Extended family move into their new home

When a four generation, six member family decided to sell their three bedroom semi-detached house in Maidstone, they didn’t imagine they would be able to purchase a much larger, four bedroom detached house for less money and rid themselves of their mortgage! However, Priory Meadows by Ward Homes on the Isle of Sheppey, enabled them to do just that.

Leah Hadler (94), her daughter Jennifer (64) and husband Martyn (59) and their daughter Louise (27), husband Raymond (29) and their son Owen (3) decided to leave the hustle and bustle of central Maidstone when Martyn and Jennifer felt it was time to start living a more peaceful lifestyle.

The change was backed strongly by Louise and Raymond as the chance to get out of a busy town and enjoy clean air and the green surroundings was just what they wanted for Owen.

The Isle of Sheppey was the ideal place for the family as they could benefit from a slower and more relaxed pace of life, without being cut off from the rest of the world. The road systems between the island and the mainland are fantastic, taking Louise less than 20 minutes to get to work at Maidstone’s Community Hospital. Raymond, who works in Lenham for a flooring company, also has a quicker drive to work as they both now avoid the traffic they used to endure in their travels across Maidstone.

All four generations are thrilled by how their quality of life has improved so dramatically from moving onto the island. The Isle of Sheppey didn’t just offer the change in lifestyle they were looking for but also the space they needed with Owen growing up. With property prices considerably lower on the island than in central Maidstone, the family were able to purchase a four-bedroom home, arranged over three floors, increasing the feel of personal space.

“We couldn’t believe our luck when we found Priory Meadows,” said Jennifer. “It is so pretty and the variety of house types really gives the development a feel of individuality. We bought our new home for only £200,000 and Ward Homes even helped pay our legal fees and included the carpets!”

Immediately after visiting Priory Meadows, they put their home on the market and following its sale, the purchase of their new home went through in less than six weeks.

Martyn said: “The Chesterfield house style we opted for works so well for us and suits every generation of the family. There’s a large kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor where we like to all be altogether for meal times. Louise and Raymond use the separate living/dining area on the ground floor, which gives them their own space to spend time together and with Owen. There is a second living room on the middle floor which both Jennifer and I use as well as my mother-in-law Leah.

“With a main bathroom, two ensuite bathrooms and a cloakroom, each generation has its own bathroom as well! We cannot get over the space and the flexible living it allows.”

All the Chesterfields have now sold but three-bedroom houses are currently available for sale at Priory Meadows, priced from £169,500.

Ward Homes is currently offering homes under the Government’s HomeBuy Direct scheme, which gives buyers the chance to move in for only 70 per cent of the purchase price; the remaining thirty per cent is provided as an equity loan. No interest will be paid on the 30 per cent loan for five years. The mortgage will be paid as normal and the equity loan need only be repaid when the home is sold.

For more information on Priory Meadows, visit wardhomes.co.uk.