Another "would you buy this" post - garden flat

[HolyParc]

I enjoy these posts as they help me understand market perception of properties I'd be considering purchasing, hope they are also fun for you :)
For those not familiar with the area, this is a lovely residential area in SW London/Surrey border with great schools, transport, amenities, safe, near a lovely river walk etc. And because of this, very expensive :)

What do you think of this? https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136368815#/?channel=RES_BUY

I am not sure about being lower ground due to limited light and also, for some reasons it feels less safe? Location is as good as it gets though and I like the flat too.

Lovely garden!

Excuse me while I go full on Yorkshire but 'OW MUCH?

Jfc.

It looks okay but basement flats often suffer horrifically from damp problems and you are going to get almost no natural light in the living room, given it is below ground and in the centre of the flat with (I think) just one small window.

I would probably have severe S.A.D
if I had to live here.

@KievLoverTwo yeah I know, these are London prices for you...
Good point re dump, I didn't think of that.
What is S.A.D?

Damp is always the enemy in basement apartments, though this one looks fine.
As for security, an alarm, or burglary proof glass and a decent front door.

Everyone I know who has had a lower ground floor flat/ part of their house has had damp issues. Similar to every cellar I have had has had damp. I'd be wary.

Id want to see more pictures before o even committed to a viewing.

Seasonal affective disorder. Depression/finding it hard to get out of bed when the weather is miserable/it's winter/you get light for fewer hours a day.

I like it.

Rather than look at 3/4 story victorian houses where the garden flat will be basement look at a smaller victorian house where the garden flat would be ground floor and therefore lighter.

It's a nice flat but I would never buy a lower ground floor flat as any issues with the drains / sewers and you're the first port of escape for sewage backing up, and the risk is greater than in a ground floor bathroom because you're much lower down so it has less distance to travel.

It's lovely. But I think you'd need to go around during a dark day or gloomy morning. I need alot of light.

Is the yard for your sole use?

At least the bathroom seems to have windows. My hand once disappeared through a bathroom wall in a basement flat that only had an extractor fan.

My son lived in a similar place last summer and it was valued higher (he was just renting but looked it up!). It was in a desirable area of London, but more central than this one. It was lovely and cool during the heatwave, not sure about the winter though.

I would buy that, it looks lovely and I like the garden. The ones on the higher floors are likely to be twice the price, so depends on your budget!

I wouldn't live in a Victorian conversion for anything. They may look nice, but the soundproofing is normally non existent with problems of both airborne and impact noise. I know someone who lives in a flat similar to that one, and she has problems with neighbour noise, damp, bad levels of light, AND people attempting to break in. She has bars on her windows now. (This is in NW London) oh, and it's freezing in the winter.

@2weekstowait Thanks! actually the ones on the upper floors are usually cheaper as tend to be smaller and don't have a private garden.

@IsadoraQuagmire thank you - why would it more likely for people to break in than a terraced house for example?

Yes, because they are already down a flight of stairs and therefore not visible at street level.

Every basement flat I have seen in London has doors and windows covered with bars.

I like it, it is a nice flat.

Have you been to view it? The reason I ask is there are not many photos which makes me wonder why and no photo of the bathroom. If you have viewed it and like it, you could always ask a damp specialist to take a look before putting in an offer. Maybe also try a second viewing at a different time of day so you can see how much light gets in. Mirrors would be your best friend in this flat to bounce light around.

There are quite a few round here, I don't think they're particularly targeted for burglaries. Probably carry an extra risk, but not hugely higher than anywhere else.

It's really nicely done and that's a lovely garden, but I think I've seen better layouts of converted flats. This has the worst of everything layout-wise: bedroom at the front, very little light in the sitting room, bathroom through the kitchen and the nicest room at the back is the smallest, also through the kitchen and up some stairs. The main living space and kitchen feel quite cut off from the garden.

I looked at a lower ground floor in SW London and I just couldn't deal with the idea of looking out the window at people's passing feet and all the grime of a street,but plenty of people do. If the price reflects that, then it's a good buy because it's a great area.

At you the estate agent?

It's a basic flat and I would only contemplate it as a buy to let.

Before considering buying a basement flat in London I'd have a read of this.
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-warns-londoners-in-basements-about-flooding

The garden is really nice! I’ve never lived in a garden flat but the interior looks good. I’d look at it on a gloomy day and check you’re happy with light etc.

Potential issues- damp, lack of light. Security but from the photos it looks as if the flat is quite visible from the street so maybe that’s ok. I like the fact it has its own entrance and I like the garden. I don’t like the fact the second bedroom is off the kitchen- fine if you’re using it as an office but not great for an actual bedroom.

It's a very nice flat on the surface. Good size too, great area. I would certainly look at it, as it seems promising. But there may be things about it which are obvious only when you view, that rule it out. I hate buying ... Such massive decisions and leaps of faith.