Bury buyer finds perfect home with Shared Ownership

March 31, 2025 | Dan Todd

After years of renting, Luke has taken his first step on the property ladder with the help of Shared Ownership – and finally has the outside space he has always craved.

Operations manager Luke, 32, has escaped the rent trap after purchasing a 40% share of a three-bedroom home at Onward Living’s Wheatfields development in Whitefield, Bury.

Luke had rented ever since moving to Manchester in 2015 but had always wanted to put down roots and purchase a home of his own, and even came close to buying before.

Luke says: “I previously put an offer in on an apartment for outright sale, but then Covid hit so it got declined and everything fell apart.

“I didn’t hate the idea of that flat, but to be honest I always thought I’d prefer a garden and a bit more space to myself. An apartment would have been cool, but I always wanted a house really.”

Luke’s patience paid off and he soon found out about a new development offering three-bedroom homes for Shared Ownership not far from Radcliffe, where he was renting.

“I was planning on staying there for a while until I could save up for a house of my own,” says Luke, “but then I saw this advertised on Facebook.

“Then one of my friends said, ‘Have you seen this? I might look into it’. I didn’t do much about it at first because it was his idea, and I thought I’d be the worst mate in the world if I got one and he didn’t! So, I left it a week and then submitted my interest.”

Fortunately for Luke, he and his friend were both successful in securing a home at Wheatfields and are now neighbours.

Luke put down a £10,000 deposit for a 40% share of the £250,000 semi-detached house. He got the keys in December 2024 and is delighted with his new home – especially the garden.

“This is a complete step-change for me to have my own garden,” says Luke. “I was fine with the apartment life, but my old place had no outdoor space.”

As well as being delighted with his new garden, Luke was also impressed by how much more affordable his new home was compared to when he was renting.

Luke says: “Shared Ownership felt like a no-brainer because I’m actually saving money. My last place was two bedrooms, a bit smaller, no garden, but the rent there was more expensive than what this is with mortgage and rent.

“If you were to look at a semi-detached, three-bedroom house around this area, the rent would be into the thousands per month. Mine works out at around £850 a month for mortgage and rent.”

Shared Ownership has also allowed first-time buyer Luke to make the move to his perfect home sooner than if he’d waited to buy on the open market.

Luke adds: “Buying outright would have been achievable, but I wouldn’t have got me anything like this. It would have been a far smaller house, I would have had to have given up the location and move a bit further from an area that I like, I wouldn’t have got a garden this size or had this much space, and it probably wouldn’t have been a new build.”

Another benefit for Luke is having a home of his own that he can decorate how he likes, without having to answer to a landlord.

Luke says: “A big bonus for me is that no one has ever lived here before. It’s a blank canvas and completely mine to tailor how I want it.

“When it comes to putting stuff up on the walls, previously I’d have to ask the landlord’s permission. If I want to extend the patio, put up an awning, change the carpets, paint the walls, I don’t have to ask permission for any of that.

“I’ve also got a cat. Previously I’d had to hide it because some places are funny about pets, but I’ve got so much more freedom now.”

If Luke’s story has inspired you to find out more about Shared Ownership, you can contact the Onward Living sales team on 0300 555 0130 or email sales@onward.co.uk