Dee Palmer moved to Trentham with her partner Si…

Dee Palmer’s Snugg Homes story…

“I was looking for my “forever home” – somewhere affordable in the long term, but also somewhere that would give me the sense of security that really only comes with home ownership. I wanted a place my partner and I could truly make our own, furnishing and decorating to suit our tastes, without the restrictions that so often come with renting.

After my divorce, I moved in with my partner at his privately rented home. Having been a homeowner since the age of 19, renting was completely new to me – and I quickly realised it wasn’t something I felt comfortable with. I never felt truly settled or secure as a tenant. With rising rents, ongoing maintenance issues, and very few affordable options for people wanting to move, it often felt like we were stuck.

Although I had a healthy deposit from the sale of my previous home and a full-time income, taking on a mortgage at 57 simply wasn’t financially realistic, especially when the only option offered to me was a short 15-year term with high monthly payments.

I first came across shared ownership while browsing online property portals, and after doing some research I discovered that Snugg Homes were offering homes at the Waterside development in Trentham.

What really appealed to me was that the home is, for all intents and purposes, yours — much like buying with a traditional mortgage — but with far more manageable monthly costs. Future rent increases are capped, making them far more predictable than fluctuating interest rates, and the option to staircase gave me reassurance for the future. Add to that the fact that it’s a brand-new home, with a full warranty against defects, and it truly felt like a no-brainer.

Moving here has helped me draw a line under a very difficult chapter of my life. After being forced to sell my previous home, I never imagined I would live somewhere as lovely as this. Although my partner and I have lived together for three years, this house really feels like the true beginning of our next chapter.

I’m 59 and now live at Waterside with my partner, Si (61). Our family is completed by our three wonderful “fur children”: Charlie and George, our chocolate Labrador boys, and Phoebe, our black Labrador girl. She may be half the size of the boys, but she definitely proves that girl power is real! They keep us on our toes, but we wouldn’t be without them.

The property is well built, beautifully finished, and impressively energy efficient. The development itself is thoughtfully laid out, with generous green spaces and a peaceful canal running alongside – perfect for summer walks. With safe, scenic routes right on our doorstep, our dogs are enjoying their new home just as much as we are. It really is a stunning location.

I was quite nervous about the buying process, particularly as my last house purchase was over 30 years ago. However, Gemma was fantastic – always patient, clear, and happy to explain each stage step by step.

Despite a few hiccups – including an administrative error that required some paperwork to be amended, and an issue with the gas meter recorded by British Gas that is still being resolved – things have largely gone smoothly.

The only real downside has been timing. Buying the house in late November meant the newly laid turf didn’t have a chance to properly bed in, and with the amount of rain we’ve had, the lawn quickly became waterlogged. This resulted in a fair amount of mopping and paw-wiping until we sectioned off an area for the dogs and laid some artificial grass as a temporary solution.

That said, these are all manageable issues, and we’re confident everything will be fully sorted in due course and thankfully, Gemma was always on hand and ensured that the issues within Snugg Homes’ control were resolved quickly. Despite these challenges, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Snugg Homes to anyone considering shared ownership.”

Dee x