Police officer Ben Tanner was desperate to get out of rented accommodation and onto the property ladder. “I was renting a house with a mate, and it was fine,” he says. “But it was an old house and needed a lot of work. I knew I had to get on the property ladder.”

He knew he couldn’t afford a place on his own – so he was delighted when he found out about shared ownership.

He got in touch with Tower Homes and was sent details of Swaffham Court, a development of 16 two-bedroom apartments with private parking space, exclusively for key workers on a part buy/part rent basis, near Romford. All the flats come with double glazing, modern fitted kitchens and bathrooms, fitted carpets and Juliette balconies.

Ben went to see the development, and liked it straight away. “I walked in and I could see myself living there,” he says. “It’s about five miles from work, and in a nice area. I started making plans for it as soon as I saw it.”

Having his own place has made a huge difference to Ben. “It’s a load off my mind,” he says. “I’ve got all my furniture now, and it’s good to sit back and know that I’ve sorted it out, and I’m on the ladder.”

Looking to the future, he’s convinced he’s bought wisely. “I think it will be a good investment, because it’s not far from where the Olympics will be,” he says. “So I’m likely to benefit from that.”