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When Margaret Jenn decided a few months ago that the time was right to move from the four-bedroom home she once shared with her late husband and their family she was delighted when she found Highlands in Gidea Park, Romford in Essex.
The brand new complex of retirement apartments with a luxurious feel and state-of-the-art safety and security features in Main Road was everything she wanted. However, there was a snag. Margaret, a retiree, had to sell her home in a difficult property market before she could move. Unfortunately, no buyers could be found, but she came up with an innovative solution – she became a first time landlord.
“My move has been a bit of an adventure really,” explains Margaret. “Since my husband died I wasn’t really happy in my home anymore. It was full of emotional memories, and on the practical side it was a large house to look after.” Margaret looked at Highlands and knew it was perfect for her. “I looked around Highlands and went back several times. It was lovely and close to my family too. I knew I wanted to move here but I couldn’t sell my house,” she says.
The solution soon became apparent. Rather than give up on her dream Margaret made the monumental decision to become a landlord. By keeping her house and using it as collateral, and renting it out to tenants who now have a lovely new home of their own, Margaret found the sums added up to enable her to purchase a beautiful new apartment at Highlands. “I am absolutely delighted,” says Margaret.
Margaret moved into one of the ground floor two-bedroomed apartments with doors that open out on to the garden a few weeks ago. All the ground floor apartments are fitted with alarms, which was an important consideration for Margaret when making her choice of which apartment to buy. The alarm, together with Highlands other security features such as a CCTV entryphone system, make her feel, she says, secure. “I’m not the least bit nervous being here on my own,” says Margaret.
Her apartment overlooks the building’s extensive landscaped gardens. At this time of year she can see the daffodils that were planted in good time to show their colour this spring. Margaret loves gardening, but says she is delighted that she can admire the one at Highlands now but doesn’t have to do all the hard work to keep it tidy. Great Homes designed the gardens to not only be beautiful, but to be easy and cost effective to maintain so helping to keep the annual maintenance charge as low as possible.
The annual charge means living at Highlands is inexpensive. In fact, compared to a typical four bedroom family home in Gidea Park, living in a luxurious retirement apartment complete with its energy efficient features at Highlands means a saving of £2,482 in running costs per year. This figure* is based on the average annual cost of living at Highlands which equates to £3,958, compared to £6,440 for a four bedroom house in the same area. Included are lighting, heating, hot water and council tax, water and sewage charges, building insurance and maintenance costs.
Great Homes Limited incorporated many energy efficient systems into the design of the Highlands, which is built to comply with the Code for Sustainable Homes standard. These reduce energy and water consumption, thereby lowering costs. Among them is a series of solar cells on the roof that capture energy from the sun, which in turn supplies power to the communal areas.
Margaret’s apartment is one of 23 one and two bedroomed homes at Highlands. Like the other apartments she has an entrance hallway that has a bright, welcoming feel. It leads through to the lounge and dining area, along with her kitchen equipped with a full complement of integrated Bosch appliances, the bedrooms and her bathroom which has a vanity unit and both a bath and a separate shower cubicle. Her apartment is carpeted throughout, except for the kitchen which has a vinyl floor covering.
Highlands has a communal residents’ lounge and library, and Margaret has already made friends with her neighbours. “Everyone is very friendly, but if you want to be on your own here you can,” she explains. “I think it depends on the nature of the person. I am not a loner and have enjoyed meeting everyone for coffee mornings. It is nice to have intelligent conversation. We had our first lunch the other day and are planning an afternoon cream tea next week which I am really looking forward to.”
Margaret has already invited many of her friends and her family to see her new apartment. “My family and friends couldn’t wait to visit me here, and all have been impressed,” she says. “I think they expected a cross between a nursing home and an old folks’ home, but when they saw it they all loved it and realised that what they expected couldn’t be further from the truth. I know I’ve made the right decision to move here.”
Highlands currently has apartments available to view. For further information visit the show suite which is open every Friday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, contact sales agent Porter Glenny on 01708 756968 or visit Great Homes Limited’s website www.greathomes.co.uk. |
