Pocket apartment.

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