Lida Cook

Living at her parents’ at the age of 26 was getting key worker Lida Cook down. Though she had a great job as a speech and language therapist for South West Kent NHS Primary Care Trust, she couldn’t afford to move into a place of her own.

When she found out that she could get help buying a home, she applied right away. “Initially it was hard to find a property within my price range, even with the help,” Lida says. “But then I found an apartment in a great location that suited my needs perfectly.”

She managed the move quickly too. With help from Moat Housing Association, the whole process took just four months from start to finish.

She picked up the keys for her flat in Tunbridge Wells in March this year. “Without this, I would not have had a chance to take my first step onto the property ladder,” she says. “It’s a really great scheme and very handy for first-time buyers.