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.

@HarrietJet I suppose what I was trying to say is, what's the difference between a back garden in a flat/maisonette and a terraced house if they are both on the same street?

They can "hop" over several fences. Fences are not a deterrent. Door and window security (alarm systems) is.

Nothing.

@Mirabai so how do they get into a neighbours garden? And I've never seen anyone hopping close to 2metres!

As a born & raised Londoner who grew up in a what was then a pretty rough area I was only burgled when I was at uni & it was a house not a flat! Most burglars are opportunistic & want easy targets.

Yes, nothing at all.

Forgot to address this from the OP:

"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 :)".

There are a bunch of us hardcore property porn addicts here, of course we enjoy it!😉

what's the difference between a back garden in a flat/maisonette and a terraced house if they are both on the same street?

Nothing

Any self respecting fence hopping burglar will have a pogo stick silly!😬

Yep, completely inconspicuous 😆

Exactly, PropertyLog is showing that they have already reduced by 65k but in this climate I fear they will have to cut some more to sell it?

Who knows. Places like Surbiton are a law unto themselves when it comes to property prices.

Fair enough but maybe a new sheriff rode into town if they have cut by 65k already?

Your username disturbs me. Have you arrived here freshly today just to spread doom? I've seen the threads you have been bumping.

It was probably just overpriced in the first place.

It's a portable, folding, pogo stick!

@HolyParc in part it's articles like this that changed my mind re flats but obviously it just my opinion & everyone has individual circumstances

www.ft.com/content/5c49931e-9ddd-3db3-8a67-3fc2bc18f0d2#comments-anchor

www.ft.com/content/febf2512-675a-463e-8876-b5347135dbf6

www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/buying-mortgages/buying-a-onebedroom-flat-london-property-market-pros-cons-b1078649.html

insideconveyancing.co.uk/news/first-time-buyers-flee-london-in-record-numbers-according-to-research/

Interesting, thanks.

Your username disturbs me. Have you arrived here freshly today just to spread doom? I've seen the threads you have been bumping.

This is giving my flashbacks! We only completed last year on our house so I was reading a lot of stuff & on these boards. I asked for advice re something & was told my house would be repossessed by one poster and by another I would double my money! 😆

Classic MumsNet. It encapsulates the internet culture perfectly.

as usual for these threads, there have been several links posted to houses on the alpha road estate by people who don't know the area. apart from the issue of whether you want to live on a housing estate or not, it won't be in catchment for sasm/maple infants.

OP: I live very close to the flat you posed. it is an amazing area and I love living here. However, I think that flat is a bit overpriced for what it is, and I would have a strong preference against being on basement level - perhaps a strong price premium for the garden, but if you live on st andrew's square can't you just go to the park literally 30 secs from your front door (or walk a few minutes down the road to victoria rec?)

for a 600k budget in central surbiton i'd personally go for something like this

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127254938#/?channel=RES_BUY (river road 2 bed house)
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138445634#/?channel=RES_BUY (yes a communal garden but looks really nice!)
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137327150#/?channel=RES_BUY (if you like newbuilds!)

1 and 3 are way over OPs budget. 2 looks good.

The third one is godawful.

If you click the link to see similar properties nearby you'll find some rather better conversions in the same area on higher floors and a few newer buildings too - the one described as Angler's Reach looks lovely and has 3 beds.

Really good layout conversion same area same price
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138656975#/?channel=RES_BUY

More modern 3 bed
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135002723#/?channel=RES_BUY

@londonmummy1966 thank you - we’d like a garden or patio ideally, that’s why I discarded those. Also I think purpose blocks might have restrictions on pets, we want a cat for DD

Also some have a short lease which we definitely don’t want

One key benefit of that garden flat is that you could extend and add value which is rare for flats.