The Cambridge Building Society has helped two more renters move towards homeownership through its ‘Rent to Home’ scheme.
Karina O’Leary (pictured, centre) and her family, along with Thomas Martin (pictured, left), were selected at random in a ballot and are set to move into two semi-detached houses in Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, next week.
Under the scheme, tenants rent the property for up to three years and then receive back 70% of their rent as a deposit to help them buy their own home.
Karina O’Leary said: “We had given up on the idea of living in a home we could call our own. When we found out we’d been selected in the ballot, I couldn’t quite believe it – Paul took the call, and I only heard one side of the conversation, so it didn’t seem real at first.
“It’s amazing to be able to dream again. Homeownership no longer feels like a wish-list item – it’s something we can achieve.
“I’m forever grateful for this opportunity and just wish more families could experience the same.”
Martin said: “It’s an amazing feeling to be selected. Like many others, I’ve found it tough to save enough for a deposit, even though I’ve always dreamed of owning my own home.
“Rent to Home is giving me a chance I didn’t think I’d get, and I’m incredibly grateful to The Cambridge for making it possible.”
Carole Charter, chief commercial officer at The Cambridge, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming our latest tenants and supporting them on their path to buying their first home.
“We know that saving for a deposit can be a major barrier for renters and we have seen how Rent to Home has transformed the lives of our tenants who went through the process and now own their own home.
“It’s an exciting time for The Cambridge as we celebrate 175 years of helping people have a home with the expansion of Rent to Home.”
Charter added: “We see it as our responsibility – as a community-driven organisation – to make that first step on the housing ladder more accessible.”
