what i own: we bought our £278,000 flat in the london suburbs by living rent-free

This week,we’re in Upminster,East London (Picture: Belinda Jiao)

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.

When Emily McAllister and Ciaran Dennis initially viewed their first home together,they immediately fell in love.

They made an offer straight away,and ended up getting on the property ladder when they were just 23 and 24 respectively,having saved while living rent-free with their parents.

Now,they’ve picked up the keys to their £278,000 two-bedroom maisonette in Upminster,and they try to pay off an extra £150 each month so they can be mortgage-free quicker.

They’ve also found that the cost of their monthly payments is actually lower than the average rental rates for the area – and they’ve been able to put their own spin on the place,too.

Here’s what Emily had to say about their property journey…

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This article was first published on February 15,2025.

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