My partner and I needed affordable, secure accommodation at a hard time. Too many are missing out due to shortages and stigma
After living in a cramped bedroom at my parents’ house during the difficult months of lockdown, my partner and I decided we wanted to get a place of our own in early 2021. But, as is the case for so many other young people, there was no way we’d be able to get a mortgage and buy our own property. Neither of us had savings or great credit scores, and I was constantly in and out of work due to poor mental health. When many banks decided to scrap mortgages with 5% deposits owing to economic turmoil, saving up for a deposit became impossible.
At the time, our only viable option seemed to be privately renting, but finding a place wasn’t easy – properties were snapped up before we could make an offer, and the prices were steep. And as someone with autism and anxiety disorder, the possibility of finding the perfect place and then being asked by the landlord to move out caused my anxiety to spiral.
