Structures aren’t just something that people build, they act as homes which themselves are safe havens to billions of people. New properties can offer a particularly fresh start, giving people a blank canvas to work with in creating their own home. London may be the most populous city in the UK, but there is still plenty of potential for people to find their ideal home.

The Barking and Dagenham Council has a vision in mind that could materialise and bring with it a boost in homes and jobs in East London. Enough land is available to deliver over 35,000 homes and 10,000 new jobs between the next 15-20 years. There are certain barriers in place presently that are preventing the idea from coming to life though. One of the issues concerning an agreement to have an overground train station to be built at Barking Riverside has been resolved already. This alone will allow 10,800 new homes to be erected along a two kilometre stretch of wasteland beside the Thames.

The A-13 road also presents a blockade. The Lodge Avenue Flyover and Renwick Road Junction are particular congestion and bottle neck magnets, costing businesses millions each year. Because the surrounding area is severely blighted, the land values are very low, hindering investments for developers. The Borough is also practically cut in two due to the road, dividing the communities. The plan here is to have a 1.3km stretch of the A-13 tunnelled. The resulting re-zoning of industrial land for mixed use development would directly create the opportunity for 5,000 new homes at least. This would also stimulate the development for 30,000 further planned homes in Barking and Dagenham and the neighbouring Havering.

At Finefair we have extensive experience when it comes to finding buyers for new property across the vast reaches of London. We work closely with prospective buyers to find out what it is they want from their homes and we do our best to deliver this to them. Whether they are owner occupiers or investors we can provide all of the support they need. We can even offer guaranteed rent services for the latter to help them ensure they get a stable income.

Redbridge Council are considering following the lead of several others in London and becoming a designated licensing area. This would see landlords having to pay for a licence for each private property they want to let. The move is designed to improve standards, including the quality of housing, and ensure that tenants are treated fairly. It is believed it would also tackle anti-social behaviour. Continue reading →

The Councils for the London Boroughs of Newham and Havering agreed a fantastic deal in 2013 which saw a great partnership formed between their back offices. The move was not politically orientated; instead the focus was on maximising efficiency and delivering the best possible support. The relationship has provided several fantastic benefits and there are plans to extend it. Continue reading →

In June House Simple released its latest data for property supply across the UK. The figures show that supplies have gained 4.8% overall in May. Different areas fared better than others though, with some seeing a drop in availability whilst others have enjoyed an increase in the number of homes that are available.

The best performing area in the whole of the UK in the period was Lichfield in the West Midlands. This saw a huge 55.8% rise in supplies. Chesterfield and Rugby followed with 37.5% and 32.5%. In London the best performing area was Waltham Forest at 31%. Merton followed closely with a 30% increase.

The performance of the two areas in the capital is impressive and comes as 53% of the 32 London Boroughs reported a rise in supply. The news is very welcome, particularly with restrictions on supplies coupled with high demand continuing to push prices up in many areas.

Merton is a very interesting Borough to live in thanks to the great location and the attractions on offer. The area has enjoyed a growing population over recent years and numbers are expected to continue to rise between now and 2020. The age groups showing the highest growth are over 50s and under 16s. This shows that the area is very attractive to families. In fact this kind of household currently makes up approximately one in four of the homes in the Borough.

Areas to the west in Merton tend to be the most affluent, particularly those around Wimbledon. There are many attractive larger homes here as well as more open spaces to enjoy. This pushes up demand for homes in the area.

At Finefair we can help people to choose the right investment properties in Merton. If you are looking for a home that offers the potential for a fantastic return we can help. We will work closely with you to determine your criteria and help with the search. We can offer advice about different areas and also help you to plan your lettings strategy, determining whether you want to do it privately or with the local council.