For many young people the thought of being able to own their own home seems an almost unobtainable dream.

But one couple in Mansfield will be spending their first Christmas under their own roof thanks to a shared ownership scheme with Mansfield District Council.

Chris Betts, 24, and Emma Ashley, 21, had been living with Emma’s parents’ in their home round the corner from the neat three-bedroom 1930s semi in Radnor Place that they now part own, when they saw the council starting to refurbish the property, which had lain empty for more than 20 years.

“We had been looking to buy or rent for some time,” said Chris, who is a maintenance engineer with the glass company Pilkington in Bradford.

The couple found out about the property from the council and then, when they discovered it was being offered on a shared ownership basis, decided to go for it with a resolve that finally saw them handed the keys in August.

“I thought we would never get it in a million years – this is a sought after area and lots of people were interested in it,” said Chris “But we were quick with all the paperwork – we were determined to get it.”

As last week saw the UK mark “Empty Homes Week”, this shared ownership scheme was a first-time venture for the district council which is keen to see more affordable housing in the town as part of Executive Mayor Kate Allsop’s manifesto pledges.

Mayor Allsop said: “This has been a really successful project for the council because not only has it dealt with an empty property that has been vacant since before 1993, it has also helped a local couple become homeowners at a time when this is increasingly hard for young people. We sincerely hope they enjoy many happy years ahead in their own home.”

The council’s Head of Housing Hayley Barsby explained that the house had been empty for more than 20 years and had become increasingly dilapidated.

The authority decided the only way to bring the property back into use was to buy it from the owner and bring the house up to a marketable standard to offer as a shared ownership home. At the same time it bought four more empty properties, refurbished them and offered them for rent.

The work on the Radnor Place property included:
•New windows
•New kitchen and bathroom with new floor coverings
•New internal doors
•Rewiring
•New central heating
•Refurbished garage
•Redecorated

To do this, the council was successful in bidding for funding from the Homes and Communities Agency. The Agency, which is sponsored by the Department of Communities and Local Government, helps to make more homes and commercial premises available to residents and businesses and also regulates social housing providers in England.

This was the first time the authority had returned an empty home to use in this way and it is a type of scheme that the authority would consider again with the right type of property, but there are no plans to buy up any more empty houses in the town in the near future.

Council tenants also have the option to part own their homes in the same way through a product known as Social HomeBuy.

Chris and Emma own a 40% share and pay a subsidised rent on the other 60%. They have the option to buy a bigger share in the property over the coming years.

Chris said: “The next step is to own 100% of the house which we hope to do in two or three years’ time.”

Emma, a primary school teacher, who has lived in the neighbourhood since she was four, is delighted to be a home owner at such a young age.

She said: “It seemed surreal when we moved in – it still does. We love our home. We have been so lucky. It is definitely special to be spending the first Christmas in this house – the first people here for over 20 years.”