Hospital Pharmacist
Vol 10 No 3 p94
March 2003

News summary

Affordable housing for NHS key workers

Local authorities within the south-east of England have received substantial sums of money to encourage key workers to purchase their first homes. Key workers include pharmacists and other staff employed by the National Health Service.

One of the companies involved in the housing scheme within the south-east is Airways Homeownership. The company is providing equity loans of £10,000 per property, in conjunction with Windsor and Maidenhead Council and West Berkshire Council. The loans are available to key workers, subject to them working within the Royal Borough of Windsor or West Berkshire.

Qualified key workers joining the scheme can choose their home from the open market, although the property must be within a commutable distance from the place of work. The loan does not become repayable until an individual decides to move. According to Denise Stewart, starter home initiatives specialist at Airways Homeownership, there are 84 loans available and the scheme is open to both single people and couples whose joint income does not exceed £45,000 per annum.

Ms Stewart told Hospital Pharmacist that there are other housing associations offering similar schemes, especially in the south-east where house prices are so high.

Further information is available from Ms Stewart
e-mail denises@airways-housing.co.uk
website www.airwayshomeownership.co.uk

Schemes operating within London include

• Tower Homes (tel 0800 015 3357)
• Boleyn & Forest Housing Society (tel 0800 015 3358)
• Metropolitan Home Ownership (tel 0800 015 3359)
• Notting Hill Home Ownership (tel 0800 015 3354)
• Moat Home Ownership Ltd (tel 07002 662846)
• Sutherland Housing Association (0208 537 4444)
• Northcote Housing Association (tel 020 8621 9750).