Co-ownership Housing helping Causeway Coast and Glens residents
Tue, September 05, 2017
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird OBE, recently met with Co-Ownership Housing Chief Executive, Mark Graham, to learn more about the work of Co-Ownership Housing during its Shared Ownership Month this September.
The not-for-profit organisation is encouraging local people to benefit from the scheme, which can help them buy a home for less than the price of renting, and is providing a boost to the local economy by getting people onto the property ladder.
The demand for shared ownership housing is rising significantly in Northern Ireland, with Co-Ownership Housing revealing that applications have increased by 7% in the past financial year.
Throughout the organisation’s almost 40-year history, it has successfully supported over 26,000 households to purchase the home of their choice and has funding in place to support a further 900 prospective home-owners in Northern Ireland, including those within the Causeway Coast and Glens borough, get on the property ladder by March 2018. At present, over 8,000 homes across Northern Ireland are currently Co-Ownership homes.
Mark Graham, Chief Executive at Co-Ownership Housing, said:
“It is our goal to support as many people as we can to get on to the property ladder in the Causeway Coast and Glens area and across Northern Ireland. We know that struggling to raise deposits and lower incomes in Northern Ireland is fuelling demand for Co-Ownership. Buying through Co-Ownership is cheaper than renting, and more affordable than placing a significant deposit on a property. Additionally, customers can buy Co-Ownership out at any time through the ‘staircasing’ process which we actively encourage.
“Gradually increasing a Purchaser’s share in their chosen property through staircasing not only guides that individual toward complete ownership of their home in an affordable way, but long-term this helps us to support more people make that first step toward home-ownership.”
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird, OBE, said:
“I am delighted to be involved with Co-Ownership Housing during its Shared Ownership Month in September. This worthy not-for-profit organisation aims to support people not only in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, but throughout Northern Ireland in their quest in purchasing their own home. The organisation’s work will significantly improve the local economy and provide a higher standard of living in our area. I would encourage anyone that is interested to call into a drop-in session and discuss your future options.”
Co-Ownership Housing has a range of online resources available on their website including literature to download for further information, a budget planner and a repayments calculator.
There are a series of drop-in sessions taking place in September where advisors are available to help customer find out more about Co-Ownership and to support them during the application process.
The drop-in sessions are free to attend and no advance booking is required. The next session is taking place at City Hotel, Derry, on September 7; The Cohannon Inn, Dungannon, on September 14; and at Co-Ownership Housing’s offices at Murray House, Murray St, Belfast on September 21. All drop-in sessions take place from 5-7pm.
For more information, visit https://www.co-ownership.org or call 02890327276. You can also visit the Co-Ownership Housing office on Murray Street, Belfast, where advisors are available to help with any queries.
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird, OBE is pictured with Mark Graham, Chief Executive of Co-Ownership Housing.