The Whitley

Carterton offers a variety of schools for residents of The Falcons development, ranging from pre-school all the way to college. Including Gateway Primary School, a school catering for 4-11 year olds with close links to the nearby RAF base, Brize Norton, which has been rated 'Good' by OFSTED.

With close links to the A40, Carterton benefits from convenient access to other towns within Oxfordshire, such as Witney and Burford, and to cities such as Oxford. The A40 also provides access to London, with connections to the M40. 

Less than 10 miles away is Shipton train station offering routes to Oxford, London and Cheltenham. Regular bus services also run throughout the town for residents who are reliant on public transport. 

In Carterton, you truly get the best of both worlds - picturesque countryside views with a vibrant town life just a stone's throw away from The Falcons development. 

The town centre offers an abundance of amenities, mostly being independent businesses. Ranging from restaurants and cafes to hairdressers and nail salons, residents of Carterton do not need to travel far for a tasty evening meal with family or a catch up over coffee with a friend.

The costs involved in a Rent to Buy scheme are similar to that of the traditional letting process. The upfront costs are as follows:

Deposit: You will have to pay the equivalent of five weeks rent as a deposit, which is then held in the Deposit Protection Scheme (DPS).

Rent: You will have to pay the rent for the remainder of the month from the start of your tenancy sign-up date, alongside one month’s rent in advance.

You may have to pay a reservation fee to reserve your property but this is typically deducted from the first month’s rent.

During your tenancy, you’re responsible for all of the utility bills associated with the property while you’re a tenant. This is generally council tax, water, gas, electricity and internet.

When you formally purchase the property as part of the Rent to Buy scheme, you’ll also take on the usual costs associated with purchasing a property - such as Stamp Duty, conveyancing fees, valuation fees and any administration costs such as the mortgage application.

The answer to this question depends on your own individual circumstances but if you have a good credit score and reliable income each year, Rent to Buy is a practical way of getting on the property ladder if you cannot save enough for a deposit.

The most important consideration is your personal timeline. While five years may be plenty of time for you to save, house prices could rise during that period which means you pay more. If you buy sooner, however, you have less time to take advantage of the discounted rental rate and build up your deposit.

You also have to consider availability. The availability of Rent to Buy properties depends on the local authority or housing association you’re working with. While the scheme offers many benefits, you may not have the same amount of choice as you usually would in the open market.

If you do find a suitable property, make sure that you’re truly happy with it if you’re considering Rent to Buy. This is a scheme designed for the long-term and if you compromise on area or size, you risk the success of your Rent to Buy agreement if you quickly outgrow it.

If an existing homeowner is experiencing exceptional circumstances - such as the breakdown of a relationship - then they’re eligible for the Rent to Buy scheme. In these exceptional instances, it’s down to the homeowner to demonstrate they're unable to purchase a home on the open market and require the support of Rent to Buy.

This depends on the scheme but generally, while you’re renting, repairs are taken care of by the housing association. It’s your responsibility, however, to keep the property in good order, ensure the property is well-maintained and the garden is cared for.

While you’re in the Rent to Buy agreement, any service charge is included in the rent. Once you purchase the property, however, you may have to pay a service charge which is discussed with you prior to the purchase.

The typical tenancy agreement that you will see on a Rent to Buy property is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, which runs on a periodic basis.