Why choose to live in Richmond Upon Thames?

Richmond upon Thames, situated in South West London is considered by many to be an incredibly beautiful town and offers some of the finest dinning, shopping, opportunities for children and places to visit in the UK.

Richmond’s restaurants are among the best in the capital and include a wide array of cuisines, including French, Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Persian and Croatian dishes. Due to the high popularity, it is wise to book a table in advance if you are going out for a special occasion at one of the leading establishments.

The Borough is not short of places to visit and has some of the best sights in the UK. Richmond Park is one of the most highly regarded with its astounding views, red and fallow deer, and the immaculately beautiful Pembroke Lodge which is ideal for weddings and family occasions. For everyone who loves exotic sights, the Kew Gardens offer some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and attract over one million visitors every year.

With a wide array of historic houses, Richmond prospers with culture. Such establishments include Marble Hill House, Hampton Court Palace and Ham House. If you are a rugby fan or are a huge concert buff, you are in luck because Richmond is home to the largest rugby stadium in the country, Twickenham.

The town centre is renowned for its shopping potential but the wider Borough has an even larger list of high quality establishments. Children will also benefit from living in Richmond as there is an array of activities including clothing shops, party venues, drama activities and soft plays.

At Finefair we have a lot of experience working in Richmond. We serve a wide array of clients, including the local Council, landlords, and prospective buyers too. With our range of services available, our team will work with you extensively to ensure your needs are met. Whether you’re looking to buy, find an investment property, explore council leasing or want to have properties managed professionally you can rely on us.

Understanding The Requirements Of Newham Property Owners

With the demand levels for property in London remaining high, there is an equal level of pressure in place to make use of buildings which stand empty. On a superficial level the easiest solution to the housing problem seems to be to just somehow force owners of the buildings not occupied to allow them to be used. Whilst we would assume that most would understand the sentiment behind this view, we would place emphasis on understanding that the rights of a building owner must at all times be respected.

The approach we take is to work with property owners in a constructive way. We don’t view the increasing demand levels as a reason to try and somehow force them to let their buildings be used. For us it is far better to emphasise the benefits which they can get from letting their investment properties be rented out, in particular through the use of our comprehensive property services. By this we mean it is better to gain an understanding of why they are vacant, and work towards an amicable solution in respect of getting them into use.

One of the key problems property owners face is the cost of allowing their building to be used. This cost is measured in terms of money and resources such as time. It is not that owners want to leave their buildings vacant, in most cases it’s just that they cannot provide what is required to ensure their building is let in a way that protects their investment. Our management services combined with arrangements such as guaranteed rent and council leasing address this. With our services managing a property, owners are assured of their assets are being well maintained and earning a fixed, fair return.

At present the London Borough of Newham has been identified as having a substantial number of vacant properties within it. Research has indicated that over 1,000 buildings are presently empty. If you own a property in the area and are looking for the ideal way to earn a return on investment from it, our comprehensive services are designed to give it to you.

A strategy to boost housing supplies

Redbridge Council has taken a special approach to boost the number of homes that are available in the Borough in order to cater for the needs of the people on their housing list. The area has one of the lowest numbers of housing supplies in the capital, creating a tough situation for the people waiting for homes. Their strategy is to purchase derelict properties on the open market and invest in renovating them so that tenants can move in.

The plan allows the Council to purchase buildings across the Borough, including in areas where they are needed the most. This strategy provides more freedom than purchasing new builds and also offers opportunities to make the money they invest go further. There are economic benefits too because the work to renovate the properties can be given to businesses in the area.

The Council will ensure that all of the properties they invest in are suitable and can be renovated to a very high standard. This is important to ensure that the needs of the tenants are satisfied. Good workmanship also means the properties will serve the needs of the housing authority for a very long period of time.

All of the properties that Redbridge Council purchases will be bought under the right to buy scheme. This will cover 30% of the price. The remaining money comes from revenue generated by the authority. The strategy is sustainable and means there will be fewer run down and derelict buildings in the Borough that could be turned into great homes.

At Finefair we have a fantastic relationship with Redbridge Council. As part of our services we can help landlords in the Borough looking to lease their properties with the local housing authority. We play our part in helping to boost the amount of homes they have to offer. On top of this we can also offer block management services for each landlords, helping them to ensure their assets are well cared for.

The value of floorspace

The price of floorspace in London is continuing to rise, adding to the value of properties in the residential and commercial sectors as well as land. In May 2016 it was reported that the average per square metre had reached an impressive £2,216 across the capital.

Halifax looked beyond this, researching the most areas valuable areas in the UK in terms of floorspace. Two areas, the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea alongside Westminster, exceeded £10,000 per square metre. In total the capital was home to 17 destinations with floorspace valued at over £5,000 per square metre. Five areas beyond London and the South of England joined the list of most expensive areas.

The list shows you the most valuable areas but it is wise to look beyond these figures on their own to determine where you want to invest your money. Alongside the value it is a good idea to look at the growth as some areas will have performed much better than others.

When you look at growth Merton becomes a very attractive prospect. The Borough offers some beautiful attractions for property seekers, including the fact that it is home to Wimbledon. On top of this the area joined the list of areas with floor space worth over £5,000 per square metre in 2016. It has enjoyed good growth and offers good prospects for further increases in value in the future.

An important thing to consider is that not all floorspace commands the same kind of value. Usable space is the most valuable, whereas corridors, landings and other spaces with limited uses command smaller prices. It is wise to look at the distribution to get a much closer view of the value of a property.

At Finefair we offer an array of services for investors, including estate management, guaranteed rent, and lettings. We are highly experienced and can support clients all across the capital. If you are looking to invest in Merton or another area where you want to look closely at floorspace we can help you.

A fantastic area for great prices and amazing connectivity

Lewisham is a borough located in south east London and offers homes that can prove to be a real catch for anyone looking for great properties without having to pay the inner city prices. There is a wide variety of housing choices on offer, meaning everyone looking to buy or rent can find a good home.

Living just a few miles from the city centre can offer a vast array of benefits. You will be pleased to know that Lewisham has amazing transport links to the city and is only a 30 minute commute. The Borough is well connected with the local train station having trains to Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street, and London Bridge. As well as this there is a stop on the DLR Metro.

If you do not feel like making the trip into the capital for shopping the local high street is great and boasts a wealth of shops and a vast amount of cultural cuisines to satisfy your every need. The best attraction for many shoppers would be the Riverdale Centre. This boasts a great local market that runs every day except on Sundays.

The schools in the area have great reviews. The prestigious university of London is only a stone’s throw away if you are deciding to pursue higher education. The area also boasts a great hospital with a 24/7 accident and emergency department. Greenwich Park is not very far from the Borough and can make for a great day out for anyone, especially families.

At Finefair we offer support for people looking to find a home in Lewisham, whether you are looking at renting or buying. Our letting agents can help you to choose the right area, finding a property where you can enjoy fantastic monthly rates. They will work closely with you to determine your needs, including understanding what you are looking for from a home, your budget, and the length of the tenancy you need. You can expect a professional service with us.

Anticipating all costs to ensure you make the best returns for properties

Investing in property can provide big rewards, especially if you find the right opportunities in an area where there is good demand for homes. Care needs to be taken though because some investments can prove to be a much more costly prospect than they first appear.

To protect your interests you should never purchase a property without having it surveyed to ensure there are no problems with the structure or other costly faults. The cost of the checks is well worth it when you consider how high the prospective bills can be for large scale repairs. You should ensure the surveys are done by qualified professionals who will offer you clear, honest advice.

If the property you are looking to invest in is in a block of flats or an apartment building you need to be extra careful. You could be required to pay an annual fee to contribute towards the communal areas in the building and other repairs. If you fail to take this into account and other costs you can incur for repairs you could see your prospective profit dwindle.

At Finefair we work with a large number of investors with properties dotted all across the capital. We strive to offer them the very best level of support we can, whether they choose us for a full property management service, to find new properties to add to their portfolio, or advice about the market. We can tailor services to suit all kinds of requirements and ensure we give our clients the best support.

As part of our service we can help you to make sure the property you buy will provide the profits you expect. We can conduct a valuation before you buy, offer advice about potential rental incomes, provide recommendations for improvements, and will advise you about the costs you could be looking at. We can help investors throughout Lambeth and across the whole of the capital.

Understanding The Many Markets For London Property

Our position as a leading name in the London property market means that we know something that normally doesn’t get a mention in news reports. This is that there’s no one single market in the capital as such, but rather just over 30 different ones. It really is the case that each and every one of the Boroughs experiences unique levels of demand for property, and as a consequence the dynamics of the market change from area to area.

The closest the news reports get to mentioning this is usually when they run an article on how radically different property prices are on opposite sides of the street. This is a phenomenon which really does happen, and we can assure you that when it does it’s purely because the two sides of the street in question are within two different London Boroughs. Whilst cases like this are fairly isolated, they do happen and it’s a good way to illustrate just how important it is to understand the property markets rather than expecting a single one.

To get a better understanding of the above, let’s take a look at an example. In present day circumstances, the Borough of Kingston upon Thames is somewhat out of kilter with the general market conditions. Whilst most would say that the demand for property in London is on the increase, the opposite is true here. The conditions are unique and definitely worth note from prospective buyers.

Knowing the conditions in a particular area is vital in making informed decisions regarding property investments. Those who are presently looking at property investment options will know that the situation in Kingston upon Thames makes this a good time to purchase because there is less competition and deals can be found.

It is this form of understanding, knowledge and insight that we bring to our clients. If you have any questions please contact us; we will go over your needs and see where we can provide the best support.

New homes for Kensington and Chelsea after Council deal with local College

Kensington and Chelsea Council announced a multi-million pound deal at the start of June that will bring new homes to the Borough. The agreement sees the purchase of a 1.25 acre site on Wornington Road that was owned by the College. The move will ultimately benefit the community by securing part of the site for educational use, communal facilities and the creation of homes.

The deal has been praised as beneficial to all parties involved. The idea has been in the pipeline for a little while, with the decision to purchase being reached in April. With the completion of the deal the project can now progress to planning. The aim is to create new private homes, including a number of affordable ones. The plans will be discussed with a private rented sector developer.

Kensington and Chelsea College praised the deal as it helps them to achieve their objectives of satisfying the needs of students, employers, and the wider community in the Borough. They will have the right to continue using existing educational buildings on the Wornington Road site for the next few years. On top of this they will be able to use any new spaces that are constructed to replace the existing property. This could give them access to modern facilities without bearing the bill for construction.

When the new properties are built they could offer good opportunities for buyers, renters and investors too. The latter group could even choose to let out their properties with help from the Council in the future if they wish. This could help them to secured guaranteed rent for a period of time, ensuring the properties are inhabited and are earning an income.

At Finefair we work with landlords across the Borough and can help them to guarantee their rent is paid. We have a lot of experience and will find the very best course of action to suit each landlord, whether it is leasing with the Council or private lettings where we offer the guarantees. If you would like support and advice please contact us.

The wonders of Islington

Already a beautiful country as a whole, the UK is home to some of the most culturally rich and beautiful places in the world. Formed in 1965 and located in the centre of Greater London, Islington is the first choice of many people who are looking for a new home in one of these areas.

The Borough has incredibly diverse neighbourhoods and gives residents massive potential to build up a varied friend circle. Regardless of social classes the residential areas are packed with a mixture of students, couples, families, pensioners, and young professionals, all of whom live side by side without differences. The number of cafes and restaurants available offer residents the chance to relax and get to know their neighbours well.

Anyone who is familiar with London will know about the busy city life and how congested it can get. Islington belongs to zone 2, the central part of the capital. This makes it easy to get to the City without having to live within it, and the laid back kind of traffic and lowest number of cars registered per household makes transportation excellent. The minimal amount of traffic makes the Borough an ideal place for families too.

By choosing to live in Islington you can become part of a rich history. There are several old structures including chapels and theatres that still stand today. Among the four cultural theatres that are within walking distance from each other is the King’s Head, which has satisfied audiences since Shakespeare’s time. In addition to the historical landscapes, the area has been featured extensively in English literature. The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix from Harry Potter is located in the area and English author Douglas Adams lived there.

Our team at Finefair works extensively to provide the best information and services when helping clients find the right home. With our years of experience and dedication, we are the number one choice when it comes to finding your ideal property.

We are also proud to work with landlords and investors with properties in the area. As part of these services we can help them to get the best returns for their assets, offering direct lettings, council leasing, and an array of other options. We will explain the pros and cons of each option and provide recommendations. With these services we always keep the best interest of the client in mind.

The rise in the number of houseboats in London

London has a wide array of different houses to choose from, whether it is family homes, luxury apartments, penthouses or large mansions. There are even a number of floating properties if you want to live on the water. The Thames stretches for 42 miles across the capital and there are a number of waterways across the city too. This stretches the total mileage to over 100 and means there are many opportunities for people to live on houseboats.

Over the last five years the Canal and River Trust has seen a big rise in boat numbers as more and more people choose to live on them. This has seen some very exciting developments, including proposals for the creation of new marinas and opportunities for people to make their home on the water.

Hounslow is set to be the recipient of one of these developments. In May plans for a £5.45 million marina in Brentford were approved by the local Council. The idea is to create 26 berths on the riverside at Watermans Park. The project will improve the look of the setting, improve waste disposal, and could attract even more regeneration to the area.

Both the Environment Agency and The Port of London Authority (PLA) were involved in discussions about the proposals. Neither was in opposition to the redevelopment plan.

The new 26 berths will create further homes for people on the river in Hounslow. There will also be opportunities for investors to moor houseboats in the area and let them out.

At Finefair we work with all kinds of investors in London, offering a wide range of services to suit an array of requirements. One service we can provide is block management. This sees us manage blocks of properties for our clients, ensuring each is looked after to the highest standards. If you own a portfolio of homes in an area you can choose our service, save on costs, and still have complete confidence that each property is well cared for.