Adam Lewis, who is in his thirties and works in special educational needs for a local authority, bought his first home in Wandsworth in 2017 through affordable housing developer Pocket, where he has lived with his partner ever since.
“My heart was set on Wandsworth, which is near where I grew up,” Adam explains. “I like it as it has everything on its doorstep, including a huge library, cinema, a park, as well as good connections into central London, and much lower council tax than other nearby areas.”
At the time, Adam’s partner was living in Taiwan, where the two had met during his year abroad.
“Buying our first home meant that he could move back to the UK from Taiwan, providing a much more stable foundation without having to worry about rent going up, and enjoy our life together after years of being long distance”, explains Adam.
Pocket is an innovative housing developer that delivers discounted one-bedroom apartments to first time buyers in London, with homes currently for sale in Walthamstow, Harrow and East Croydon.
“I’d lived in a few places including Belgium and China, and Surrey whilst my partner did his Masters there, but we both decided to move back home to our respective families in Clapham and Taiwan whilst we saved up for a deposit. This really helped, but Pocket also gave us the biggest shortcut as the homes are more affordable.”
Amidst continuing calls for the Government to revive Help to Buy, Adam recognises how beneficial the scheme was when he purchased his apartment in 2017. “It really helped us get onto the property ladder,” he reflects. “I also think the Government should do more to promote smaller and more diverse developers like Pocket, who have a clear mission to help first time buyers.”
When it came to their property search Adam only viewed one development after he spotted it advertised in his local council newsletter.
“I thought about viewing other properties but this ticked all the boxes,” says Adam, who was keen to find a one-bedroom property, rather than a studio, with good storage in a contemporary building in Wandsworth.
“Buying through Pocket was seamless – the team were so responsive and it was clear at the viewing that each flat had been well-designed to maximise the space.”
Almost ten years on, Adam and his partner still call Pocket’s Mapleton Crescent SW18 development home. “We’re very settled here and love the setup,” he says.
“There’s a strong community atmosphere, the appliances are still in great condition and the flat is incredibly well-insulated and energy efficient,” Adam explains. “Nothing needs doing up – everything works – which is in complete contrast to my sister who bought a Victorian conversion and has had expensive problems to sort ever since.”
Beyond the flat itself, Adam has made use of the shared amenities in the development, including the roof terrace, communal lounge and bike storage. “The amenities are really well-thought out,” he says. “Having a swimming pool or gym would lead to a ridiculously high service charge, but Pocket has struck the balance between providing value for residents while keeping it affordable.”
Adam’s advice to prospective first time buyers is to be consistent with saving and stay resilient in what can be a daunting market.
“Definitely don’t give up – it’s made such a difference having our own place, somewhere we can put our own stamp on and feel truly settled.”
To be eligible to purchase a Pocket home, the prospective buyer can’t already own another property, and must live or work in London. All buyers must earn under the Mayor of London’s income threshold for affordable housing (currently £90,000). When the homes are sold on, new purchasers must meet the original criteria including a household income below the Mayor of London’s affordable housing threshold.
Buyers own 100% of their property, which are sold at a 20% discount to the local market.
For more information or to register interest, prospective buyers can visit www.pocketliving.com or call 020 7291 3683.