Merlion Homes* was first established in 1991 to provide home buyers with an alternative, affordable route into home ownership. With the demand for home ownership products outstripping initiatives from government, we felt there was a need to do things differently and found ourselves at the vanguard of developing a private funding solution that worked.
Combining our industry expertise with innovative forms of funding we have been able to put more people within reach of buying their own home. Our traditional shared equity scheme has already proved successful for thousands of people and as a result we have seen our reputation grow rapidly over the last decade, among both house builders and Local Authorities. We believe our new Enhanced Shared Equity Partnership scheme will continue this proud tradition and assist even more people to buy their own home.
Much of our successful track record is due to the strong relationships we have developed with our partners throughout the sector and as we look to the future, Merlion Homes is well set to tackle the challenges that face the sector. With the infrastructure in place, we believe our ever-growing presence will help us continue to deliver outstanding results.
We now plan to take on an even more important role in the field of affordable housing, working with more organisations who we believe will benefit from our individual approach.
Chris Williams
Managing Director
Chris joined the Merlion Homes team in 2017 to develop and launch its new innovative shared equity model to the market. He is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an Associate member of the Royal institute of Chartered Surveyors. He brings with him over 25 years’ experience driving the provision of high quality affordable and private housing throughout the South of England. Chris has predominantly worked with Housing Associations and Local Authorities and has a diverse experience from rural to large strategic development sites.
Lesley Griffin
Senior Administration & Equity Manager
Lesley provides the administrative support across the Merlion team. She is the first point of contact for customer enquiries and also supports existing customers, looking to either sell their Merlion home or to purchase their remaining equity stake. Lesley has been with Merlion for over 10 years and has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience, making her a valuable member of the team. With a background in administration and finance and having previously worked for building societies and mortgage brokers, Lesley is well versed in the financial side of purchasing and financing a new home, making her the ideal contact for customers seeking advice on the Merlion shared equity scheme. For those existing customers, looking to either sell their home or to buy their way out of their equity loan, Lesley is able to provide expert advice and guidance. From explaining the options available to supporting them throughout the process, Lesley is there for Merlion’s customers, every step of the way.
Kimberley Maidment
Accountant
James McCammon-Williams
Operations Director
James joined Merlion in 2025 and brings with him over 11 years experience in the Affordable Housing sector. Having worked with both Registered Providers and leading housing solicitor firms, James has successfully implemented robust sales and marketing frameworks that drive results and support the delivery of affordable homeownership.