Housing Minister Gavin Barwell praised the success of Help to Buy after meeting with a Bedhampton mum who was able to get on the housing ladder through the government scheme.
Mum of two Jodie Reddin used the Help to Buy shared ownership scheme to buy a portion of her Bedhampton house, with rent being paid on the remaining amount.
The scheme is open to anyone with a household income of below £80,000, with families able to buy between 25 and 75 per cent of a leasehold property. It is estimated 175,000 households are eligible for the scheme.
The visit was organised by Havant MP Alan Mak who said he was keen to show to the new Minister how the government Help to Buy scheme was getting local people onto the housing ladder. Mak and Barwell visited Bedhampton to welcome Jodie and her family to their new home in person.
Jodie Reddin said: “This house and the stability it brings means so much to me and my family. I was fortunate to inherit some money from grandmother, so I wanted to use the money wisely and for a good cause. I'm delighted with finally having our forever home.” Reddin’s children referred to her new house as their “forever home” due to no longer having to move around between rented properties
Mr Barwell also met with apprentices employed by Barratt David Wilson Homes working on a new housing scheme developed in partnership with housing association First Wessex and Havant Borough Council in Bedhampton during the visit on Friday.
Mr Mak said: “Getting on the housing ladder is a reality for a growing number of local residents, not just an aspiration. I’m delighted to bring Housing Minister Gavin Barwell to Havant and show him a local housing success story. Help to Buy is opening the door to home ownership for thousands of people, including across Havant. I know how important it is for hard working people like Jodie to have the chance to own their own home.”
Mak added, “A strong local economy that helps people achieve their life goals, including owning their own home is my top priority as local MP. It’s what I’ve worked on since being elected, and I will continue to champion local people.”
Aside from his ministerial duties, Mr Barwell also spoke to a group of politics students from Havant Sixth Form College about his role in government and his journey into politics.
Mr Barwell said: “It was excellent to meet Jodie and hear how Help to Buy: shared ownership assisted her in getting a foothold on the housing ladder. Anyone who works hard and aspires to own their home should have that opportunity to do so. Havant is a great place to live, and I’m delighted that local MP Alan Mak is a strong champion for Help to Buy locally.”
Barwell added: “Since 2010 over 300,000 households have been helped into home ownership through government-backed schemes. The ground-breaking Housing and Planning Act will allow us to go even further delivering our ambition of a housing market that works for everyone.”
Picture: Alan Mak MP with Housing Minister Gavin Barwell MP and new Bedhampton resident Jodie Reddin