We’ve created a new path to community led affordable housing
It begins with a kitchen table, a handful of friends, and a shared frustration. Someone says, You know what, what if we just did this together? The line is half a joke. Then it becomes a plan. Ten people agree to pool money, time and skill. They buy land close to where they already live. They build homes that people can actually afford. And they promise that the homes will stay affordable for the next person too.
This is the 10 Friends idea turned real. It is about practical optimism and careful rules so generosity does not become hypothetical.
A home you can count on and a community you help create.
Built on Community Land Trust principles with Grounded tools so affordability is protected for the next household.
What you gain
• Control over housing through secure long term tenure
• Shared costs so land and enabling works become achievable when you work together
• A strong community with shared values and practical rules for living together
• Equity with ethics so people can build stability without fuelling speculation
This is not a discounting trick. It is a change to the rules so your home can remain within reach for the people who come after you.
Who is it for?
For every life stage when you want more than a market outcome.
You might be here because you are
• A young renter seeking a real pathway to ownership
• A first time buyer tired of moving goalposts and rising deposits
• A mid career household looking for community, purpose and affordable security
• An elder or retiree who wants to support a local legacy and live in an intergenerational place
• A values aligned group who wants to steward affordability long term
You do not need exactly ten
Many projects begin with six to twelve households and grow. Some start smaller with two to four households and expand as the project becomes real. Getting a group of friends together rather than just one couple helps groups balance social and financial capacity, with long term governance outcomes.
What is feels like
Designing a community land trust is a shared journey that begins with dreaming together around a kitchen table and turning stories into clear design principles, then mapping people and place, running participatory workshops with architects and neighbours, and letting the group prototype and test how spaces will feel; the team balances design ambition with realistic budgets and low running costs, builds inclusive choices for every age and ability, along the way creating a site plan alongside simple rules for shared spaces; technical drawings and approvals follow. The process continues with Grounded there as a sounding board.
What is in the Founders Kit
Download the toolkit that turns an idea into action
Includes
• A clear roadmap from group formed to build ready
• A founder readiness checklist and short questionnaire to test suitability
• A worked example of an ethical capped return so founders can see how repayments might work in practice
• Governance starter tools and a template list to get meetings and records right
Templates are educational and for discussion only. Please seek independent legal, tax and financial advice for your circumstances. This is the standard Grounded disclaimer for kit materials.
What to do Next
Choose your first step
Option 1: You are exploring
Download the preview and share it with two trusted people.
Option 2: You have a group
Book a founders workshop to turn the idea into a plan.
Option 3: You are ready to move
Apply to Grounded’s Incubator to access feasibility modelling, planning advice and cohort learning.
FAQS
Do we need exactly ten people
No. Many projects begin with six to twelve households and grow. Some start smaller with two to four households and expand as the project becomes real.
Do we each own the land together
Typically the land is held by a mission locked entity that protects the purpose. Residents hold secure long term rights to their homes through leases and clear rules.
Is council approval possible
Often yes. Early engagement and a clear public benefit case for permanent affordability improves the chance of success. The kit explains what to bring to early planning conversations and how to present the community benefit.
What happens if someone wants to leave
Exit and resale rules are defined upfront so the community stays stable and the homes remain affordable for the next household.
Can we still build equity
Yes. The model supports shared and capped returns so people gain stability and some financial benefit while protecting affordability. Full worked examples are in the kit and will be modelled for your site.
Is this legal or financial advice
No. The toolkit and templates are educational and for discussion only. You should get independent legal, tax and financial advice tailored to your circumstances.
Ready to turn maybe one day into a plan?
You do not need to solve housing alone. Start with a conversation, then take the next step.