Most of us will be aware of the increasing levels of demand for living space in London. It’s rare that a news report on the city doesn’t make mention of it. As one of the leading names in the property market in the capital we are acutely aware of the situation. One aspect of this which sometimes gets lost, we feel, is understanding why there’s so much demand to be in the city. We thought it would be timely to take a look at some of the factors which make our city such a great and wonderful place to live.

London was not always the bustling city that it is today; it started as a group of individual villages that were eventually absorbed into the city. As a result of this, each area of London offers its own unique styles and atmosphere. There are a number of different housing options available in each of these areas, from simple accommodations to luxury housing.

If you are a creative soul London offers you a vast number of opportunities to express yourself. If you are part of a band then you are certain to find an excellent venue to perform in. With over 300 venues putting on a massive 17,000 performances a year, there are many chances of you making your mark. If you are looking for nightlife there is an excellent selection of clubs including Fabric, Heaven and Ministry of Sound. Aside from music, you can break into industries such as acting, photography and design in the city.

London is an incredibly welcoming place, so don’t feel as if you won’t fit in. The city draws eccentric, creative people from all around the world. This has led to the creation of an array of unusual events including the Christmas Day serpentine swim, goat races, and the Pearly Kings and Queens Festival. With the wide array of festivals, both normal and out of the ordinary, you are guaranteed to never get stuck for something to do.

The community is vast and diverse with at least 37% of the population born outside the UK. These communities represent a myriad of cultures, giving London one of the most internationally diverse and rich atmospheres in the world. The culture is enhanced due to London being the home to three the greatest museums in the world. You are guaranteed to be endlessly entertained by the exquisite art, theatres and galleries that are on offer.

At Finefair our services are fully at your disposal if you are looking for a house in the capital. We will support you in every way we can to ensure you find your ideal property, whether you’re searching for a home or an investment property.

The redevelopment of Sutton town centre got the green light in 2014 with the aim to transform the area into a unique destination that would be different to any other in the South of London. It was believed that the work would revitalise the area and help it to stand out from competitors across the region. The move for regeneration came after several years of decline in the area, with a noticeable dip between 2005 and 2012.

Two years on and the work is very much underway to make the idea a reality. All along the high street there is construction work under way. This kind of development has not been seen in the area for decades. Around £400 million has already been spent on the regeneration and even more investment is expected to follow in the next six months.

The work in Sutton will benefit both the domestic and commercial sectors. A £4.4 million investment has been made to redevelop Times Square Shopping Centre. Alongside this there is the creation of new offices to attract further businesses to the area.

One of the most interesting projects is taking place at the former site of a gasworks and a Burger King. The site is being developed to create a new Sainsbury’s supermarket as well as residential flats. The project includes a £50 million investment. It is hoped this will help to transform the area and attitudes towards it.

Sutton is benefitting greatly from the property investment and continues to attract further investors to the area. The future certainly looks bright for the town and the wider Borough too.

At Finefair we provide a wide range of services for investors working all across the capital. We can offer advice about buying properties to rent out, transform them into HMOs, and expanding portfolios. We are committed to meeting the needs of our clients and delivering the very best value we can with every single service.

If you would like advice about Sutton we can share our knowledge of the area.

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.

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.

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.

If you’re in search of a London property investment, the location is one of the most crucial factors you will need to consider. For buyers who are interested in vibrant, up-and-coming areas of the capital, Deptford is proving to be an exciting prospect. After undergoing extensive regeneration in recent times, this characterful area of South East London is quickly becoming something of a property hotspot. Continue reading →

London has long been established as one of the world’s most desirable cities to live and work, and it seems that the demand is only going to increase as more and more people seek to make their home in the capital. According to the latest reports from the Office for National Statistics, nine of Britain’s top ten fastest-growing local populations are in boroughs of London. The most rapid growth is predicted in Tower Hamlets, in East London, where the population is expected to rise by more than 25% by the year 2024. Continue reading →

If we were to give someone £1 every time a report stated that the demand for housing in London was far higher than the supply, we’d need quite a few of those coins always at the ready. From our perspective as leading property service providers in London, we’re always more interested in looking at what’s being done about addressing the problem rather than complaining about the fact that it exists. Continue reading →

If you own multiple London properties and have a varied portfolio which involves different types of investments at various locations throughout the city, you will understand both the potential for profit and the difficulty of managing and keeping track of everything. You have to do everything you can to make sure your properties are well managed so that they can maintain or increase their value, and this means that detailed, regular and attentive management is essential. If you let your properties to paying tenants, you will also need to ensure that they are happy. This can be an overwhelming task to take care of by yourself. However, we are here to help. Continue reading →