What I Own: I bought my £212,500 Chelmsford one-bed after divorce — and found myself again

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

When 32-year-old Chantelle Dyson’s divorce was finalised in August 2019, she ended up moving back in with her parents to recuperate.

Having sold the three-bedroom home she owned with her ex-husband, she put the funds straight into a savings account for her next investment, and originally planned to move into her new space shortly afterwards.

Worried about being tied down and paying off what she perceived as copious amounts of interest through a mortgage, she soon flip-flopped on the prospect of ever owning a home again.

But when her one-bedroom Chelmsford house appeared in her inbox, everything changed. She took the leap in December 2020, and five years on, has created a colourful haven for herself post-divorce.

Here’s what Chantelle had to say about her property journey…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a 32-year-old supply teacher who also runs a podcast growth and strategy business, as well as hosting my own podcast for single women, which started at my kitchen table in this little house. I love me a parkrun, am always up for a topical debate, and forever have a smile on my face.

Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?

My property is in Springfield, Chelmsford. It’s a one-bedroom, and it’s part of a block split into four, so we each have a corner, all with separate door entries. Nothing is shared, and it’s a freehold.

I love being close to the centre of Chelmsford without actually being in the centre. It’s a 10-minute drive or a 40-minute walk away, and it has everything you could need from a city without being one of the big ones.

I love how quiet it is. Despite how close the A12 is, my windows are often open, and you can hear the birds outside and the children at the school down the road playing at lunch times. It’s a very friendly area, and somewhere I’ve felt safe living on my own for five years. 

ACanteen is a favourite for a local-run food shop, whether that’s breakfasts, birthday celebrations or hanging out with friends and their kids in the sofa area. And of course, Oliver Bonas. May that always be there for me to pop in and get more inspiration from.

Things I don’t love…the traffic. Chelmsford is becoming gridlocked. We have a new station being built, and there are always housing developments going on, so infrastructure is going to be a concern for years to come. 

When did you move in?

After my divorce in August 2019, I moved back home to live with my mum, stepdad and younger brother. It was the first time I’d lived there since I’d been at uni, and we had to go through the first Covid lockdowns together. It was rather interesting to see how all four of us lived together again after a long time apart.

I moved into my home in December 2020. We went into the Tier 4 lockdown in Essex about a week later.

How much does your property cost?

I purchased the property for £212,500, and it’s now worth about £245,000. 

How much was your deposit?

It was £32,000. The fiddly purchase price meant a fiddly number for the deposit, and the broker was trying to push me just into the threshold for a better mortgage rate with a 15% sum.

What is the monthly cost of living here now, both mortgage and bills?

I’ve been lucky enough for my mortgage to be £700 for the last five years, as I locked in a deal at 2.35%. It comes to an end in November 2025, and I’m currently shopping around for deals.

I wanted to make it through the impact of Covid and beyond, and that seems to have worked. I’ve had friends who have bought, taken out two-year deals and had to remortgage all before the time I’ve had to.

How did you save up for your deposit?

Saving was pretty simple as it came from the sale of my previous home with my ex – a three-bedroom house in Chafford Hundred with an annexe. The deposit for that, however, was predominantly from the bursary I received when I became a Maths teacher.

This had also been supported by some savings I’d made from money my grandad gave me from my 21st birthday, as well.

That said, following the divorce and sale of our home, it’s tempting to spend the chunk of money you have sitting there in an account. Thankfully, I was wise and only splurged on a trip to Tomorrowland, so I had enough for a deposit and fees. There was also the surprise purchase of a sofa, after we couldn’t get the one I intended to use up the stairs! 

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?

The process of getting a mortgage was simple; I had a secure job as a teacher at the time on a good salary. I did use a broker purely because I just wanted to be told what to do and didn’t want to deal with shopping around and the calls.

There was a slight hiccup towards the end where the rest of the chain wanted to accelerate the process all of a sudden. It felt like it came out of nowhere, but we got it over the line quickly in the end.

I was very chill as the longer I stayed at my mum’s house, the more I saved on rent anyway.

What are your property non-negotiables?

Built-in wardrobes, spotlights, non-Artex ceilings, and storage spaces galore (this house has a loft, an under-stairs cupboard, a cupboard at the bottom of the stairs AND an outdoor cupboard).

Is this your favourite home you’ve ever lived in?

It is my favourite home I’ve lived in because it’s entirely mine, exactly as I want it to be. It’s my safe haven where I explored being single after my divorce. It’s a defining part of my 20s, my life post-divorce and where I ‘found myself.’ I’m very attached to the space, and I don’t quite see that I’m finished here in making it exactly what I want it to be. 

What made you want to buy rather than rent?

The uncertainty of renting put me off, and not being able to do quite what you want with a space. I’ve helped my partner create as much of a home in his rented space, but there are restrictions. In terms of mortgage and renting, it also costs more – even with my remortgage, it’ll be a couple of hundred cheaper to be paying the mortgage than renting. 

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?

I found this property by chance and fate, I would say. I had previously looked to buy a home pretty soon after my separation; I wanted to be able to have my dog, and I actually made an offer in autumn before on a two-bed leasehold property. But something told me I was rushing, and I didn’t love the leasehold nature of the property, so I pulled out.

After that, I went through some phases. In particular, one where I vowed I’d never get a mortgage again, as I ‘didn’t want to pay all that interest.’ That summer, after we were allowed to go away for short holiday breaks thanks to the relief in the lockdowns, I went and stayed in a Shepherd’s hut.

My perspective changed on how much space I needed, and I realised I could probably live in a one-bedroom home quite comfortably. When I got home, I turned alerts back on for properties and within a day, this one hit my inbox, and part of me just knew when I saw the listing.

I could see the potential in the space – it was neutral white and grey, so it was a blank canvas I could work with. It was also immediately liveable and had the features I was looking for: fitted wardrobes, a parking space, and a garden.

The bonus was the big Velux window; it’s an upside-down house, and it’s absolutely glorious most days, looking out into the sky. 

How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior décor design?

It’s very colourful and very much an extension of me. It’s taken bit by bit to make it this way, but the first space was the living room. It’s got a lot in the open-plan space that leads to the kitchen, but the key first element was the bright yellow gallery wall, which has had more added.

The space has evolved over time; my desk used to be a kitchen table in the corner, now it’s a slimline desk to the side. I’ve bought a bookcase and a velvet pink sofa bed for when my partner’s children come to stay the night. I’m always surprised by how much I can get into this space. 

I’m also big on photographs and memories – the bouquet from my wedding (yes, the one I’m divorced from) was freeze-dried, so that appears, and there are lots of pictures of friends on the gallery wall, as well as pieces such as a yellow motorbike that I gifted my grandad.

He passed away a few years ago now, and it’s my way of keeping him part of the space.

What’s your favourite piece of furniture in the house?

My coffee table. It was my stepdad, Rob’s. He used to have it in his cottage, where he lived on site at his sister’s home. When I was preparing to move here, I sanded it down and painted the legs pink. Having pieces like that is a nice way to be reminded of him. 

What’s your favourite room and why?

It has to be the living space, as it’s where I spend the most time, where I started my podcast, where I feel exactly myself. The room is an extension and expression of that. I love the light that comes through the big Velux window, and the way the rain taps on it.

Do you have any plans to change the property?

On the list is to take the windows out of the bedroom and turn them into doors, which will open out onto new decking and a pergola.

The only other minor changes are the shower screen in the bathroom; I’d like it to be black rather than silver, and want to bring more of a black detail in with the gold there too. 

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

A leaky roof! I had various things done to fix it, and it seems to be solved now. It made itself known within a month or so of me moving in, and then didn’t happen again for months.

What do you want people to know about buying a home?

It’s all worth it in the end, and it doesn’t need to be perfect right away. I lived on camping chairs to begin with, and borrowed various pieces of furniture and bought second-hand furniture. I’m still creating what I want the dream bedroom to look like. There’s no rush! 

Shall we take a look around?

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