Susan Terry from Birmingham has escaped the rental trap after 22 years, following her purchase of a 25 per cent share of a brand new apartment at Barratt's The Crescent development in Shard End through affordable housing provider, Affinity Sutton.

Susan aged 43, had previously been turned down for a full mortgage on a house, so was delighted to find another way to get her foot onto the property ladder with a shared ownership scheme from Barratt Homes and Affinity Sutton.

Shared ownership aims to provide affordable housing for local people. Purchasers can initially buy a 25 to 75 percent share of the property and pay subsidised rent on the remaining share. Purchasers can then buy further shares in their home until they own 100 per cent.

The shared ownership scheme means that Susan owns 25 per cent of her new home and saves £60 a month compared to renting.

After previously renting a two-bedroom semi-detached ex council house for more than 22 years, she now lives in a pristine apartment.

Susan, who works as a hairdresser, comments, "It's so nice to be in a brand new home and make a fresh start. I love the balcony, everywhere's so clean and tidy and easy to maintain - and I have a spare room if ever my daughter Charlotte, who's 21, wants to stay.

"Without the shared ownership scheme I'd still be paying rent with no benefit for me at the end."

Having always lived locally, Susan has watched the development grow from a distance, she comments, "Barratt Homes has really turned this area around. It looks completely different now. Barratt has improved the area 100 per cent.

"The service from Barratt has been excellent. Everyone's been so friendly and they answered all my questions and I'd definitely recommend them."

Lisa Preston, Sales Manager for Barratt West Midlands, comments, "We're delighted when we hear that our customers have managed to get on to the property ladder, despite what they hear in the press.

"Our staff takes great pride in providing a first class service to our customers. I'm delighted that Susan has had such a positive experience buying with us at The Crescent and we wish her the very best of luck in her new home."

Yvette Ruggins, Sales Director for Affinity Sutton adds, "This shows how flexible shared ownership is to help first time buyers like Susan on to the property ladder."

Barratt is offering the Affinity Sutton shared ownership scheme on a number of homes at its development on The Shard Way in Shard End.

The Crescent currently has three-bedroom houses available priced from £144,950.

For further information about the available houses at The Crescent or Affinity Sutton please contact the sales centre at The Crescent on 0121 748 2638 open daily from 10am to 5pm.

You can also call the sales hotline on 0844 811 9933 open seven days a week from 8am to 9pm. You can also log on to www.barratthomes.co.uk/thecrescent

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

1)    For further information about The Crescent or Barratt West Midlands please contact Hannah Elwell, Director of PR or Sophie Redman, PR Account Executive on 0116 247 1777 or hannah@unsworthsugden.co.uk or sophie@unsworthsugden.co.uk

2)    Barratt Group sold 11,171 homes in the last financial year, making it the biggest housebuilder by volume in Britain.

3)    Barratt Group was named Housebuilder of the Year at the Housebuilder Awards 2011.

4)    Barratt Group was awarded a maximum five star rating for the second consecutive year in the 2011 Home Builders Federation Customer Satisfaction Survey.

5)    In 2011 site managers working for Barratt Group won the highest number of NHBC Pride in the Job Quality Awards for a record seventh consecutive year.

6)    Barratt Group is the only housebuilder to guarantee the fixtures and fittings in place at the time of purchase of its new homes for five years.

7)    Barratt Group is also one of Britain's foremost sustainable housebuilders.

8)    Affinity Sutton is one of the largest affordable housing providers in England with over 57,000 homes.

9)    Affinity Sutton won the prestigious What House awards for Best Housing Association last November.

10) Images of a selection of developments are available to the media at http://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/barratt/en/media/mediakit/lib