South facing gardens are a top property feature

At Finefair Ltd we strive to provide the very best council leasing South London has to offer. To achieve this, we work with a number of local authorities across the area. As a result, we have a good knowledge of the various schemes on offer. We also know what each of them means for the property owners. If you want to give a home over to a local council to find tenants and manage, we can help.

Property features

A lot of people wonder what property features are the most important. For many years having a south facing garden was one of the things agents and sellers would sing about. But is it really something that is going to add a big premium to a price or massively increase demand? We want to take a closer look to find out.

Why south facing?

Council leasing south LondonThe orientation of homes can actually make a really big difference. South facing gardens get longer sunny days because the house itself is not blocking the light. This is something people really love if they like spending time in the garden. It is also a great thing for gardeners who want to grow plants, flowers, and vegetables because they will all get the most sunlight.

South facing gardens can also let more light into a home for a longer period over the course of a day. This is great in summer and can make interiors much brighter. It is also good in winter and can mean less reliance on artificial lighting over the course of a year.

Premiums

There is a lot of debate about how much actual monetary value a south facing garden can have. Past reports suggest it is only a small amount. However, recent data suggests the premium is an average of 7% on the national asking price. For example, the average price for a three or four bedroom home without a south facing garden is £346,670 according to Rightmove data. This same size home with a garden that faces south has an average asking price of £369,365.

With all the changes brought about by coronavirus, demand for gardens is even higher than before. This is especially true with homes in towns and cities. South facing ones remain the most valuable as people look to get as much sun as possible. In fact, the demand can mean homes on one side of a street can be worth more than those over the road simply because the garden faces south.

Quicker selling

As well as a premium on the prices, the data also shows that homes with south facing gardens can sell quicker. The average is two days faster than a home that does not have a garden with this orientation. The best performing area, Yorkshire & the Humber, sees homes with south facing gardens sell eight days faster than those without.

Council leasing in South London

block management SouthwarkAt Finefair Ltd we know how valuable different property features can be. We can help our clients to make the most of them. This could result in higher rental income and also make it easier to find tenants.

In addition, if clients call on us for property management, we will work to retain these important features. For example, we can offer reliable maintenance to take care of gardens and external spaces.

Where we really excel is in how easy we make it to arrange to lease with a local authority. We can explain how the schemes work and what the landlord’s responsibilities are. On top of this, we can answer questions and give them confidence this is the right approach for them.

So, if you want to learn more about council leasing, South London has nobody better to talk to. Get in touch with Finefair Ltd today.