AFFORDABLE HOMES
After initially being hesitant about Shared Ownership, Rhiannon and her mum compared the monthly outgoings and realised it made far more financial sense. “We looked at the numbers and Shared Ownership just made sense,” she says. “Now, my rent and mortgage together are around £1,330 before bills, and with everything included, service charge, bills, everything, it’s around £1,600 a month. That would have been my starting point just to rent a tiny studio. For only a little more than I was paying for one room in a shared house, I now have my own one bedroom apartment, my own space, and I’m getting on to the property ladder.” Initially hoping to stay in south west London, Rhiannon found limited Shared Ownership options due to borough restrictions and began exploring other areas. After visiting several developments across London, Lewisham stood out immediately. “My friend Lauren, who also works in theatre, was already renting in Lewisham and when I visited her, it felt right straight away and gave me the closest feeling to living in Kingston, which I loved. It feels up and coming, really well connected and you can see how much investment is going into the area.” I finally feel settled. I’ve got my own home, my cats are happy and I’m investing in my future On visiting Square Roots Lewisham, “My very first question was, ‘Are pets allowed?’” she laughs. “When they said yes, I booked a viewing for the very next day.” After viewing several apartments, one home stood out instantly. “I call it the wonky flat because it sits right on the corner of the building and has this amazing triangular shape,” she says. “It just felt so open and different. It has two balconies, one from the living room and one from the bedroom, and it was the only one bedroom apartment with both.The views completely sold it for me. I can see the London Eye, The Shard, Canary Wharf, the whole London skyline. It’s incredible.” As a single female buyer, security was another major priority. “The building feels really safe,” she says. “There’s a two-door entry system before you even get to your front door, everything is well lit when I come home late from work, and it just feels secure.That was
Why buy here?
amazing,” she says. “They were so kind, so helpful and always replied quickly. I never had to chase anyone. The whole process moved really fast. I moved in around three months after my first viewing, but that was only because I delayed it while sorting my old rental.You could do it even faster.” An unexpected bonus has been seeing one of her closest friends also buy at the development. “My friend had a terrible time renting. She’d had buildings shut down because of cladding issues, flooding, all sorts,” says Rhiannon. “She came to visit my flat and said, ‘Oh, I could do this.’ It’s so nice having one of your best friends in the same building,” says Rhiannon. “She’s got my spare key, I’ve got hers. We don’t see each other every day, but just knowing someone’s there if you need them is lovely.” Now nearly a year into homeownership, Rhiannon says buying at Square Roots Lewisham has completely changed her life. “I finally feel settled,” she says. “I’ve got my own home, my cats are happy, I feel safe, and I’m investing in my future instead of paying someone else’s mortgage. “For me, it was never about having loads of space or luxury extras. It was about having somewhere secure, somewhere that felt like mine, and somewhere I could build a future. Square Roots gave me that.” Her partner, Dan, has also recently moved in after facing rising rental costs in his own shared accommodation, making the apartment feel even more like home. “His rent was increased by £300 and he was spending all his time here anyway,” says Rhiannon. “Now we get to properly enjoy the space together, and it just feels like the start of our next chapter.” Square Roots also offers Shared Ownership homes at Kingston and Hendon, giving buyers the opportunity to choose from three well- connected London locations, each designed to make homeownership more accessible.
Stylish one, two and three bedroom apartments
Communal rooftop terrace with panoramic London views
Landscaped gardens and waterside setting
Excellent rail and DLR connections
Easy access to London Bridge, Canary Wharf and the City
Pet-friendly homes available
really important for me and for my mum.” Her commute to the theatre is now also
significantly easier. “It takes about 40 minutes at a normal pace, including walking and the train, and the train itself is only 20 minutes,” she explains. “That’s amazing for central London. I also wanted somewhere with multiple transport options because theatre hours aren’t normal working hours. I’ve got trains, DLR, buses, night buses and the Overground, so if one route is down, I’ve got four or five other ways to get home.” The buying process itself was also smoother than expected. “The Square Roots team was honestly
Homes at Square Roots Lewisham start from £105,625 for a 25% share. To find out more or book a viewing, visit squareroots.co.uk/developments/lewisham or speak to the sales team
First Time Buyer October/November 2026 61
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