FIRST TIME BUYERS SAY ‘I DO’ TO NEW HOME AT SQUARE ROOTS LEWISHAM

IT consultant Adam, who originates from Poland, and PR consultant Samika, who is from India, met in London. After a perfect first date, their relationship quickly blossomed, leading to their engagement earlier this year. Adam comments: “We enjoyed a date at Prosecco House in Tower Bridge, which involved a lot of prosecco, and the rest is history.” 

Their decision to have weddings in India, Poland, and the UK, symbolises their commitment to honouring their multicultural backgrounds and close-knit families spread across the globe. The Indian wedding, set for November, will be a grand affair with 200-500 guests, while the Polish wedding in May 2025 will gather around 150 attendees. Their UK celebration, planned for the 16th of August, will be an intimate celebration for close friends and family in their new home, marking the beginning of their life together. 

Samika had been renting in Lewisham for two years when Adam moved from his rented house share in Canary Wharf to join her. Currently, they share a one-bedroom flat in Lewisham. Having decided that Lewisham was the perfect location, they began searching for a property that better suited their needs. The couple chose Lewisham for its vibrant community, excellent transport links, and the exciting ongoing regeneration projects. Square Roots Lewisham offers a unique blend of urban living with a touch of tranquillity, making it the ideal location for their first home. 

Samika shares: “I love Lewisham because everything is so convenient. I know all the best spots now and have made friends here. It has a strong community vibe.” Adam adds: “Thanks to the extensive local regeneration programme, Lewisham is a vibrant place and we feel we are making a strong investment for our future. There is a warm, vibrant community atmosphere, great local businesses, extensive green open space and excellent commuter links, which all make it the perfect place to call home.”

“Our apartment at Square Roots Lewisham has two bedrooms, great living space and a private balcony. It’s really spacious and we are going use the second bedroom as a home office.  I mainly work from home and commute into the office in the city once a week, so it’s great to have both Lewisham and Ladywell stations within easy walking distance.”

Lewisham's green spaces are a vital part of the borough's character and appeal, offering residents and visitors a rich variety of environments to explore and enjoy. From large, historic parks to smaller, community-focused gardens, Lewisham's green areas provide great places for residents to relax and enjoy an active lifestyle and a strong sense of community. Adam comments: “Lewisham has so many lovely parks and green open space, which is great as we love spending our spare time enjoying a picnic in the local parks and are planning to get a dog soon.” 

Adam and Samika have embarked on their homeownership journey by using Square Roots’ shared ownership scheme, initially acquiring a 25% share. This decision allowed them to enter the housing market in their desired neighbourhood without the immediate financial burden of full ownership. Eager to build equity and secure their financial future, they are planning to staircase to 100% outright ownership over the coming years. 

Adam explains: “The idea of shared ownership appealed to us and helped us find our forever home. Among the developers we considered, Square Roots stood out for being the most informative about their shared ownership scheme. We particularly appreciated their shared ownership calculator, which was an invaluable tool in helping us determine what we could afford."

Thanks to the shared ownership scheme, Adam and Samika are paying the same monthly outgoings for their two-bedroom apartment as they were renting a one-bedroom apartment. However, they are getting much more for their money and investing in their future at the same time.  

In addition to enjoying more space and less noise, Adam and Samika are excited about specific features of their new home. Adam shares: “We can't wait to enjoy using the communal roof terrace, especially as it will give us an opportunity to meet our new neighbours. We're big board game enthusiasts, and it will be lovely to play on the terrace. I also plan to use the cycle storage that is available for every property, as I currently rent Lime bikes to commute from home to my office in Fitzrovia and it will be great to own my own bike and have a secure place to store it.” 

Adam remarks: “We conducted thorough research and visited numerous properties. Square Roots Lewisham stood out as the best. The sales representatives were incredibly supportive, providing useful insights and their recommended agencies streamlined the paperwork to ensure the entire process was smooth and efficient. It only took about three to four months.”

Prices at Square Roots Lewisham start from £103,750, with a 25% minimum share. Square Roots, supported by its parent company, award winning developer London Square, is a new housing provider focused on bringing high quality affordable housing to London. For more information, please visit New Shared Ownership Homes in Lewisham | Square Roots.