After tragically losing their daughter, Chloe, in October 2021, Trevor and Emma wanted to escape the sad memories of their family home, and so the couple and their three other children made a quick move into a local rental property.

Trevor comments: “We were living in a four-bedroom house in Essex at the time, but after Chloe passed away, we wanted to get out quickly. We rented a three-bedroom house nearby, but it really wasn’t great. The area felt quite unsafe for the children – there was a lot of antisocial behaviour, and neighbours playing loud music until 3am. It was a really tough time for us, and we knew we needed to move again.”

He continues: “We wanted to build a new family home to make new memories in, but we just never thought it’d be possible for us to buy anywhere. I grew up in Barking and we never had loads of money, so I just didn’t think it was something that would ever happen in my life.”

Having rented all their lives, Trevor explains how we didn’t think buying a home was something that would ever be achievable for him and his family.

He explains: “One day, we got a leaflet through the door for new Shared Ownership homes from L&Q at The Arbour, Beaulieu. We’d never heard of Shared Ownership before, so we visited L&Q’s website and uploaded all our financial details and got passed on to a mortgage advisor. My mum had also just passed away, and so with my inheritance as a deposit, we were able to afford a three-bedroom house.”

Trevor and Emma have recently purchased a 30% share of a three-bedroom house at The Arbour with L&Q.

“There was an Open Day coming up at The Arbour, so we made contact with Karen from L&Q’s sales team and made an appointment to come and have a look around. As we drove into the development, we drove past a new playpark – it was called Chloe’s Park. That was when we knew this was the place for us.”

“We fell in love with the development straight away. There’s so much green space here, and such a welcoming atmosphere. The house is beautiful – we’ve got so much more space, lovely open-plan living areas and even a garden! We also have an ensuite bathroom, which makes me feel very posh! I keep saying it’s like being in a holiday home, except we get to stay here for life. I can’t believe it.”

Speaking about their experience with L&Q, Trevor comments: “L&Q were so understanding during the whole process. They knew our circumstances and they couldn’t have been more helpful and supportive. They even allowed us to move into the house early, because they knew that we needed to get the kids out of that rental home as soon as possible.”

“Not only that, but the whole process was incredibly speedy. We got the leaflet from L&Q in April, attended the Open Day in April, and got the keys in early July!”

Newly moved in to The Arbour, the family are already loving their new life at The Arbour. Trevor explains:

“It’s a completely new way of life for us now. Most importantly, it’s a totally different life for the kids – there’s a real future for them here. It feels really safe, and we think the kids will be able to make friends with our neighbours who also have children. The community is amazing; everyone takes pride in their house and it’s so clean. You can actually smell the fresh air when you walk outside!”

“Every day we’re discovering new pathways to the shops on-site, and there’s a school next to the shops which we’re looking at getting the girls into.”

“When you buy a house at The Arbour, you get a free bus pass which takes you into Chelmsford, so we’re really looking forward to exploring the local area. There’s so many farms, museums, petting zoos and long country walks – it’s perfect for our family.”

Looking to the future, Trevor, Emma and their children are staying at The Arbour long-term.

“This is our forever home. I can’t really believe we get to stay here but we do, and we’re staying for life. We’ve got pictures of my mum and Chloe up in pride of place in the new house, so they’ll be with us here too.”