Author Archives: admin

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.

A London Borough with a stunning combination of nature and infrastructure

Hillingdon is the westernmost Borough in London and has the honour of being the second largest. The area is surprisingly diverse, with beautiful natural wonders sitting alongside impressive man-made structures. Heathrow Airport is located here, as well as stunning countryside, rivers, canals and woodland.

The diversity of the Borough stretches to the amount of different leisure pursuits there are to choose from. You can get involved with a wide variety of sports (including many types of water sport on the canals and lakes), enjoy nature, browse local shops, visit the theatre, and learn about the history of the area.

As an added bonus Hillingdon is also very well connected with the rest of London because of Heathrow. Visitors from far and wide go through the doors of the UK’s largest airport and the transport infrastructure has developed to suit their needs. This gives people living in the area a number of great links with the rest of the capital. The close proximity to the airport also means the whole world is within touching distance too.

With so much to offer it is no wonder that properties in Hillingdon are so highly regarded, whether they are in the greener north of the Borough or closer to Heathrow in the south. Finding the right property can be a challenge with so much competition, whether you are looking to rent, buy a home, or are searching for investment properties. Fortunately we are on hand to help.

At Finefair we work very hard to help people find the right property for them. We provide a personal service and ensure every client knows they can come to us with any query or idea. We will always do our best to find the answers and offer the clearest information we can, whether it is regarding the best areas to live in, property prices, or amenities.

You can call us today to learn more about our extensive range of services and discover how we can help you in your property search.

Meeting the needs of landlords

Havering is the easternmost Borough in London. The area is highly suburban and is home to large open spaces that are protected from development. These are designed to help retain the country feel of the location. They are a big draw for families and people who want to live close to green spaces whilst still being able to access the centre of the capital with ease.

At Finefair we offer a wide range of services for property owners in Havering. We work closely with numerous investors, helping them to get the very best returns for their portfolio. Whether you have a single property or several spread across the Borough we can be on hand to help you with lettings, management and maintenance too.

Our estate management services stand out and can deliver fantastic value for our clients. By choosing the service landlords can enjoy the same high quality support with and handling of all of their properties in an area and enjoy savings in the process.

We have a lot of experience looking after numerous properties on estates for landlords. We know what challenges owners face, especially when it comes to maintaining shared areas and access. As part of our service we will keep an eye on these for you alongside caring for the individual homes themselves.

The effort we put into maintaining the properties and public spaces in them can help you to attract and retain tenants. We will be on hand to tackle any problems and ensure maintenance is carried out by experienced, professional providers.

Our services are flexible so landlords can decide where they would like help. We work with investors who want to be hands on as well as those who would rather put everything in to the hands of an experienced, locally based specialist. We can satisfy either option and deliver the right service.

If you own properties in Havering and would like our help please get in touch. Whether you have several on the same estate, homes spread across the Borough or just a single property you can rely on us.

Harrow has a low number of long time unoccupied properties

At the end of May it was revealed that homes worth a combined £12 billion remained empty across London. Around 21,000 had been empty for six months or more. Looking Borough by Borough, Harrow had one of the lowest numbers with just 97 unoccupied dwellings. To put this into perspective Newham scored highest with 1,318.

Harrow remains one of the most popular areas for families in the whole of London. The area has the feel of a standalone town, something that is very special and a huge draw for people who live in the capital.

The most attractive thing about the Borough is the fact that it is home to Harrow School, one of the most prestigious schools for boys in the UK. It was founded in 1572 and has a long list of distinguished alumni including Sir Winston Churchill and members of the royal family. It is one of the last remaining full boarding all boys schools and is situated on a beautiful 300 acre site.

The Borough is also very well connected so workers who need to commute will enjoy living here. The Metropolitan line provides the largest number of services in the area, providing easy connections to the City and other central Boroughs. Trains can reach Westminster in around twenty minutes.

Properties in Harrow are well regarded and highly sought. This is why there are so few that stand unoccupied for any length of time. Both the buying and renting markets are very healthy so there are really good opportunities.

If you are looking for an investment property that could earn you a good income you should take a look at Harrow and the fantastic attractions it offers. At Finefair we are happy to help buyers looking at the area, especially those thinking about buy to let. With us you can work with an experienced lettings agent and get valuable advice about every aspect of letting.

Choosing the perfect management package

Owning a London investment property and letting it to paying tenants can be extremely rewarding, but also extremely hard work, especially if you own multiple investment properties or you live in a different area to them. With paperwork, upkeep and maintenance, tenants’ needs and all the other day to day considerations, there is generally a lot of work to consider. Continue reading

Exciting times ahead for Deptford

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