Affordable Housing

Opening doors scheme

Wigan Council has nomination rights to some new build in the Borough, whereby you can purchase the property at a discount of up to 50% of the market value. So you would only need to pay £75,000 for a property that is valued at £150,000. It is designed to help people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to buy a home. You would only be able to sell the property at 50% of its value at the time of the sale. At present (September 2008) there are 8 x 2 bedroom apartments available at Gin Pit Village, Astley. The purchase price is expected to be no more than £60,000. For more information:

• Tel: 01942 404091
•  Website: go to the website by clicking on this link: http://gormley.wigan.gov.uk/propertyshop
• Email: propertyshop@walh.co.uk

OwnHome

This is provided by a partnership between Places for People and The Co-operative Bank. OwnHome is part-funded by the government, and is designed to help people who cannot currently afford to purchase suitable accommodation, make their first step onto the property ladder. You choose a suitable property on the open market and purchase up to 60% of the property. You would get an interest free loan on the remaining 40% for 5 years, following which, you would pay a low rate of interest. For more information about OwnHome

• Tel: 0845 607 0110
• Website: click this link  http://www.ownhome.co.uk/ (external website)

The National Affordable Homes Agency

This is managed by the Housing Corporation and has several initiatives on it’s website about affordable homes to rent and buy. These include help with low cost home ownership for first time buyers and key workers such as nurses and teachers. Open Market Home Buy is a low cost, government backed home ownership programme.
For details of the schemes available:

• The agent for the North West dealing with these schemes is Plumlife. For more information Tel: 0161 447 5050
•  Website: click this link http://www.plumlife.co.uk/ (external website).

(Updated 3/9/08)