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A home for Christmas
For one family Christmas has come early this year as they receive the keys to their new home at The Mallards in Swanley.
For the last few months the family of five have been sofa surfing with friends and family, after losing their home.
Darren, Kerri and their three daughters, aged 19, 16 and 14, found themselves homeless in October this year following events that saw their home in New Ash Green become repossessed.
Darren said: “I work for myself as a plumber and electrician but over the last few years I found the work was drying up. It just became harder and harder to pay the bills without a regular income coming in.”
After falling behind with their mortgage payments, the family’s 3-bedroom home was repossessed leaving them homeless.
“When I found out the house was going to repossessed I was absolutely gutted. The hardest part was knowing my daughters didn’t have their home anymore”, said Darren.
Kerri said: “We had lived in our previous home for 18 years, so the repossession was hard on us all. We all ended up living apart; our eldest daughter was forced to find somewhere else to live and our middle daughter has been staying with school friends. My health started suffering due to the stress and anxiety of being homeless, so I ended up staying with family in Liverpool just to get away. Living in different places really took its toll on us.”
Having applied for housing following the loss of their home, Darren and Kerri were absolutely delighted when housing provider, Golding Homes, called to tell them there was a 3-bedroom house available at a new development in Swanley.
“We were over the moon when we found out the news, it was unreal,” said Kerri. “These past few months have been difficult, the girls have been living out of bags and had no space of their own. This home means we can be together again as a family.”
The new homes at The Mallards development have been built using modern methods of construction. Tom Casey, Director of Development and Sales at Golding Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have completed these homes recently. This type of build dramatically cuts down the construction period, enabling us to provide homes much quicker for our residents. We’re very happy that this has meant Darren and Kerri have been able to move into their new home in time for Christmas.”
After what has been a difficult few months Darren and Kerri are now very much looking forward to spending Christmas Day in their new home with their three girls.
“We are so happy to be back together as a family and being in this lovely new home. Family makes a home. Thank you!” said Darren.