"Without Shared Ownership, we would have stayed in a cycle of renting"

Tabrez and Malika are amongst those buyers who were priced out of the open market, until they found their two-bedroom Shared Ownership apartment with Abri Homes at the Horlicks Quarter in Slough.

Having rented in Harrow for the past two years, Tabrez was keen to stop paying into the pockets of a landlord and take control of his home ownership journey. 

“We had been renting our London flat for two years, and as our family grew to four with the birth of our daughter, we knew we had outgrown the space. I was vaguely aware of Shared Ownership but didn’t know what it entailed. When I found out more information about the scheme, it seemed like the perfect way for us to get on the property ladder with a more affordable deposit. 

“We looked at Shared Ownership homes in London, but with our household income, it just wasn’t feasible as the costs exceeded our rental payments (£1,500) by £300, so we began to look at areas further out that are easily commutable into London.”

"We’re now paying £1,200 per month and having that extra £300 a month makes a huge difference. Our energy bills are also drastically reduced by moving into a new build property. Without Shared Ownership, we would have stayed stagnant in a cycle of renting, without being able to save for our own home. We’re so grateful to also have had a helping hand from my sister-in-law, who supported us with the initial deposit.”

“Our long-term plan is to take that £300 that we’re now saving and put it towards building a fund which allows us to buy a larger share of the apartment from Abri.” 

“Slough wasn’t on my radar at all, but now it seems like such an obvious choice. The Elizabeth line makes commuting to work and London so easy and our apartment is located near to the station and town centre, which makes nipping out to the shops a breeze. As our children grow up, there are lots of great schools for us to choose from in the area, including a range of Grammar schools.

“There is a lovely community forming within the development and we’ve met lots of neighbours as we’re exploring the rooftop garden, gym and other facilities. The quality of these amenities wasn’t even comparable to what we viewed in London developments, and what’s better is that we have full access included in our service charge. Londoners are famous for not being the friendliest, so to have this neighbourly atmosphere has been a welcome addition as we raise our children.”

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised with how spacious our home feels, especially with the abundance of natural light. Our balcony catches the sunlight for most of the day and as a keen gardener, I’m keen to make it as green as possible with plants, shrubs and herbs. Having that outside area just further extends our living space, which with two young children, is always a win! 

“We’re excited for our family’s future in Slough. Lots of families move away from London, but now we’ve got the best of both worlds - being able to access the city easily, while also moving at a more relaxed pace day-to-day.”