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

If you need a mortgage then some lenders are reluctant to lend on certain types of high rise.

If your budget is 500k then look in north London. It’s lovely, places like crouch end or stroud green both very safe and trendy. Finsbury Park is closest tube which is 10 mins to Blackfriars and 10min to Oxford street.

Hatherley Gardens, Crouch End, London, N8
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-94058912.html

Hampden Road, London, N8
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74812500.html

Hamlet Court, Smithfield Square, Hornsey, N8
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-97150610.html

Crouch Hall Road, Crouch End, London, N8
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-102019355.html

Sorry for lack of info! After reading comments I probably will rent first... not too sure on stations as could accept job in either location so flexible... more just looking at where I’d want to live to help me decide. Basically budget is 300k ish for 1 bed or up to 500 for 2 bed. (Obviously different if renting) areas I’ve been recommended so far are battersea/ clapham (not sure which is best of the two), Brixton, Camden and Fulham. Which would you recommend for a chilled/ safe vibe? I know it won’t be as ‘naive’ as Chiswick but love the safe vibe with parks, pubs and cafes! Hope this is more info and you might be able to help... thanks xx

@NotAnotherUserNumber

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.

I was thinking this.

‘Here’s a lovely flat in your (£500k budget) in the area you say you like’ and you’re asking about flats in the 300s in dodgy areas.

What is your actual budget OP?

All those areas have safe feeing streets and scary ones. As with all of london. And everyone has a different standard of what safe is. Nicer areas might feel safe to walk in but have more break ins, an area might look shit by day, but feel safe as it's well lit and populated at night.

Ah, with the budget update you need to be looking further out then. Zone 3 rather than 1 or 2. £500k would get a one bed somewhere lovely and leafy and fairly central but £300k you'd be looking somewhere a bit further out and more up and coming. Tooting or Earlsfield perhaps if you're looking at SW

Balham Is a nice place to live, my dd had lived there for years.

@fedupandgrumpy000

Also found this one! www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86514223#/ Does anyone know what these areas are like?

I wouldn't call this Battersea. This is an ok area, close enough to northcote road and Battersea rise which has brilliant shops and pubs. However this is kind of the back of clap junction - which isn't as nice as roads closer to northcote road. Awesome spot for transport.

I second Balham - great pubs / transport. Lots of new build flats on the high street.

Would echo the crouch end recommendation. Have lived in Clapham and in crouch end and much preferred the latter.

If you need to get to Bloomsbury and Chelsea will you get the tube or a bus from a mainline station or do you want to be in walking distance. You wont get a 2 bed in Fulham or Camden for 500k, Brixton has nice vibe and property but you can get much more if you can move out a bit. A lot depends on which location you choose, Battersea is on the other side of the river to Chelsea.

If you’ve never lived in London you’ll need a long time to choose where to live. Areas differ massively and areas within areas also differ massively. Don’t rush into buying there now post pandemic. You’ll need to see somewhere when it’s busy and bustling and you can’t physically get on the tube or the train before you decide to live there.

You mentioned Fulham - 1 bed flats go for £600k and up.

What do you mean by 'naive'?!

@jay55

All those areas have safe feeing streets and scary ones. As with all of london. And everyone has a different standard of what safe is. Nicer areas might feel safe to walk in but have more break ins, an area might look shit by day, but feel safe as it's well lit and populated at night.

Agreed.

I'm wondering if the week's terrible events are clouding your judgement about London.

Hi OP, I know Chiswick well. I agree 100% with renting for a bit first. To buy in Chiswick, if I was you I would consider properties around Gunnersbury tube station. You will get more for your money but will still be a short walk to the high road.

For example, this flat is in a lovely group of period mansion blocks with lifts. Well built, large rooms. www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/55972942/?search_identifier=24bd157959f3f8586441b06d78bc9354

I know lots of people who live there very happily. Good management group led by the residents. You will note there is a rail and tube track nearby but you do get used to the noise (I love right next to a different tube line) and I know the flats in this development recently all had new double glazed windows fitted to help with noise reduction. It's really close to the river for pretty walks and lots of excellent pubs.

Honestly be very weary of buying leasehold if its ex local authority as you might find you end up paying for major works for a building that hasn't been maintained in decades. I used to work for the CAB and this is a really really common issue.

Blackheath? Greenwich? I live in a East Dulwich which is prohibitively expensive, but areas around me are a bit cheaper (if you don't mind travelling by bus and rail to town).

London is quite villagey and it's difficult to advise without knowing you. I'd recommend some day trips to London, picking out a few areas, walking around, exploring and sitting in cafes. When restrictions allow. Areas like chiswick and Brixton are chalk and cheese.

I know chiswick pretty well and it's quite expensive both for property and also lovey but pricey range of restaurants and bars etc (though of course that varies). Acton and Ealing are cheaper but less village like as more a big town feel (but even within these there are nice small high streets). You can get better value if you go west in places like hanwell, South ealing, Northfields etc. You should also look at Citimapper to judge commute times. There's also a significant difference between living on the district line (like pulling teeth) vs the Piccadilly or Central (fewer teeth!!) in terms of how long it takes to get into centeal London either Chelsea or Bloomsbury. Do rent first, it's so important to go out lots and get a feel for a place.

I wouldn't go for Brixton if you want a 'safe' vibe. I love the area and live near there but it's definitely not quaint or without its edge.

I wouldn't touch Camden or Brixton. Unfortunately most safe areas are £££££££

@lalafafa

There is nothing wrong with Camden. It’s lovely.

Worth looking around S London. I used to live in Dulwich which is gorgeous, but there are various parts around there like Forest Hill. Train into Charing Cross takes 15 mins.

My friend lives in Walthamstow which has become very trendy. Good for train/tube/bus links.

I also know lots of people in Steatham and they love it.