At just 27, care assistant Beth and her partner Jake, a greenkeeper, are the proud homeowners of a spacious three-bedroom semi-detached house at Greenwell Park in Garforth, West Yorkshire – made possible through the Home Reach Shared Ownership scheme. The couple live with their five-year-old son, enjoying a home that perfectly balances family comfort with affordability.
Before finding their dream home, Beth and Jake’s housing journey had been anything but straightforward. After renting for several years, the couple had to move twice when landlords decided to sell. Eventually, they moved in with Beth’s parents to save money – a move they describe as a necessity in their mission to buy a home.
“We knew that if we didn’t move in with family, we’d never be able to save enough,” Beth explains. “We just couldn’t keep renting forever.”
After a year living with their parents, the family then moved in with Jake’s grandmother, continuing to save and wait for the right opportunity. During that time, they had already registered their interest at Greenwell Park, but Shared Ownership homes weren’t yet available.
“Every time we drove past the site, I’d check for updates. When we saw the sign for Shared Ownership with Home Reach, I got in touch straight away,” Beth says. “At first, we were told it wasn’t an option for another year or so – but then, one morning after dropping our son off at school, we decided to just pop in on the off-chance anything had become available.”
“One of the sales team, Jenny from Bovis, was there and kindly showed us around – and we absolutely fell in love. Home Reach’s Shared Ownership process was clearly explained to us, and we decided this was the best route to homeownership for us.”
Home Reach is a UK Shared Ownership scheme that lets buyers purchase a share of a property, usually 50-75%, while paying rent on the rest. Home Reach provides flexibility to buy more shares over time and helping people get on the property ladder sooner, buying from a leading housebuilder.
The couple viewed a three-bedroom home on the development and instantly knew it was right for them. “It felt so spacious – the layout was amazing,” says Beth. “We’d always known we didn’t want a fully open-plan layout; we wanted a separate living area that would make the home feel cosy, but still have space for family time. This house strikes that perfect balance. It’s so homely and comfortable, but still feels light and roomy. It’s perfect for our lifestyle.”