Thousands of first time buyers flocked to the London Home Show at the weekend, as it returned to the Queen Elizabeth II Centre following an 18-month pause to in-person events. Exceeding expectations, organisers Share to Buy, the UK’s leading online portal for Shared Ownership properties, welcomed over 3,400 guests throughout the day.

A one stop shop for first time buyers looking to find out more about Shared Ownership, Help to Buy, and all things affordable home ownership, the free exhibition gave potential buyers unprecedented access to some of the housing industry’s biggest names and showcased the best affordable homes available across London and the Home Counties – including thousands of properties available through Shared Ownership and Help to Buy. The event also offered information about quality rental alternatives including London Living Rent and Build to Rent.

A new offering for the show this year, a series of packed first time buyer workshops took place throughout the day, giving visitors a chance to learn about the different home-buying options available to them from a range of industry experts. Visitors were also able to attend live Q&A sessions with industry experts covering everything from understanding Shared Ownership and Help to Buy eligibility criteria to perfecting your credit score. A number of independent mortgage advisors and solicitors were also on hand to offer free financial and legal advice and answer purchasers’ questions about the buying process.

Nick Lieb, Head of Operations for Share to Buy comments: “Despite a challenging 18 months, the high turnout on Saturday demonstrated that Londoners are more determined than ever to get onto the property ladder, and demand remains exceptionally strong for high-quality affordable homes. The London Home Show is a critical asset for many first time buyers in the capital, and although the housing industry adapted brilliantly throughout the pandemic with a range of webinars, digital events and video calls, our remarkable visitor numbers truly shows that nothing beats speaking face-to-face with experts. We were delighted to be back home in Westminster!”

Hosting 45 exhibitors, guests were able to speak with teams from the city’s leading housing providers and sales agents. Sponsors of the event included L&Q, Latimer by Clarion Housing Group, Peabody, SO Resi by Metropolitan Thames Valley, Southern Home Ownership, Catalyst New Homes, Notting Hill Genesis, Countryside Properties, Galliard Homes, Red Loft, JLL and Savills. All exhibitors had their own stand, making it easy for hopeful buyers to get their questions answered.

The next London Home Show will return in spring 2022. To find out more, visit: www.sharetobuy.com/homeshow