Anyone k is the battersea area? Help needed!

[fedupandgrumpy000]

Hi! Looking to move to London and have been recommended battersea as a fairly safe and trendy area! Would you agree if you have experience of the area?
Also, I’ve found this flat : www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85765480#/ which seems good value for London- my only doubt is that it’s too good to be true! Is this in a particularly rough area of battersea?
Thanks x

I'd look more towards Clapham Old Town or around Northcote Road if you want that nice social vibe

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/98209166#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73479402#/
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100060628#/

Do you want trendy or nice? Most trendy places will be a bit rougher around the edges! If you want nice then it will be a little bit more ‘safe’ in terms of trendiness but will less likely have a proximity to rougher areas

As I said Chiswick would be the dream as I adore the vibe! I’ve found this flat www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77555997#/ which is share of freehold so ideal. Am I missing something about the property/ location as seems almost too good to be true?!

You might not get a mortgage for either of those flats at the moment - after Grenfell, there is a huge issue with cladding. Also check service charges - if the council decides to do any maintenance works, you have no say in the matter and you will have to contribute to the bill. I looked at a flat once and they were asking every flat to contribute £20k for refurbishments.

For £500k, you could get a flat in a house conversion. Much nicer. But I agree - rent first, don't buy without getting to know London a bit.

Sorry to repeat the questions - but what tube/rail stations will you need to commute to, and how many bedrooms do you want? Do you have any other requirements, e.g. garden?

@fedupandgrumpy000

As I said Chiswick would be the dream as I adore the vibe! I’ve found this flat www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77555997#/ which is share of freehold so ideal. Am I missing something about the property/ location as seems almost too good to be true?!

Tucked away with its own private entrance = large garden shed.

Very very nice area!
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85593421#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/64817556#/

Close to chiswick

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103657967#/ Same with this one- does anyone know Chiswick ?

Chiswick one is actually more in Acton and is v v small hence the price

@fedupandgrumpy000

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103657967#/ Same with this one- does anyone know Chiswick ?

That one is v short lease so you would be looking at 10s of thousands to extend the leasehold

Chiswick one is in Acton. The estate agent is trying to make it seem fancy. Also, pp are right, you'd be mad to buy without living here first. Why not rent for a year?

The area just to the south of Vauxhall is nice - good transport links, a lovely park (with a great and engaged friends association) and some very posh local residents (popular with MPs). ALso lots of cafes in Little Portugal and on the embankment from St Georges Wharf along to Battersea Power Station redevelopment. This is a lovely private little mews complex

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103169561#/media?id=media4

Or a conversion on Fentiman Road which is a lovely road

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77092383#/

If your budget is up to £500k why are you looking at these ones around £350k? That is quite a different price band.

For £350k in Inner London you are looking at ex-council leaseholds which have various problems.
You can get a much nicer flat for £500k.

Do you need two bedrooms? If not, there are lots of really nice options in nice locations in small share of freehold conversions or modern developments at the upper end of your budget.

£350K for a bedsit? Blimey!

I know it's irrelevant but London prices blow me away - even when I lived there I was amazed - £500K here would buy you a 4 bed detached and we are an hour and 15 mins from Euston!

I like this flat:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/76851723#/

Not the Winstanley. Crime ridden

Argh this is so frustrating! @fedupandgrumpy000 please will you answer the questions?!

Woodside Park , Finchley, crouch end , Alexandra palace - al very safe and trendy
I live in Woodside Park - never been a fan of south London or east

She said she needs to get to Bloomsbury and Chelsea in her 3rd post @BIWI

I know that! I meant specifically which tube or rail stations, and how many bedrooms, any other requirements, etc!

Winstanley is a highly deprived area, I think I read once it’s actually one of the most deprived in london, just it’s quite small and surrounded by nicer areas so doesn’t have such a wide reputation as other areas. The first flat you shared is a better area but stil not lovely, a lot of council and ex council blocks. But near the river, beautiful park, and some super nice areas so not bad and better value. And overall Battersea is a wonderful area. Chiswick is further out and the big downside is transport - it’s a big area and unless you live right by the stations it can take ages to get into central London. In my opinion it feels a lot quieter, more family focused and less “Londony” than Battersea. Somehow feels like there’s lot less going on. But it is also lovely, especially by the river. I couldn’t comment on the exact area of the flat though. I second not buying anywhere without at least staying in an Airbnb or renting in that exact area for minimum a month first, you might realise something awful you hate about the area.

@DianaT1969

I think you are mad buying without knowing London first. Rent for 6 months. Many apartments are stuck with fire-watch costs/cladding removal. Even when you can't see visible cladding there are issues being investigated (slowly) now.

This!

Why wouldn’t you rent until you get a feel for an area. Rental prices are down in London and you could avoid a very expensive mistake.

Flat seems nice, I’d be concerned about re sale value though as it looks in a tower block. Lots of people are put off by this.

@fedupandgrumpy000

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/103657967#/ Same with this one- does anyone know Chiswick ?

A lease under 60 years is virtually unmortgageable. You need to be looking for min 70 years.

My friend lives a road over from that Winstanley estate one and I take an uber home from her house rather than have to walk to the station after dark.

Pretty much all areas of London will have a really nice bit right next to a dodgy bit. I'd also recommend renting and getting to know an area.