Paul & Jeanne Shorland

64 & 62, both semi-retired, from Gloucestershire.

Product: Standard residential mortgage on a discounted variable rate

Paul and Jeanne Shorland approached the Society for a mortgage with the view to convert the barn and stables at their home in Winterbourne, Gloucestershire, into living spaces for the use of their family.

The mortgage product with esbs has enabled the couple to fund the project, and their home has tripled in size from a four to 12-bedroom property.

Now, their daughter, her partner and their four children have moved into the converted stables, while their niece, her partner and their two children, are living in the converted barn.

“We originally purchased the house in an auction and moved in 22 years ago,” they explain.

“All of the buildings around it were derelict at the time, but because it was such a terrific-looking house, we just fell in love with it instantly!”

Paul says: “I’ve always loved houses and was keen to do more work on our own to make way for our family, which is why we started looking into remortgaging.”

“We were really pleased with the quality of the service that we received from esbs, as we’d found that no one else was willing to treat us as individuals,” adds Jeanne.

“We would always speak to the same person on the mortgage team and we built up a good relationship with them throughout the process.

“This approach was much more personable than that we’ve received from bigger companies, where you’re passed from one person to the next and made to feel like just another number.

“With esbs, there wasn’t a ‘computer says no’ approach and they really showed an understanding of our situation and would go the extra mile to help us.”

The couple continue: “It’s absolutely lovely to have so much of our family around us. We’re all very close-knit, but with the extra living space that we now have it doesn’t feel like we’re living on top of one another.

“Two of our other grandchildren, also spend a lot of time here with us playing in the garden with their cousins.”

With most of the renovation works complete, Paul and Jeanne say that they now feel able to pursue the things in life that they enjoy the most.

“I’m left with plenty more time to work on my little projects around the house,” Paul says, “and I really enjoying pottering about and tending to these!”

Jeanne says: “I’ve recently gotten back into painting, which was an interest of mine when I was younger and this brings me lots of pleasure and happiness.

“Having my grandchildren here is great because it allows me to paint for them, which is lovely.”

Richard Carson, Business Development and Marketing Manager for esbs, said: “We are thrilled to hear that Paul and Jeanne have succeeded in welcoming their family into their home thanks to the mortgage product they took out with the Society.

“On behalf of everyone here at esbs, I would like to wish them and all the family many more happy years to come in their home”