Pocket - Page 5 of 10 - Starter homes for city makers

UK’s rising cost of living (and what it means for first time buyers)

June 6, 2022February 24, 2026 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The UK’s rising cost of living has made for some alarming headlines, so it’s no surprise that it has sparked anxiety in many aspiring first time buyers.

But is it all doom and gloom? We’re going to demystify the UK’s recent interest rate increases and explain why now could actually be a good time to buy your first home.

It’s our job to get middle earning Londoners onto the property ladder, no matter how tough it is out there. Read on to find out why the rising cost of living shouldn’t deter you from becoming a homeowner.

Pocket eligibility: who’s eligible for a Pocket home?

April 5, 2022February 24, 2026 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Pocket homes are sold at a 20% discount, but they’re 100% ownership. That’s why we get asked a lot – ‘What exactly is the catch?’.

There is no catch – but you do need to be eligible to purchase one of our Pocket homes. That’s because our mission to make sure we’re helping middle earning Londoners (we call them city makers) onto the property ladder.

Read on to find out about the Pocket eligibility criteria.

Interview with former Pocket resident and healthy buildings expert Ben Channon

March 22, 2022June 6, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

The way spaces are designed can have a huge impact on the mental health of the people that use them. Whether it’s having access to the outdoors or room to work from home, promoting wellness in our developments is top of our agenda.

To explore what it’s like to live in a Pocket home, we spoke to former Pocket resident Ben Channon about what makes a building ‘healthy’ and how we can improve the wellness of our residents. Ben works for a consultancy called Ekkist, which focuses on enhancing human health and wellbeing through design.

First time buyer mortgage deposits: the ultimate guide

January 23, 2022March 29, 2022 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Did you know that a deposit is the biggest thing you need to save for in the home buying process? This can seem a bit daunting if you’re a first time buyer, especially if you’re not sure how big of a deposit you need or how to save for a deposit.

We’ve put together the ultimate guide on first time buyer mortgage deposits to get you on your way to homeownership, written especially with middle income earners in mind. Covering why a deposit is so important and what to do if you haven’t saved enough, this guide will help you put together a plan for saving for your first home.

Can a mortgage offer be withdrawn or extended?

November 24, 2021February 24, 2026 Hugo Owen Leave a comment

Taking out a mortgage to buy your first home is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – financial decisions you’ll ever make. But it’s also one of the most rewarding. Finally, after saving for so long and renting in the city you love, you get a place to call your own.

Having said that, you have to go through the mortgage process first, which can be really confusing. With jargon and paperwork coming at you left, right and centre, understanding what it all means can be a lot to get your head around.

In this blog, we’re helping you get to the bottom of your most pressing questions about first time buyer mortgages, including offers, withdrawals, extensions and the best lenders.

How to support homes being built in London

October 15, 2021March 23, 2022 Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

We strongly believe that communities should have a say in the housing being built on their doorstep. Here at Pocket Living, we aim to build more homes that are actually needed, helping middle earning Londoners get onto the property ladder and put down roots in their local areas. A lack of affordable homes shouldn’t be the reason that people leave their communities, so we campaign every day to get permission to build more discounted homes across London.

What you may not realise is that we rely on the support of local communities to put through successful planning applications. If you live in a borough where we’re trying to build more discounted Pocket homes, your voice could have a big influence on whether we get permission to build.
With that said, it’s important to demystify how the planning system works so that you can understand how to support planning applications should you decide to do so.

Read on to find out how to support homes being built in London in a few simple steps.

Preparing for First Homes: Long term thinking is needed to make sure these homes help the people who need them most

September 21, 2021February 18, 2026 Thomasin Renshaw Leave a comment

A blog by Thomasin Renshaw, Development Director

When the Government announced the First Homes policy, Pocket Living welcomed the ambition. The premise of the policy is identical to what we have been doing for years, namely opening up homeownership to young middle earners by selling at a discount.

Packing checklist for moving home

September 1, 2021August 25, 2021 Hannah Godwin Leave a comment

Packing – one of the most dreaded aspects of moving home. Luckily, there are things to consider when packing for a move so that you can take a smart approach and streamline your efforts.

We’ve put together a packing checklist for moving home to take all the guesswork out of it. Start by gathering the moving supplies you’ll need, and then work systematically until the job is done. Read on to find out more.

Sustainable developments – Harbard Close IG11

July 15, 2021February 18, 2026 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

Our design team is clever – they understand that sustainability goes hand in hand with creating quality homes for modern living. Minimising waste and maximising efficiency is at the heart of what they do; they focus on inventive use of space and efficient planning so that real value is returned to our buyers.

Each of our developments is completely unique, with the team spending a lot of time getting the eco credentials up to scratch – from the methods of construction used to the paint on the walls. Our latest development in Barking, Harbard Close IG11, is a great example of a sustainable housing development in London. Read on to find out more about it.

Our newest Pocket residents – Gardner Close E11

July 2, 2021July 8, 2021 Hayley Donigan Leave a comment

It is officially summer, and we are happy to report that a new batch of Pocket residents have moved into our first development in Wanstead – Gardner Close E11. These affordable Pocket homes are exclusively occupied by first time buyers who live or work in Redbridge, making it an extension of the wider community. Right around the corner from Wanstead Station and Wanstead High Street, they have easy access to a range of local amenities.

Pocket developments are unique because they are filled with like-minded city makers who have often struggled to afford to buy a home in London. With so much in common, we have already seen friendships form amongst neighbours at Gardner Close, and we cannot wait to see the community spirit build as they all get settled in. Read on to find out how we welcomed them to their new Pocket homes and what they are getting up to!