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Original poster

Another "would you buy this" post - garden flat

203 replies

HolyParc · 21/08/2023 10:39

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.

Check out this 2 bedroom flat for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom flat for sale in St. Andrews Square, Surbiton, KT6 for £559,950. Marketed by Dexters, Surbiton

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136368815#/?channel=RES_BUY

OP posts:
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Fupoffyagrasshole · 21/08/2023 11:55

I bought something very similar 2 years ago and am very happy we did get an extra damp survey done as it was a concern but all has been fine so far!

Ours is only accessible through the main house though - so we go in the front door and down the stairs to the flat inside so it feels very secure

The garden at mine is communal with the 6 flats and we have a key to enter via a side gate rather than direct access from the flat.

we are very happy with our choice

this one looks lovely

Mirabai · 21/08/2023 11:56

PrimarilyParented · 21/08/2023 11:49

this is far cheaper and would be lovely when done up:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136826732

This is also nice and cheaper than the flat you linked to and a garden floor instead of lower ground:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137959118

This flat is also lovely with a really nice garden:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135440564

This is a whole 3 bed house and is still a lot cheaper than the flat:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138736466

I think I would prefer all of these. This is based on knowing a friend who lived in a basement flat on that street and whilst it was lovely it was also dark being in the basement, especially in winter and whilst there weren’t damp issues, drying clothes on airers etc. didn’t work due to the basement and lack of sunlight etc.

You do like your main roads. The last one is Tolworth not really Surbiton.

Original poster
HolyParc · 21/08/2023 11:56

@PrimarilyParented location is not as great in the ones you posted, some are quite far in fact. The Portsmouth road one is very nice. We'd like pets though and I suspect that would be an issue in an actual block of flats?

OP posts:
HarrietJet · 21/08/2023 11:56

I couldn't get past the giant mango chutney barrels in the first link 😂

titchy · 21/08/2023 11:57

Mirabai · 21/08/2023 11:37

I wouldn’t consider a basement flat because of the security issues.

For 650k you should be able to get a 2 bed in a purpose built mansion flat - which have better layouts and balance of space than conversion. But the service charges will be higher.

Fantastic idea. Except no garden, high service charges and an extra £100k.

MNetcurtains · 21/08/2023 12:04

PrimarilyParented · 21/08/2023 11:49

this is far cheaper and would be lovely when done up:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136826732

This is also nice and cheaper than the flat you linked to and a garden floor instead of lower ground:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137959118

This flat is also lovely with a really nice garden:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135440564

This is a whole 3 bed house and is still a lot cheaper than the flat:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138736466

I think I would prefer all of these. This is based on knowing a friend who lived in a basement flat on that street and whilst it was lovely it was also dark being in the basement, especially in winter and whilst there weren’t damp issues, drying clothes on airers etc. didn’t work due to the basement and lack of sunlight etc.

They are nice properties, but the locations are not good at all.

UndercoverCop · 21/08/2023 12:04

I think some of the people posting alternatives don't know the area/how much difference there is in properties half a mile apart in London

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 21/08/2023 12:09

I lived in a very similar flat in Brighton. It was so damp. We had some kind of crustaceans/live living on so much of our stuff. There were a lot of shoes at the back of the wardrobe that we ended up throwing away as they were so mouldy.
We were there for three years and when we moved out it took us a long time to get used to living somewhere dry.

Original poster
HolyParc · 21/08/2023 12:09

OldieButBaddie · 21/08/2023 12:03

tbh I wouldn't go for a basement flat esp that near the river

Britannia Road, Surbiton KT5, 2 bedroom end terrace house for sale - 65079442 | PrimeLocation

how about this?

This is in a horrible street, I would never live there - locations are not at all comparable

OP posts:
PrimarilyParented · 21/08/2023 12:11

@MNetcurtains i think if the OP wants to live on the nicest streets/area then they will have to increase their budget or compromise on size of flat. Personally I would go for a lovely detached house in a slightly less nice area of Surbiton, though obviously each to their own.

frippu · 21/08/2023 12:11

It's lovely on the outside but I don't like the flow, how you have to go through the living room to get to kitchen to get to bedroom

frippu · 21/08/2023 12:12

I also don't think it's a great investment

frippu · 21/08/2023 12:13

and it is expensive for what it is

MNetcurtains · 21/08/2023 12:13

PrimarilyParented · 21/08/2023 12:11

@MNetcurtains i think if the OP wants to live on the nicest streets/area then they will have to increase their budget or compromise on size of flat. Personally I would go for a lovely detached house in a slightly less nice area of Surbiton, though obviously each to their own.

The first property is in a fantastic area, it's got 2 bedrooms and a garden. It's a really good price. The only thing to consider is the fact that it's a basement. Personally, I would got for it, subject yo survey on possible damp issues.

Original poster
HolyParc · 21/08/2023 12:14

@PrimarilyParented detached houses here cost around 1.5 million at the very least I'm afraid

OP posts:
frippu · 21/08/2023 12:15

Not as pretty but better buy imo

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134622236#/?channel=RES_BUY

frippu · 21/08/2023 12:16

i lived in a period maisonette but was upstairs (did have damp once), loads of my downstairs neighbours had it.

MNetcurtains · 21/08/2023 12:16

HolyParc · 21/08/2023 12:09

What about this one? Shame doesn't have a garden:

It's nice, not as good a location of number 1, but you do have access to a communal garden.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 21/08/2023 12:17

I have lived in the basement flat of a Victorian terrace and it was..OK. It wasn't damp, though it was really cold. Sound-proofing was reasonable. A lot depends on how well the conversion has been done.

I would rent this flat, but probably wouldn't buy it tbh, as it's too much of a gamble. But I do think some PPs are being excessively negative. When you're buying in London, there are always compromises unless you're a billionaire.

Original poster
HolyParc · 21/08/2023 12:18

The two houses just liked are above budget sadly. Post n1's price is already a stretch and we wouldn't pay asking.

OP posts:
PrimarilyParented · 21/08/2023 12:21

@HolyParc the cheapest detached house on Rightmove in Surbiton is 500k

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137836322

Lovely Victorian detached for under 700k
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137667584

i appreciate that you want to live in a specific part of Surbiton where the do cost 1.5k or more, but my point was that I would choose a bigger detached property over the most expensive area. That is clearly possible within your budget, but it’s just not what you want and that’s fine.

Check out this 2 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

2 bedroom detached house for sale in Hook Rise North, Surbiton, KT6 for £499,950. Marketed by Greenfield Estate Agents, Tolworth

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137836322

frippu · 21/08/2023 12:21

I think some of the people posting alternatives don't know the area/how much difference there is in properties half a mile apart in London

It's Surbiton though, in half a mile it doesn't go from bougie to hellhole!

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