INTERVIEW
IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNITIES!
Having lived in the borough of Croydon for many years, Editor Lynda Clark had the opportunity to speak with her local MP for Croydon East, Natasha Irons, about all things housing – and in particular her thoughts on how first time buyers can get on to the property ladder
A random knock on my door one Saturday morning led to the conversation. Some weeks ago, a charming lady who was canvassing on behalf of the Labour Party came by and asked me if I had any concerns about the local area. I am sure she didn’t expect me to spend the next 10 minutes explaining my worries, particularly about the fast and often dangerous driving on my road. She suggested the MP would get in touch and look into this, which she did. After several emails back and forth, I asked if she might be happy for me to ask her some questions about housing and first time buyers for the magazine. She was delighted to help, and we had a really great chat, covering many aspects of buying a home in 2026. Fascinated by her own story, I asked what her experience was when she bought her first home. “I’m an elder millennial, and my husband and I were renting in Pimlico. We wanted to start a family, so we knew we had to move somewhere more suitable. Eventually, rent increases forced our hand and we started looking in Walthamstow. But the open-house viewings were packed – people queuing round the block – and many properties needed a lot of work. “A friend suggested Mitcham, where I grew up. Prices were more affordable and we might even get a garden. We bought a three bedroom house and have lived there for 12 years. It didn’t quite go to plan, though – when my son was three months old, the kitchen floor fell in because of dry rot! We had to do a lot of work, including installing an IKEA kitchen, which we still have today – it has definitely stood the test of time!” So, we know that many first time buyers feel homeownership is less attainable compared with previous generations. Natasha agreed, “I really sympathise with first time buyers because I know what an uphill struggle it is. Rents have gone up so much that saving is difficult. “The Government is aware of the problem, which is why we introduced the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, encouraging lenders to offer 95% loan-to-value
“Labour has also challenged and reshaped Right to Buy to protect much- needed social housing stock.” Last summer Croydon was named the most popular location for UK homebuyers in the past five years, so I asked Natasha why she thought the borough had such enduring appeal? “Croydon is iconic. It has green spaces, excellent transport links to central London and beyond, wonderful communities and a vibrant atmosphere.You get more value for money here. There are lovely family homes, good schools and great neighbourhoods. “We don’t want Croydon to be a dormitory town of starter flats – we want strong communities, thriving high streets and safe neighbourhoods. With interest rates coming down, confidence is returning and first time buyers can start planning ahead,” she explained. As we finish, I ask Natasha for her words of wisdom and she replied, “Well, my IKEA kitchen has lasted brilliantly!” she laughed. “But seriously – don’t overstretch yourself. Think about location first.You can change a home, but not its location. Get involved in your community and put down roots. There’s nothing quite like it.”
mortgages with 5% deposits on homes up to £600,000. We’ve also brought in the Renters’ Rights Act to give tenants more security and help them start saving. And we’re protecting leaseholders through new legislation. “Not all homes are in Westminster. I bought in an outer London borough, which was far more affordable. People should look beyond central London. Croydon, for example, is a wonderful place to live, with great neighbourhoods and communities. It’s also a very good place to raise a family.” She added that funding has been allocated to support housebuilding and social housing, including long- term investment programmes aimed at increasing affordable homes. Natasha speaks to many first timers and renters and said, “The conversations I have are loud and clear – people want stability and a place to put down roots. “Our priority is to build more homes to help boost housing supply and ease pressure on house prices. The Government has an ambitious target to build 1.5m high- quality homes. More homes mean fewer families stuck in temporary accommodation and young people being able to buy.
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