Secure pied-a-terres in London that can be left empty for months and accept dogs...

[GreenCushion]

Thought I'd give the Mumsnet hive mind a go - hopefully for some solid recommendations.

My partner and I are barely in the UK these days, maybe about 3 months a year and not very predictably. We're looking for something in/near London that we can be happy standing empty until we pitch up. That leans towards a flat with a porter/some kind of security.

We thought the Barbican would be a good shout, but we sporadically foster dogs when we're here and they and like many other places have hard rules again dogs in the lease. We're thinking of spending £500-750k. And it's nice because everything in the Corporation of London has very cheap council tax and the Barbican has sensible service charges, but it doesn't work for the reason above.

A decent size one-bed and even a nice studio could work.

I love the idea of a place with more space and a garden/parking further out, but it'd be mad to leave somewhere like that empty for months and I don't intend to ask friends/relatives to guard it.

So in summary:

• £500-750k
• Central or East London
• On site security/porter
• Council tax and service charge doesn't cost a bomb
• Allows dogs

Any specific recommendations?

Every person has to ask themselves if they are part of the problem or part of the solution. @GreenCushion buying a flat to leave it empty most of the time makes you part of the problem.

If you’re happy with a studio then for that budget almost anywhere in central London is doable- where do you actually want to be close to? Service charge as the is likely to be fairly high if there is a porter though.

In your shoes however I’d definitely think about a serviced apartment- no worry or risk. Invest the money somewhere else. There are plenty which accept dogs.

There are various concierge blocks in Mill Hill (NW7) that allow dogs and are close to fields to allow them to run off-lead. The best area for these is the Ridgeway or St Joseph’s Gate, a converted convent. There’s also an amazing concierge block in a church in the same area. If you put in a call to an upmarket estate agent in the area, they’ll advise where to look.
There are also many new builds there some of which are concierge too but I don’t know much about them.
Totteridge Lane and Whetstone also have concierge blocks and access to amazing green space, plus have the advantage of a tube to the city centre, but May be outside your budget.

Sorry I can't get past the idea of OP fostering dogs 3 months a year in a studio flat with no garden. Just doesn't sound true or possible.

I'd be careful about second homes that are not occupied, local councils will be going after them with greatly increased council taxes. I saw something recently on bbc news about Welsh government applying a 300% increase on council tax on such properties. Your money is probably better invested elsewhere.

Fair point @MissBattleaxe

There goes 10 mins of my posting life I’ll never get back .

Yeah @MissBattleaxe has called it.

OP needs to look under a bridge for suitable accommodation

My cynical mind is wondering if we’ll see a lot of posts like this today, to froth up/dilute/distract MNers from focusing on the Johnson/Sunak scandal.

You think someone pondering buying a pied a terre in London is a dead cat to distract from Johnson/Sunak

Interesting first post OP for the MN 'hive mind' to consider.

OP needs to look under a bridge for suitable accommodation

I'm sure an estate agent could help with that too.