London is home to the largest number of renters in the country. Renting has become a firmly established way of life for many and has transformed the housing market throughout the capital. It is predicted that an additional 1.1 million people will begin renting properties over the course of the next five years. Almost 30% of London’s residents are renters, and research shows that almost half of all 25 to 30 year olds fully expect renting to become the usual way of life in the future. The phenomenal shift to private renting seems a long way away from the nation’s previous emotional attachment to property ownership, but the reality is that the UK rental market is here to stay. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2016
Will you pay a premium for an affordable property?
Demand for homes in London is so high in many Boroughs that buyers are facing the prospect of having to pay a premium to beat the competition. This is becoming particularly common in areas typically considered to offer a high amount of affordable housing. There are several areas where sellers can stand to earn big rewards by selling while demand is at its highest. Continue reading
Bromley development set to attract even more renters in 2016
There are many boroughs throughout London that have been tipped for increased popularity in 2016 due to various development projects, substantial investments and the introduction or improvement of convenient transport links. Bromley is a large suburban town and one of the major metropolitan districts identified in the London Plan. The town has always been popular among renters due to its two railway stations, cultural offerings and Intu Shopping Centre. The area is becoming increasingly appealing to first time buyers, as well as buy to let landlords looking to maximise on the influx of renters. Continue reading
Examining the developments of 2015
As we begin a new year, figures have shown that homes across the UK experienced huge rates of financial growth throughout 2015. There are approximately 28.6 million homes throughout the entire country, which grew in value by almost £1.4 billion every day last year. As expected, London showed some of the highest growth in property values and demand, cementing its reputation as a sought after area for buyers, investors and tenants. Continue reading
The right tenants are essential for harmonious HMOs
With more and more people sharing houses and flats in London, the quest to secure a room in a multiple occupancy building is becoming increasingly competitive. When trying to bag the room of their choice, a large number of potential renters are facing interviews with landlords, property owners and other occupants. The survey by Easy Roommate highlights the kind of people that are likely to secure the room they want and the character traits that are preferred by established landlords and existing tenants. Continue reading
Casting an eye to transport links
The property market in London is immensely competitive and attracts a hugely diverse range of buyers, each with their own specific criteria. One thing that most people targeting the area will need to consider is the transport links. These are very important because of the sheer size of the city and the need to be able to move around freely. The presence of transport links such as Underground stations and bus routes can transform areas into property hotspots. Continue reading
Helping you to reach short and long term goals
As highly experienced property specialists, we completely understand that all investors will have their own individual goals and that each portfolio is completely unique. Some investors will be looking to quickly sell on a property for a profit, while others will seek more long-term investments and may let their properties so they can continue to make a steady income until the property has gained optimum value for selling. Many investors have a combination of short and long term investments. Continue reading
The changing nature of London’s council housing
The last four decades has seen a significant shift in the nature of the properties people live in. This is highly visible when we look at the numbers of people living in properties designated as council housing. Whereas during the late 1970s around 42% of the population lived in council housing, the latest figures show that figure has now fallen below 8%. When we factor in how dramatically our population has increased over that period, it makes the falling number seem all the more astonishing. Continue reading
Waltham Forest enjoys record property prices
One of the aims of the 2012 London Olympics was to serve as a catalyst for regeneration in the four London Boroughs which were selected to host games and events. It is now almost four years since the games, and success has clearly been reached in this aim. Waltham Forest was one of the four Boroughs to serve as host, and the exceptional increase in the number of valuable investment properties in this area of London shows the long lasting success achieved through regeneration. Continue reading
A positive outlook for January
We’re at the beginning of a brand new year, and January is expected to be an excellent month for rental growth in London’s prime sector, according to a recent report from estate agents Marsh & Parsons. The period is typically the strongest for growth outside of the summer months. In each of the last three years December to January has seen an average 34% increase in rental exchanges. It is expected that 2016 will follow this trend as people look to make changes to their domestic situation at the very start of the New Year. Continue reading
