Partial ownership is the way forward, says mum of three

GUERNSEY should have more partial ownership housing opportunities for first-time buyers, according to one family.

The Cordingley family moved into a two-bedroom house at the new housing development at Grand Bouet on Saturday.

They own 60% of the property after applying to the Guernsey Housing Association when the development was taking place.

'It's brilliant,' said Tracey Cordingley, 33. 'No way would we have been able to afford to pay a 100% mortgage.

'Nowadays you would have to put down at least a 10% deposit, which in many cases is something like £33,000. It's a lot of money. With this we didn't have to put any deposit down, just had to pay a month's rent in advance.'

Mrs Cordingley, her husband David, 18-month-old son Jaiden, and their two nine-week-old twins, had been living in a one-bedroom flat in Town before moving to the property at Hougue a la Perre.

After having the twins, Lexie and Samuel, it was getting very cramped, she said. 'This is great because we have two bedrooms and a small garden where the children can play.'.

The couple had applied to the association to join the partial ownership scheme six months ago.

'It's nice to be living somewhere where you know part of it is yours.'