Musings of a London Buyers Agent

It’s a well-known fact that The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead is one of the most expensive and well-known residential streets in the UK.  Large detached houses on substantial plots of land with (mostly) quiet gardens means it appeals to many people.  Proximity to Hampstead Heath, the chi-chi boutiques of Hampstead village and good road transport links add to it’s appeal.  But perhaps it is the fact that so many of the beautiful 30s houses have been pulled down and replaced with  varying degrees of success, which really make it an attractive street in which to buy property these days.

Inevitably the replacements are several times the size of the originals and very much more grand, so now, it is not uncommon for buyers to purchase with the sole intention to rip down the existing monstrosity and start again, nor is it likely the planners will refuse permission.  Heck, there’s already several rather hideous blocks of flats there now.  Though why anyone would want to part with several million for an admittedly fabulous flat when you could buy a lovely detached in a classier road round the corner, beats me.  You can always pay for a house-sitter or security patrol, after all.

One of the problems The Bishops Avenue has, which neighbouring streets don’t have so much of an issue with, is that many of the houses are 2nd, 3rd or 8th homes and rarely lived in.  So although most people have retained the required security / maintenance people, not everyone does and some houses look decidedly scruffy.  Inevitably, this gets noticed and as The Telegraph reports today, Lakshmi Mittal et al now have a set of squatters as neighbours.

According to The Telegraph, the 3 men are describing themselves as ‘good squatters’.  Apparently the house is virtually derelict and they have plastered ceilings, reconnected the electrics and repaired two of the bathrooms, which doesn’t sound too bad.  I wonder what the neighbours think of the ‘occasional parties’ and barbecues on Sundays though?  The Royal families from Saudi Arabia and Brunei both have properties in the area but I can’t really see either of them popping round for a burger.

We’ve just completed a load of research for a Client who has just had an offer accepted on a new home and are about to do some more for another Client whose offer was accepted yesterday and we will find out exactly who lives next door.  So if you don’t want to find you’ve bought next door to squatters, Manse and Garret might just be the Buyers Agents for you.

Technorati Tags: Buyers Agent, Hampstead, London Buyer's Agents, Property in Hampstead, Squatters, The Bishops Avenue

Tags: Buyers Agent, Hampstead, London Buyer's Agents, Property in Hampstead, Squatters, The Bishops Avenue

Musings of a London Property Search Agent.

For you non-North London readers we thought we would describe the process of a house purchase in the best roads in Hampstead Garden Suburb.

1. See house priced at £5 million plus
2. Get into bidding war and end up paying £8 million … if you’re lucky
3. Rent the house for £3 – £15K a week while you get planning permission to knock it down and start again
4. Knock the house down and start building
5. Finish building
6. Get divorced/ decide you don’t like the UK/ retire etc
7. Wait till a Property Finder contacts you with a crazy budget

PS If you want to end up on the right street and not pay over the odds, call  this London Property Search Agent

Technorati Tags: Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hampstead house prices, London Property Search Agent, Planning Permission

Tags: Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hampstead house prices, London Property Search Agent, Planning Permission