It’s that time of year again where we all start thinking about sprucing up our homes for the warmer months ahead. If the thought of spring cleaning fills you with dread, then read on for 10 tips that will make the process a breeze!
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How to save money on gas and electric bills [tips for first time buyers]
The UK’s rising cost of living has affected us all, but if you’re a first time buyer, you might feel particularly keen to keep your finances in check. If you’re wondering how to save money on gas and electric bills, there are many simple ways to reduce your outgoings, particularly by living more sustainably.
Our residents are first time buyers on middle incomes, so we know how important it is to them to make savings wherever possible. Buying a new build home is a great start, and by making an energy savings plan, you can reduce your bills and rest assured that you’re taking measures to live more efficiently and cut down on unnecessary costs.
Read on to find out our tips for saving money on your bills. They may seem small but can make a big difference over time, so start now to let the pennies begin to add up!
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Our favourite things to do in Croydon
Dating back to the Domesday Book, Croydon has evolved into one of London’s most interesting boroughs, filled with markets, art and people from all walks of life. We’re more than ready to start adding to the mix with the launch of Addiscombe Grove CR0, our upcoming scheme in the heart of buzzing East Croydon.
Our favourite things to do in Croydon will undoubtedly resonate with the scheme’s future residents, who will all be city makers local to the area. With that in mind and in anticipation of Addiscombe Grove CR0’s launch this spring, we’re highlighting some of the coolest things to do nearby that really should not be missed.
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New partnership with FirstHomeCoach
At Pocket we are all about helping city makers into homeownership, which is why we have partnered with home buying experts FirstHomeCoach to bring you the best property purchasing information to get financially fit and in the optimal position to buy your first home.

FirstHomeCoach have developed a free handy app to help you on your journey to homeownership. The app is designed to inform and get you more prepared to buy your first home. This includes tips on improving your credit score, boosting your savings and exploring alternative types of properties to buy.
You can access all the information you need to help in your decision making and can connect with trusted advisers.
They have incorporated useful tools to help you get more prepared,
And the best thing is you can get it all done IN ONE PLACE.
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Not so vibrant London
At Pocket we love London. We love it’s vibrancy. That’s why it’s so disappointing to see report after report warning the capital that, the people that make it such an exciting place to live, want to leave.
“Londoners are almost unanimous in their belief that London ranks worse than elsewhere on both the affordability and the availability of housing. For the average London resident, housing affordability and housing availability are the indicators on which London performs worst.”
This is a direct quote from the Vibrant Capital report by Grant Thornton.
The urban commentator and Harvard lecturer Ed Glaeser has commented that the continued success of cities relies on a simple equation, that the cultural and commercial richness of the city must benefit inhabitants more than the downside of living in close proximity and sharing so much with others. The Grant Thornton report shows that amongst all groups researched, valued the cultural and leisure benefits of living in London alongside it’s diversity and benefits to pay and career. For too many however, these benefits are outweighed by the challenges of finding affordable and secure housing that meets their needs.
As a city, we have to move faster to help these largely young aspiring Londoners resolve their housing issues. At Pocket, we hear the stories from this audience constantly. They have been frustrated by the housing situation that they find themselves in and can’t see any way out of it. The cost of living swallows up their incomes so significantly that the prospect of ever owning a home is a distant dream. Furthermore, these costs deny them access to so much of the culture and fun that the city should provide. The equation that Ed Glaeser talks of, no longer makes sense and for a highly mobile workforce, who have never seen their career as a single “job for life”, leaving the Capital is increasingly the only answer.

126 new homes for Haringey from Pocket Living
Pocket Living was delighted to receive planning permission from Haringey council last week, for our most ambitious scheme to date, West Green Place N17.
This allows us to deliver 98 Pocket homes, which will be available to local first time buyers at a 20% discount, establishing another strong community of owner occupiers. West Green Place will also include with a new community centre for the benefit of the whole local community .

Pocket lands in Lewisham – on Marischal Road SE13
Moving in on Marischal Road SE13
Our latest building on Marischal Road SE13, in the heart of Lewisham, completed at the end of 2016… and it’s looking pretty fine!

Buying a home in your local area – the tale of Thomas Golden
Become a homeowner in the area where you grew up – Pocket makes it happen!
The idea of buying a home where you grew up seems a bit of a pipe-dream – pie in the sky even! And so it may be for many Londoners, but Pocket is trying hard to make it possible for as many city makers as possible to own a home in their local area.
We are very proud to introduce Thomas Golden. You may have already spotted him in the Metro this morning, his is one of the buyers of Pocket’s compact homes in Oak Grove NW2.
Thomas and his mum on handover day.