AFFORDABLE HOMES
SINGLE FEMALE BUYER AND PHANTOM OF THE OPERA WIG ASSISTANT RHIANNON PROVES BUYING IS BETTER THAN RENTING AT SQUARE ROOTS LEWISHAM
After years of renting in shared houses across south west London, paying high monthly costs and dealing with every shared living horror story imaginable, Rhiannon McBean, 29, knew it was time for a change. The wig assistant at London’s iconic Phantom of the Opera purchased her own one bedroom apartment at Square Roots Lewisham through Shared Ownership, creating a safe, secure home for herself and her two beloved cats, while paying only slightly more than she was spending on a single rented room Originally from Cambridge, Rhiannon moved to London seven years ago for university, studying Hair and Media Make-Up at the University of West London. After her studies, she wanted to stay in London and after landing her dream job at Phantom of the Opera , where she helps manage around 180 wigs across the production, Rhiannon rented in shared accommodation in Kingston,Wimbledon and across south London. “It’s a really fun job,” says Rhiannon. “I used to do amateur dramatics when I was younger and started helping with hair and make-up for shows. I realised people actually got paid to do this, so I decided I’d rather work behind the scenes than perform. I gradually worked my way up and now I’ve been at Phantom for four years.” Working five days a week in the West End, a close commute and a safe and secure home were essential when searching for her first home. Rhiannon explains, “I’d always lived in shared houses and honestly, I’d had every horror story under the sun,” she explains. “I was living with my best friend and various other housemates over the years, but I just got to the point where I couldn’t do it any more. I didn’t want to be cleaning up after people and dealing with constant house share chaos.” Her two cats were also a major factor. “My cats are my babies, I needed somewhere that felt safe and secure for them as much as for me. That became
my main priority.” Rhiannon had been saving for a deposit since university, using part of her student loan and continuing to save throughout her 20s. After seven years, including her Lifetime ISA, she had built up around £20,000, including legal fees. However, buying outright in London still felt out of her reach. “I’d managed to save £20,000, which sounds like a lot, but in London it still wasn’t enough to buy on the open market,” she says. “I was looking at renting on my own and even tiny studio flats were starting at around £1,600 a month before bills. My room in a shared house was already costing me £1,150 before bills.” For only a little more than I was paying for one room in a shared house, I now have my own apartment
FACT FILE
Properties: One, two and three bedroom
apartments available at Square Roots Lewisham
Development: Award-winning
Shared Ownership homes in Lewisham’s exciting new riverside neighbourhood
Price: Homes available from
£102,500 for a 25% share
60 First Time Buyer October/November 2026
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting