Boost for firsttime buyers atEtchingham

Three new shared ownership homes in Etchingham are on sale via AmicusHorizon, one of the companies Rother District Council works with to provide affordable housing in the district.

One two-bedroom house and two three-bedroom homes are available at the heart of the new 21-home Parsonage Croft development, which also features a new primary school and community hall.

The homes, which will be offered to people living or working in Rother, will be showcased at an open day on Thursday, December 4.

Cllr Joy Hughes said: “It can be very difficult for younger people to get onto the housing ladder, particularly in rural areas.

“By ensuring new developments contain an element of affordable housing, we can help people to stay in the district, close to friends and families.

“These three new homes would be ideal for young families, being adjacent to the new school and community hall.

Under the scheme, buyers take a 30 percent share in the house, paying a subsidised rent on the remaining equity, and can then continue to invest by buying further shares in the property. The share amounts to £70,500 for the two-bedroom house and £84,000 for the three bedroom houses.

Potential buyers must live or work in Rother – with priority given to those who have a connection with Etchingham – have a need for this size of home and have a household income not exceeding £66,000 for the two-bedroom home or £80,000 for the three-bedroom homes.

They must also have savings of five to 10 percent of the share on offer and be registered and approved by the Government-backed Help To Buy East and South East scheme, which can be found at www.helptobuyese.org.uk.