A stuntman has single-handedly made the leap from renting in London to his own new home in the Surrey village of Deepcut.
Matt Bell – who has appeared in a host of popular films and series such as Fantastic Beasts, The Batman, Kingsman, 1917 and The Witcher – has bought a new Bovis Homes property at Vistry Group’s Mindenhurst location.
The 31-year-old moved into his new three-bedroom semi-detached house in September, having spent the last nine years renting. He’s been joined by housemate Chris Plamenov, 30, who previously lived in the two-bedroom flat they rented in central London.
Matt also recently adopted Woody, a ten-week-old Border Collie, who he loves taking on walks around the neighbourhood, especially within the forest which surrounds the village.
Matt said: “I was extremely proud of buying my first home by myself – it still seems surreal that this is mine. It feels good to be paying less and getting more for my money, having it go towards my mortgage rather than paying rent towards someone else's.
“There’s no garden space in a flat, especially in London, so it’s nice to be in a development with so much greenery. My parents helped me transform my own backyard into a really nice garden, and I feel lucky to have it.
“The forest is a great factor for me as there was one close to where I grew up. I enjoy walking around it, especially with Woody. It’s great to live in a rural area, and the forest is protected, so I can rest assured that it won’t be destroyed or built upon in the future.”
As a stuntman, Matt’s work has taken him to various locations, including Pinewood Studios and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, and living outside of the M25 has made travelling for work much easier.
He says: “I was getting sick of living in London, as it gets so busy and the commute to work was long. I’ve been looking to move for a couple of years now, and I wanted somewhere that was out of the way, yet still well connected.
“Now, I often commute along the M25, which doesn’t even compare to the nightmare of central London.”
Matt had saved an £80,000 deposit towards his new £450,000 home. He wasn’t originally looking for a new-build home, but liked the layout and style of the Bovis Homes properties at Mindenhurst as well as the location.
Matt said: “I went for a three-bed house as I realised I could get a lot more for my money. It’s useful for when friends and family stay over, and I’ve recently converted the room into a spare bedroom/home office.
“My favourite part of the house is the kitchen and dining area, as I got to have some input on the design of it, such as the cupboards and the countertops.
“My friends and family also have had many positive things to say about the house and the area. There’s a local pub nearby called the Frog that’s quite new. It’s a good place to take people when they come down as it serves food and is dog friendly.”
The customer service Matt experienced from the Bovis Homes sale team was also a real positive.
He said: “The sales advisor Hannah was good at communicating with me and keeping me informed. I appreciated her sending me pictures of the house I bought as it was being built, as it was nice for me to see the progress.”
Although Matt has only recently moved in, he already has a sense of community at Deepcut.
He said: “We have a WhatsApp group for the street which is cool. It’s still early days but it feels like a good community so far. My next-door neighbour is an older lady, and she gets on well with my Mum. There seem to be a lot of families moving into the area, and I can understand why. It’s a nice place and I would recommend it to others.”
There’s currently a selection of two-bedroom apartments and three, four and five-bedroom houses available to reserve at Mindenhurst. More information is available at bovishomes.co.uk.
References to “we”, “us” or “our” are to the part of the Vistry Group (including Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, Countryside Homes, Drew Smith or one of Vistry’s joint venture companies) from which you are intending to purchase a new home. References to "you” and “your” are to the prospective buyer or buyers of a new home from us.
All images are used for illustrative purposes only and are representative only. They may not be the same as the actual home you purchase and the specification may differ. Images may be of a slightly different model of home and may include optional upgrades and extras which involve additional cost. Individual features such as windows, brick, carpets, paint and other material colours may vary and also the specification of fittings may vary. Any furnishings and furniture are not included in any sale. Please check with our sales consultants for details of the exact specifications available at the development(s) for each type of home and the associated prices.
