17/03/2026
After years of renting and navigating a major career change, Kanaka recently achieved a milestone she once thought was out of reach – she bought her first home in East London through shared ownership. Originally from India, she moved to the UK in 2022 to pursue a long term academic career. Today, she tells us her new home in Poplar Riverside is a place where she can finally settle, grow and build the life she’s been working towards.
Home away from home
When Kanaka first moved to the UK, she and her partner lived in the Isle of Dogs, just a short walk from where she lives now. The area quickly became familiar – full of local shops, cultural diversity, and close connections to the city centre.
As she settled into her PhD and teaching work, one thing became clear to her and her partner… East London wasn’t just convenient – it genuinely felt like home.
“We’ve always preferred East London. Culturally it works for us, and it’s close to everything we need,” she explains.
Putting down roots
With both Kanaka and her partner transitioning careers, buying outright wasn’t an option. Renting, although familiar, felt temporary and limiting – especially when they dreamed of creating a home filled with colour, craft, and personal touches.
Shared ownership provided a realistic way forward.
Buying a 25% share meant they could finally start investing in their future. After researching the scheme and learning how it worked, Kanaka found a two‑bedroom home with us, that offered the stability and flexibility she needed.
For her, the ability to get onto the property ladder while still managing finances sensibly made shared ownership an ideal fit.
