After years of travelling around the world with his job, Giovanni Barone, 39, was ready to settle permanently in London. Having spent several months looking for the right property, he has recently moved into his new home at Helix in Harlesden, north London, purchased through Hyde New Homes’ shared ownership scheme.
The scheme enabled Giovanni to purchase a percentage equity of his home and pay a subsidised rent on the remaining share to Hyde, with the option of buying further shares when he chooses.
“I first heard about shared ownership from friends who had bought their homes this way, and their feedback was very positive,” said Giovanni. “It seemed the best option for me as a single person and Helix had all the requirements that I was looking for, including proximity to a tube station and the city centre, a good-sized balcony and a private parking space.”
Set in landscaped, communal gardens, Helix is a collection of stylish apartments in a quiet residential area in London’s Zone 3, a short walk from Harlesden High Street and close to the Underground station.
After registering on Hyde’s website, Giovanni arranged to view a selection of one bedroom apartments. “It really helped that I was able to view on a Saturday as I work full time,” commented Giovanni.
Interested in purchasing a one-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor, valued at £351,000, Nadia, Hyde’s sales consultant guided Giovanni through the buying process. “As a first-time buyer, it was very reassuring to have her support,” said Giovanni.
After speaking with a specialist mortgage advisor recommended by Hyde, Giovanni decided to buy a 35% equity share of the apartment. “I knew I wanted to buy more than the minimum 25% share and 35% was a figure I was comfortable with,” Giovanni explained, adding “My plan is to stay here for five years and then either staircase or look to buy a larger apartment.”
Since moving in, Giovanni’s new home is living up to his expectations. He is delighted with the high-quality finish of the apartment’s interior and loves the views across the residents’ private courtyard over to west London.
“I work in the travel industry so have high expectations of customer service and I was very impressed by the professional way Hyde looked after me both during the buying process and after I moved in,” said Giovanni. “It’s been a smooth experience and I am very happy to be settled here.”
Helix
Helix offers a mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments and two and four bedroom duplex for shared ownership set in a landscaped, communal area. Prices start at £85,000. All homes benefit from beautiful contemporary interiors, integrated appliances, private outdoor space and underground parking.
Set in a quiet residential area close to Harlesden High Street with its array of shops, restaurants and entertainment, Helix also has excellent public transport links to central London. Perfectly located in London’s Zone 3, Oxford Circus is 24 minutes away by Underground, while Brent Cross shopping centre is just eight stops by bus and Wembley is one stop away on the train.
Contact the sales team on 0345 606 1221 to find out more. Personal and virtual viewings are available and you can also view our virtual tour here.
