The 41-year-old civil servant is delighted with his new one-bedroom flat in Lewisham, in the recently completed Citizens House, a four-storey block of 11 homes.
For the past 18 years Alex has either rented, lodged or lived in flat-shares in London. This flat cost him £215,000, about 35% cheaper than similar places nearby. That's because he didn't buy it on the open market. He bought it through a community land trust (CLT).
About 500 locals developed his building with the help of Lewisham Council, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London CLT, a non-profit that helps neighbourhoods set up and run CLTs (Community Land Trusts).
The locals decided issues like planning, design and, perhaps most importantly, sale prices. This is calculated by looking at average local income levels, which the flats will continue to track. Only people who can prove a strong connection to Lewisham for five years - through living or working there - can apply.
Other qualifying criteria include being able to get a mortgage, having a child in a local school and showing a demonstrable housing need.
The initiative aims to help people who are priced out of their local area but who aren't eligible to be on the council's housing priority list.
The site for Citizens House was donated for free by Lewisham Council, one of the reasons the scheme is financially viable. The land had previously been occupied by a set of disused garages.
It has taken a decade of community campaigning to get the building completed.
However, London CLT believes it can speed up the process and is developing six other projects in the capital, in areas such as Greenwich, Shadwell and Lambeth.
There are 350 legally incorporated CLTs in England and Wales, according to the CLT Network, with 200 more forming. However, the vast majority of these trusts offer properties for rent rather than for sale.
The open market leaves property prices open to speculation, and can result in foreign buyers investing in flats which then lie empty. But at least it is clear who has the right to purchase properties in this system - the person who bids the most money.
(source:BBC)
