Meet Lilian & Raquel
Sisters Lilian and Raquel had been renting in West London for eight and a half years since moving from their home in Brazil. Buying a home together was their dream but had always been financially unattainable – until the sisters discovered Shared Ownership.
The sisters explain: “We loved our old rental, but the rent kept increasing, and eventually it became too much. We’ve always lived together and had dreamed of owning our own home, but for a long time it simply felt out of reach.”
After putting their home ownership ambitions on the backburner, their financial position changed and they started seriously considering the possibility of buying. They continue: “Lilian received a salary increase after starting her new job and then our parents in Brazil were able to gift us some money by selling a piece of land. It felt like a turning point, and like homeownership could finally become a reality.”
Starting their search on the private market, the sisters quickly realised that, even if they purchased a one-bedroom property outright, they’d either have to sacrifice on location or space to align with their budget.
“That’s when a friend recommended L&Q’s Shared Ownership homes to us, after buying their own home in North London through the scheme. Seeing how happy they were gave us the confidence to explore our own options.”
Knowing they wanted to stay in West London, the sisters began searching for Shared Ownership homes and soon discovered Kew Bridge Rise. The sisters looked online and got in touch with the L&Q sales team to book a tour of the show home. They quickly realised the space was perfect for them, and ticked every single one of their boxes – it felt like a no brainer.
“When we first visited the show home at Kew Bridge Rise, we fell in love with the space. It was bright and welcoming, and we could immediately picture what our evenings there might look like – enjoying the views from the balcony and finally having a place of our own.”
“Location was one of the biggest draws for us. We’ve lived in West London for years and love the area, so being able to stay close to everything we know was hugely important. It also meant we would have excellent transport links for commuting to work, which was another big advantage. We also loved being so close to the river and having so many green spaces nearby.”
Lilian and Raquel have since purchased a 35% share of a two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartment at Kew Bridge Rise, for £204,750. Delivered by L&Q in partnership with The Hill Group, Kew Bridge Rise was awarded Silver for Best Starter Home Scheme at the 2025 WhatHouse? Awards.
An unexpected bonus for Lilian and Raquel was the resident-only amenities that Kew Bridge Rise offers – from a private gym and co-working space to podium gardens and a concierge service. The sisters continue:
“Having access to the residents-only communal garden has been such a lovely bonus. It’s great to have a shared outdoor space on our doorstep, and it really adds to the overall vibe of the development.”
Speaking about their homebuying journey, the sisters explain how straightforward they found the buying process with L&Q: “Nicki and Jhon from the L&Q sales team were incredibly helpful clarifying the whole process from start to finish. They answered all our questions, whatever they were – no matter how big or small!”
Looking ahead, the sisters are excited about what homeownership means for their future. They add: “Life can change so quickly, and when we first moved from Brazil, we never imagined we would still be living in the UK more than eight years later.”
“Becoming homeowners has completely changed our confidence for the future. We’re already thinking about how we can work towards staircasing and increasing our share in the property. Knowing that our money is going towards something we own, rather than disappearing on rent each month, is such a relief, and it has given us a new sense of motivation for the years ahead!”