We already know that London is full of unusual and distinctive properties, but our attention was recently caught by a particularly interesting news story – a former public toilet which has been placed on the market with an asking price of £1 million. If it sells, it will become the most expensive public toilet in Britain, smashing the previous record of £115,000 which was fetched by a block in Cornwall’s Charlestown in 2015. Continue reading
The changing skyline of West London
There is currently a significant amount of building and construction work being carried out across London. While a significant amount of this relates to global corporates setting up a presence here, most of it is centred on addressing the well documented shortage of housing in London. With demand far outstripping the level of property available, urgent building work is underway to ease the pressure. In this regard, the London Borough of Hounslow features examples of both the high level of demand for property and the efforts to address the situation. Continue reading
New commuter connections for South East London
The South East and East End of London have long been known to be quite a challenge for people travelling to and from work, despite their geographical proximity to the centre of the capital. To the relief of commuters from throughout the capital, Transport for London (TfL) are taking steps to ensure that this problem will soon be a thing of the past. Continue reading
Dealing with void periods
A void period is the term used to describe any period of time when a rental property is standing empty, without any tenants in it. For many landlords, void periods are a worrying and serious issue. Although rental properties in London are highly sought after, the chances are that you will still experience void periods at some point, particularly if you do not have the help of a professional property management company to support you. Continue reading
Population growth increases property demand
A recently released survey has shown that the population of London is anticipated to grow by just over 12% by 2025. To put this in a clearer context, the population of the entire nation over the same period is expected to grow by less than 8%. Although some of this growth can be attributed to the natural expansion of London’s geographical borders, it is mostly an unavoidable aspect of the city’s status as one of the world’s foremost financial and business capitals. In practical terms, this increased population is inevitably going to push demand for property even higher than the current record levels. Continue reading
New developments taking place in Haringey
There have been many regeneration projects throughout London in recent years, and this looks set to continue long into the future as steps are taken to improve living standards and provide much-needed housing for the population of the capital. It has been in the news recently that Haringey Council are searching for a partner to carry out a £2 billion development project across various areas of the borough. Continue reading
Understanding council tax responsibilities
All renters and landlords need to be aware of the rules surrounding council tax. With most rented houses and flats, the tenant will be liable to pay it. If there are two or more occupants on a joint tenancy agreement, they will be equally responsible, unless they are full-time students in which case they are exempt. However, when it comes to HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), where there are multiple tenants with separate agreements, the responsibility falls to the landlord. Landlords must also pay council tax on properties which are unoccupied. Continue reading
Housing estates set to be regenerated
It has been announced that 100 of the UK’s housing estates will be regenerated and made into safer, higher quality homes, with the aid of a £140 million fund. In some cases the buildings will be refurbished and have their layout, infrastructure and facilities improved, while others will be demolished and replaced completely, depending on their condition. The budget will also be spent on temporary rehousing for current occupants of the estates. Continue reading
Greenwich is a unique and appealing part of the capital
Greenwich is truly one of the most distinctive London Boroughs, with many qualities to appeal to property investors and renters alike. There are a wide range of properties available for investment here: those who are in search of a high end property will be drawn to the borough’s beautiful Georgian town houses, while those looking for a more affordable investment can select from Georgian and Victorian terraces as well as various contemporary developments and apartments. Continue reading
Essential services for expat landlords
More and more people are dreaming about leaving their old life in the UK behind and heading overseas to live as an expat. Of course, this means they have to decide what to do with their old homes. Many expats choose to let their UK homes when they move abroad rather than selling them. There are several advantages to this choice: it means that they have a source of steady income while they are away, and that they have a home if they decide to return to the UK in the future. Continue reading
