Battersea Flats & Houses For Sale & Rent

Repossessions Likely to Rise in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:43:00 +0000

Victoria Flats & Houses For Sale & Rent: Property Repossessions Likely to Rise in 2012: This year is likely to see a rise in the number of people having their homes repossessed. According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CM...

House Prices Drop in December According to Halifax

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

A slight drop in house prices in December of 0.9 per cent took the overall drop across 2011 to 1.3 per cent, according to data from Halifax.

The bank's property index suggested that the housing market had remained surprisingly resilient in the past year and hinted at a broadly stable 2012 ahead.

The average house price at the end of 2011 stood at £160,063.

"If the UK can avoid recession, we expect broad stability in house prices in 2012," said Halifax housing economist Martin Ellis.

"There is, however, considerable uncertainty regarding the prospects for the UK economy, which will, to a large extent, depend on how events in the eurozone unfold."

While Halifax's data shows a drop in house prices across 2011 a similar report from Nationwide suggested they had increased by one per cent, highlighting just how resilient the market was in the past 12 months.

Nationwide placed the average house price at the end of 2011 at £165,798.

London Property News

Rental Property Demand Exceeds Availablilty

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:13:00 +0000

Figures released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that the buy to let market is still strong.According to the body, mortgage loans to landlords increased by 16 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

Over the same three-month period, the amount of money loaned by financial institutions for property investment rose by 19 per cent, showing that banks and building societies are regaining their confidence in the buy to let sector.

A total of 34,500 buy to let mortgage advances were made in the quarter totalling an incredible £3.2 billion. It is the highest buy to let lending as stood since the onset of the credit crunch in 2008.

CML director general, Paul Smee, stated: "With tenant demand remaining strong in the rental sector, some existing buy-to-let landlords have been expanding their portfolios and the growth that returned to the sector in the preceding quarter has continued.”

Mark Durban, senior lettings agent at Paramount, said recently that at present the demand for rental property is so high that it exceeds the number of homes available.

Buy to Let Investment News

RICS; Demand for Property Rose in November

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:18:00 +0000

City of London Flats & Houses For Sale & Rent: RICS; Demand for Property Rose in November: Demand for property rose yet again in November according to the latest UK Housing Market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Sur...

New York Times Comments on Battersea Power Station; "White Elephant for Sale in London, Again"

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:59:00 +0000

At first it was going to become the London equivalent of Disneyland, then a shopping center with a roof-top ice-skating rink and finally 3,400 luxury apartments. But each grandiose plan failed as one developer after another ran out of cash.Now the decrepit Battersea Power Station stands as a sad reminder of the big ideas that flourished when credit was cheap and the economy was buoyant. On Monday, it goes on sale again.

A London landmark that was featured on the cover of Pink Floyd’s 1977 album “Animals,” the power station has been without a roof for two decades. Its Italian marble hall and Art Deco turbine control room with parquet flooring are slowly rotting away.

Yet it sits in the middle of a vast 40-acre, or 16-hectare, plot right on the Thames, just opposite the fashionable district of Chelsea. Many developers agree it is an attractive proposition — if it were not for the giant brick shell that must be preserved.

“Battersea Power Station is an iconic world-class site that will attract great interest when put on the market,” Gerald Allison, senior director at DTZ, a property adviser, said. But, he added, it will have to make financial sense.

The power station was built in 1933 by Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed London’s red telephone boxes and the power station that now houses the Tate Modern museum, to show off Britain’s industrial power.

Battersea is Europe’s largest brick building and with its four white chimneys looks like an upside-down pool table. At the peak of its production in the 1950s, the station supplied a fifth of London’s electricity.

Since its closure in 1983, dozens of development plans have been drawn up, but none have succeeded. The composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Cirque du Soleil circus group, Warner Bros. and even Michael Jackson were among those who considered investing in the project over the years, then decided against it.

New York Times

Battersea Power Station Goes Into Administration

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:12:00 +0000

The redevelopment project at Battersea Power station has gone into administration, despite a boosting visit from Boris Johnson and Chancellor George Osborne just 2 days ago.

Creditors, led by Lloyds Banking Group Plc and Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency had rejected a bid to buy the London landmark from SP Setia Bhd., Malaysia’s biggest public traded property developer.

Kerb Appeal and Energy Efficiency Sells houses

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:04:00 +0000

People looking to add few pounds to their property value should make it warmer and more energy efficient, says the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC).

Andrew Leech, executive director of the body, says that loft and cavity wall insulation will not only help to keep your energy bills down it will also bump up the value of your home and make it more appealing to potential purchasers.

He also stated that the house has to have what he calls "kerb appeal", meaning it looks good from the outside and suggested that ideally the windows should be double glazed and secure.

"If you're talking about looking at selling a house on then you have got to make it look as normal as possible, you don't want any garish paintings, decorations or [colour] schemes running throughout the house. You want to make it a very neutral environment because people can relate to that more," Mr Leech added.

Phil Spencer, presenter of Channel 4's Location, Location, Location, said last year that painting the outside of the house may cost between £100 and £1,000 but could add around £5,000 to its value.

London Property Market News

ARLA Report 17% Landlords Have Property Which Fails EPC

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:58:00 +0000

More than one in six landlords (17%) say that their properties fall into the lowest two categories of energy efficiency – meaning that they could be banned from the rental market.

From 2018 under the Government’s Green Deal proposals, properties with F and G EPC ratings will not be allowed to be let.

The finding emerges in the latest poll by the Association of Residential Letting Agents, which also discovered that over one-third of landlords (35%) do not know how their properties score with EPCs.

ARLA called for the Government to help landlords to achieve minimum standards, asking for the Landlords Energy Savings Allowance to be extended.

Ian Potter, operations manager of ARLA, said: “The clock is ticking for the private rented sector to improve its environmental performance but the investment just isn’t there to ensure that this change takes place in the Government’s timeframe.

“ARLA has campaigned for the Government to incentivise – through tax relief – the improvement of rental properties. Otherwise it is going to be exceedingly difficult for the majority of landlords to find the funds to improve stock.”

While the Green Deal will offer landlords upfront access to funds, it is tenants, as users of the properties, who will have to repay the loan.

The survey questioned more than 1,500 landlords.

London Buy to Let Investors Should Check Potential Profit...

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:14:00 +0000

Victoria Flats & Houses For Sale & Rent: Buy to Let Investors Should Check Potential Profit...: With there now being the highest level of buy-to-let mortgage products on the market for three years, one property expert has advised landl...

Taylor Wimpey Plan Affordable New Build Apartments

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:19:00 +0000

Affordable housing in London isn't as difficult to find as many people believe.
A number of new houses and apartments have been built in the city of late that offer a comfortable solution to first time buyers without breaking the bank.

With rising property prices and a lack of high LTV mortgages available, it's no surprise that the age of the average first time property buyer has shot up to 37.
But a new developments in Croydon and Hackbridge could be just the tonic for young people with ownership aspirations.

Builder Taylor Wimpey has started a scheme that allows buyers to purchase one of their own new build apartments with a deposit of as little as £8,500.

The scheme, entitled "FirstBuy", is backed by the government and incorporates a loan of 20 per cent from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Taylor Wimpey – which is to be repaid at the end of the mortgage term.

However, first time buyers may want to consider the few options for 95 per cent mortgages out there. At present Skipton Building Society, Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale all offer products with just a five per cent deposit.

London Property Market News

Battersea Power Station Hosts Freeze Festival

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:48:00 +0000

The Freeze is on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October 2011 at Battersea Power Station, London, SW8 5BP

Opening Times:
Friday 28th: Open 12.00pm - 10.30pm
Saturday 29th: Open 12.00pm - 10.30pm

Pre Sale or End of Tenancy Property Maintenance and Makeovers

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Pre Sale or End of Tenancy Property Maintenance & Makeovers

Paramount Maintenance Sevices offers a pre sale or end of tenancy maintenance and makeover service with specialists covering all trades. Whether it is your own home or a number of properties you manage, our professional multi-skilled maintenance team can save you time, money and the need to hire a range of different building and maintenance contractors.

As our client, you will receive professional, yet friendly & courteous service. Your perception of our performance is always the reality and we will communicate with you frequently to meet your expectations. We believe first and last impressions count. This means we’ll turn up on time and clean up on the way out.

Follow the link for more information on Paramount's Property Maintenance Services

Battersea Site Could Be Developed for Chelsea Move

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:01:00 +0000

Chelsea are looking at relocating from Stamford Bridge in west London to possible sites in Battersea or Earls Court, in the hope of increasing attendances to more than 60,000.

But the club does not own the stadium andcannot do so unless it regains ownership of the stadium's pitch and stands which are owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners - formed in 1993 to prevent the ground being bought by property developers.

Central London Garden Squares the Property of Choi...

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 10:53:00 +0000

Kensington Flats & Houses For Sale & Rent: Central London Garden Squares the Property of Choi...: Garden squares are one of London's defining neighbourhood features, especially in Central London, reports Gulf News . Garden squares are on...

Paramount Lettings 2011 International Property Awards

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:37:00 +0000

Leading estate agents from across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom have been notified that they have become shortlisted in the region’s most prestigious property competition in association with Google and Bloomberg Television. Paramount Lettings Limited is delighted to learn that it is one of the finalists that may win a highly commended or five-star award.

The gala awards presentation will take place on October 28th at the London Lancaster hotel near Hyde Park. The event is part of the International Property Awards, which is now in its 17th year and has become recognised as the highest standard of excellence throughout the global industry. Attaining one of these coveted awards is evidence that Paramount Lettings Limited is capable of excelling over some very strong contenders within the highly competitive UK property arena.

Later this year, the highest scoring winners from the UK Property Awards will compete against other winning companies from Asia Pacific, Africa, Arabia, the Americas and Europe to determine the ultimate World’s Best in each category.

The judging panel consists of more than 80 professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is unsurpassed by any other property awards. This year’s judges include James Bacon, UK account manager of Google; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property professionals; David Dalby of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS); and Mike McNamara of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Spencer Lawrence, Lettings Director of Paramount Lettings Limited said of the award, “We are very proud to be short listed for this prestigious award; I believe this is testament to our work ethic and our commitment to providing exceptional customer service.”

Beware of Short Term Letting During the London Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:17:00 +0000

Londoners hoping to rent out their homes during the Olympics are being warned they could be breaking the law and left facing a fine, reports the BBC

BBC London has uncovered stark variations in councils' positions on the practice.

Some have warned they will crack down on people renting out properties - but others have said it is not a problem.The National Association of Estate Agents is calling for a review of the law on short term lettings.But at the moment Londoners face a postcode lottery as to whether they can rent out their homes for the games.

Juzar Jeevanjee lives in Haringey, one of the areas where the council has said it will not crack down on people letting out their homes.He said: "Obviously there's a huge opportunity for earning extra money here with lots coming in for the Olympics who can't afford hotels."From what agents have told me, I could double or triple what I could get at the moment, so it could be happy times."

But Juliet Rowe, who lives in Westminster, would be in a very different situation if she wanted to rent out her apartment for a short period.Westminster effectively bans short term lets of 90 days or under unless planning permission is obtained - but this is rarely given.If she were to rent out her home anyway during the games, she could face a fine of £20,000 and even a criminal record.

Ms Rowe does not plan to do this - but said it was enormously disappointing.She said: "It seems everything you try to do in this city you get told off.It's so expensive to live here - and it would be nice to make some extra cash.

Westminster Council told BBC London it was important to preserve the rental market for longer term residents.

Landlords Unwilling to Rent to Smoking Tenants

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Landlords who have property to let in London may be unwilling to rent tenants who smoke.

Research by property search engine Globrix has found that 60 per cent of landlords will not let to smokers.

Of those who would rent their property to smokers, 50 per cent said they would charge higher rates.

The findings also showed that tenants are reluctant to rent properties that have formally been occupied by smokers, with 40 per cent saying they would think twice about moving into a property because smokers used to live there.

Jennifer Warner, from Gobrix, said: "It is no surprise that in today’s ultra-competitive rental market, landlords are coming down hard on smokers, penalising them with higher rental charges and in many cases refusing to let properties to smokers at all."

She added that the high proportion of landlords being unwilling to let to smokers shows that there is an increasing anti-smoking culture in the UK.

Landlord and Tenant News

First Time Buyers Most Likely to Be Female

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:22:00 +0000

First time property buyers are most likely to be female and aged between 18 and 34, according to new research by Post Office Mortgages.

Some 28 per cent of young women are looking to get on the housing ladder compared with 20 per cent of men, and are on average one year younger than male first time buyers.

The survey revealed that females are happy to compromise on a few aspects if it helped them purchase a property, including being in a trendy area (37 per cent), having original features in the home (31 per cent) and being close to the city centre (31 per cent).

Men, meanwhile, were content to give up outdoor space (34 per cent) and being close to local amenities (33 per cent) if it meant them getting into the property market.
Mike Cook, head of mortgages at the Post Office, commented: "Our research shows that female first time buyers are happy to compromise on the more superficial aspects of property ownership because they see buying a home as a financial investment in their future."

First Time Property Buyers News

RICS UK Residential Lettings Survey April 2011

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:31:00 +0000

Increased tenant demand and low levels of rental property coming onto the market pushed rents higher in the three months to April, says the April 2011 RICS UK Residential Lettings Survey.

Overall, 42 per cent more surveyors reported rents rose rather than fell in the three months to April (up from 40 per cent more). Although rents increased across Great Britain, it was London and the South East which saw the most notable increases.

Comments from surveyors reveal that rents in some areas have now risen so sharply that previously affordable homes are now unattainable to many, as an increasing number of renters are priced out of the market.

Meanwhile, home ownership remains out of reach for many would-be buyers, partly because of the high deposits required by lenders, but also due to the cost of available mortgage finance.

As a result, surveyors report that many people have little choice but to rent. In the three months to April, 35 per cent more respondents reported demand rose rather than fell – the highest level for over two years.

Turning to supply of rental property to the market, 6 per cent more surveyors reported new instructions from landlords increased rather than fell – taking the net balance into positive territory for the first time since April 2009.

Instructions from landlords to let flats showed the most pronounced change, with a net balance of +6 per cent (from -7 per cent). The increase for houses was slightly less than in the previous three month period (+2 compared with +5 per cent).

Despite an upturn in new instructions, supply to the market still remains unable to keep up with demand. Tenants are staying longer, resulting in less availability, while fewer landlords are selling their properties at the end of a tenancy. Just 2.8 per cent of landlords sold property in the three months to April (down from 4 per cent).

Looking ahead, the overall rental outlook remains strong, with 33 per cent more surveyors expecting rents to rise rather than fall. Expectations for rental prices were highest in London, followed by the Midlands, the South East and the North.

Battersea Power Station Architects Defend Redevelopment Plans

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Londoners will still be able to enjoy the world famous views of Battersea Power Station if current plans for its redevelopment go ahead – but only if they live north of the river.

An exhibition of the first phase of the redevelopment which went on show on Friday and Saturday made clear that south Londoners will only get to see its chimneys as high flats are to be erected on three sides.

Only from the north bank of the Thames will you still be able to see the building in all its grandeur.

But the architects claim that was always the key view and that anyway the chimneys, not the building, are the crucial visual feature.

Christian Male, the lead architect from Ian Simpson artictects, who designed part of this phase of the development, said: "The real view is the view from the north bank of the Thames, that is the view that is etched in peoples memories.

"It was not designed as an icon, it was a full working power station, it is the chimneys that are iconic."

This is Local London

London Property Market On Two Tier System

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:58:00 +0000

The gap between high end property sales and rentals and the lower end of the market in London is set to get wider, according to a housing expert.

Ed Mead, director of an estate agency, said it is "highly likely" that the two-tier market will persist.

"It is likely that prices at the top-end of the market will continue certainly to not go down. As long as demand outstrips supply it is likely that we will see [prices] go up, and at the moment supply is still looking very short and is not showing any signs of increasing," he noted.

Mr Mead's remarks follow research showing that prime London property development sites saw values rise by one per cent in April, driving an annual rate of growth of 8.3 per cent.

This may prompt those looking for flats and houses for sale in Maida Vale, London, or in other parts of the capital, to put in an offer soon in order to beat rising prices.

London Estate Agents News

Westminster Secondary School Students Train With World Class Athletes

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 02 May 2011 13:56:00 +0000

Every secondary student in Westminster will have the opportunity to be coached by a world class athlete, council chiefs have announced.

Under Westminster Council’s ‘Sporting Hero’ programme 300 students from 10 schools across the borough will be coached by the athletes who will also provide guidance on how they can achieve their sporting dreams.

The athletes include Britain’s top long jumper JJ Jegede, European champion boxer Hannah Beharry and leading sprinters and Rikki Fifton and Montell Douglas who helped launch the programme today at the Grey Coat Hospital School.

Students who take part in the project will go on to represent their school at the Westminster Sports Unit Athletic Championships at Battersea Park on 24 May.

The scheme is part of the council’s ‘Active Westminster’ programme which aims to support and guide talented young people in Westminster to excel in their chosen sport.

London Housing Costs Double to the Rest of England

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:12:00 +0000

London house prices are almost double the average amount seen for properties in England and Wales.

Research from an estate agency revealed the price of an average London property is around 1.94 times that of an average home outside of the capital, with the city recording a 0.2 per cent rise between February and March this year.

It was the only region in England to see a house price rise.

Robert Bartlett, chief executive of the organisation that carried out the research, noted: "What also sets London out from the rest of the crowd is the fact that house prices were higher in March 2011 than they were in March 2010.

"Over the year, house prices in London have risen by 2.2%, compared to a comparatively steep annual decline throughout the rest of the country," he explained.

The typical price of a home in London is, at £338,583, minus 3.9 per cent below the highest ever price recorded for the city as a whole, Mr Bartlett added.

London House Price News

Empty Lets and The 2011 Census; Landlords Responsibilty

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:15:00 +0000

Have you got an empty let? Then don’t forget … you need to fill in the census form for that property on Sunday 27th March. This is a legal requirement.

The property owner needs to fill in the form - either the paper version or online - for any unoccupied rented property. The sections that need to be completed are;
H1 (tick the last box in the list)
H4 (tick the last box in the list)
H7 to H11

Do you own a holiday property?

If it has been unoccupied for more than six months - you should not complete the census form

If it has been occupied at any time in the last six months but was not occupied on March 27th you should complete sections H1 to H11, optionally leaving H2, 3 and 6 blank.

If it wass occupied on March 27th - you should complete H1, H4, H7 to H11 and then the names of the occupants in the “Visitors” section on the back page 32.

Don’t forget to sign and date the form on the front.

RLA

Roman Abramovich Chooses Battersea

noreply@blogger.com (London Estate Agents) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:15:00 +0000

Roman Abramovich, the fifteenth richest man in the world, has splashed out £25 million on a ‘stop gap’ home for him and his girlfriend, Dasha Zhukova, in one of London’s most up-market areas.

The Grade 2 Listed building overlooks the River Thames near Battersea Bridge and is situated on Chelsea’s Cheyne Walk. The property features a fifty-foot long drawing room with high ceilings, nine bedrooms, ten bathrooms, a music room and parking for eight cars.

The house was previously owned by the painter James Whistler, Nancy Mitford’s sister, Diana, and the late Tory minister, Paul Channon.

For Battersea Bin Collection, Council Tax, Parking Permits, Recycling centres,School and Term Dates and local councillor for Mr Abramovich, he need only put his postcode into this search;

London Property News