Issue #1 | May 2025

Discovering Another Way Of Thinking About Property Ownership & Renting 

💬 Real Talk: “Why I Started This – from Anne”

Some people fall into home ownership. I tumbled, bounced, and zigzagged into it.

From student flatshares filled with late-night toast and bad wine, to being a single mum just trying to make rent, to now living in a house that only exists thanks to shared finance I've seen almost every shape a home can take.

And here’s what I learned: the “normal” way isn’t the only way.

There were moments I felt completely alone like the time I moved for the third time in 14 months with three kids and no garden.

There were also times of deep connection like the quiet joy of splitting Sunday dinner prep with a flatmate who became a friend.

The Modern Living is my answer to all that.

 It’s a way to help others find a living situation that actually... works. For your wallet. For your mental health. For your life.

🏘️ Peterborough Property Pulse: May 2025

Market Snapshot:

Peterborough Property Market Snapshot – May 2025

1. House Prices: Modest Growth

• Average house price: £231,000 (as of February 2025), a 1.1% increase from the previous year.

• First-time buyers: Average price paid is £204,000, up 1.8% year-on-year.

• Property types:

  • Detached: £373,000

  • Semi-detached: £238,000

  • Terraced: £187,000

  • Flats: £115,000

2. Rental Market: Significant Increases

• Average monthly rent: £969 (as of March 2025), a 9.2% rise from the previous year.

• By property type:

  • Flats: £769

  • Terraced houses: £970

  • Semi-detached: £1,017

  • Detached: £1,359

• By number of bedrooms:

  • 1-bedroom: £674

  • 2-bedroom: £854

  • 3-bedroom: £1,029

  • 4+ bedrooms: £1,506

3. Market Activity: Increased Sales

• Homes sold subject to contract (STC): 402 in January 2025, up from 315 in January 2024, marking a 27.6% increase.

• Average agreed sale price: £294,136.

4. Shared Ownership Opportunities

• Shared Ownership homes are available in Peterborough, allowing buyers to purchase a share in a property (usually between 10% and 75%) and pay rent on the remaining share.

• This scheme can be beneficial for co-buyers looking to enter the property market with a lower initial investment.

1. Draft Local Plan Proposes 20,000 New Homes

Peterborough City Council's Draft Local Plan, currently under public consultation until 29 May 2025, outlines a vision for 20,000 new homes across the city and surrounding villages by 2044. This plan aims to guide growth and regeneration, impacting housing, workspaces, transport, and community facilities. Peterborough City Council

2. Hampton Water Expansion

The Hampton Water development is set to add a day nursery and a convenience store to its existing plans for 1,700 new homes. These additions aim to enhance community amenities for residents.

3. Affordable Housing Initiatives

The city is proposing a new Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (AHCIP) to incentivize the creation of affordable housing. The plan includes financial incentives, such as grants and loans, to promote desirable development.

4. East of England Showground Redevelopment

Plans have been approved to build 650 homes on the site of the former speedway track at the East of England Showground. This development is part of the city's efforts to meet housing demands.

5. The Green Backyard Site

The Green Backyard, a community garden in Fletton, has been earmarked for potential development of 48 new homes. This proposal has sparked discussions about balancing development with community spaces

House Prices by Area

Recent data reveals average house prices across various Peterborough wards.

• Barnack: £632,784

• Glinton and Castor: £475,008

• West Ward: £316,272

• East Ward: £180,000Alamy+

These figures highlight the disparities in property values across the city, offering opportunities for buyers with varying budgets.

🛋️ Life in Shared Spaces: Meet Liv & Jamie

Liv was 34, a self-employed copywriter tired of overpriced one-beds. Jamie, 41,who's a paramedic who worked nights and just wanted somewhere peaceful and clean.

They met on The Modern Living platform. 

At first, it felt a bit weird—interviewing someone for future flatmate status. But after a few Zoom chats and a coffee meet-up, they found a rental just outside Whittlesey. They now split costs and have a weekly “what’s annoying us” debrief that often turns into cake and telly.

“It's like sharing your home with the end goal being a clean fridge and shared broadband,” says Jamie.

They’re not best mates—but they are good housemates. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

🧠 The Co-Living Lowdown (But Make It Chill)

Look, legal stuff matters. But here’s how Liv and Jamie did it:

• They wrote out their "This Is What I'm Like To Live With" lists. Brutal honesty: Jamie hates washing up. Liv talks to her houseplants.

• They used a free co-living agreement template online to list bills, chores, and what happens if someone wants out.

• They talked about money up-front. “Awkward but necessary,” says Liv.

It's not romantic, but it's responsible.

🎨 Shared Space Styling: Decorating Tips

• Neutral Base: Opt for neutral tones on walls and larger furniture pieces to create a cohesive look.

• Personal Touches: Encourage each housemate to add personal items like cushions or artwork to communal areas.

• Functional Furniture: Invest in multi-purpose furniture like storage ottomans or extendable dining tables.

❓ Ask Anne: “Is Co-Living Right for Me?”

Q: I’ve just started looking into co-buying. How do I know it’s the right fit?

A: Great question—and one I get a lot. Start with the why. Do you want more space? Better location? A sense of community? Then be honest about what you’re like to live with. We help you find people with aligned values and goals—think of it like housemate matchmaking, with better lighting and no mouldy fridge shelves.

📅 What’s On Around Peterborough This Month

Looking to meet new people or just get out of the house? A few local gems:

• Peterborough Celebrates Festival
  17–18 May | Ferry Meadows
  Food, music, crafts, and a community vibe. Basically co-living energy in festival form.

• On The Green Festival
  24–26 May | The Embankment
  Bands you forgot you loved, people-watching, and maybe a future co-buyer or two in the crowd.

• Macramé & Mocktails
  21 May | The Blonde Beet, Stamford
  Craft a plant hanger, sip something citrusy, and chat housing hacks with strangers.

 Moving Tip from the Trenches

One reader, Jake from Bourne, told us this gem:

“Label one box 'open me first' and put in: kettle, mugs, tea bags, toilet roll, phone charger, and clean socks. Trust me.”

Hero.

🛋️ Life in Shared Spaces: Luca & Ania – Two Teachers, One Flat, and a Lot of Laughter

Where: 2-bedroom apartment in Hampton Vale, Peterborough
Rent: £950/month split equally
Met through: The Modern Living platform

Luca had just moved back from Nottingham after a breakup and was living with his mum. Ania was on her third house share in two years, and done with the chaos (and the mystery disappearing spoons). Both wanted a home—not just a roof—and found each other through The Modern Living.

“I ticked 'quiet evenings and pasta enthusiast',” Luca laughs. “She ticked ‘early riser and hates clutter’. We figured we’d either clash or complement. Turns out, it’s the second.”

They now live in a modern two-bed overlooking a small park. Ania teaches Year 2 and Luca teaches D&T at the secondary school. Their routines overlap just enough for Sunday night meal preps and occasional takeaway movie nights.

“We’re not trying to be best friends—we just live well together. We respect each other’s space and actually enjoy coming home.”

What They’ve Learned:

• Always ask about each other’s workday—but know when to stop talking about school.

• Shared responsibility doesn’t mean 50/50 all the time; it means communication.

• A good co-living match is better than a bad romantic one

📚 Resource Corner: Real Help, No Fluff

• • The Co-Living Handbook by Alice Smith
    Not preachy, just practical. This book walks you through finding housemates, setting expectations, and sorting money stuff. It’s the closest thing to a “co-living coach” in paperback.

  • Home Sweet Shared Home (Podcast)
    Funny, messy, and reassuring. Stories from people sharing everything from London flats to rural farmhouses. Worth a listen while you pack boxes.

💌 Help Us Grow

If you’ve smiled, learned something, or just felt a little less alone reading this—please forward it to a friend. We’re building a community here, and it starts with you.

Subscribe here 
Share with fellow Co-Renters and Co-Buyers

Catch you next time,

Anne
Founder, The Modern Living