Tell me what's wrong with this place...

[Crash123]

...so I know if I can cope with it! Obviously at my pricepoint I'll have to make some sacrifices (like the train running right behind the garden).

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135905696#/?channel=RES_BUY

Big garden! Rooms are really small. Definitely not spacious as the listing says.

It's sold stc

Check terms of Leasehold.

But as already said... its already sold!

10 cars parked down the side. Rubbish dumped too. But near to station and Aldi, big garden with mid afternoon sun

That's me! I'm the sold!

How do you check the terms of the leasehold?

well it's in South Norwood which isn't the greatest

Thanks @watersprites ! Can you tell me more about this? I've had a bit of a walk around and it looks a bit rough around the edges, but not scary, and hopefully up and coming. If that makes sense?

Let me know if I'm off base. I'm a single woman so scary is bad, but at my pricepoint I'm kind of aiming for up-and-coming / shoddy but liveable.

Noise from people above
Presumably your garden will be overlooked by the people above also so lack of privacy.

I really like it! I'm in Scotland so don't know the area, but the rooms seem light and airy. Put it this way, you're going to have it looking a lot better than they do, as it has a lot of clutter currently. I mean, who leaves washing drying on an airer when they're having professional house pics taken?!
Actually, that's a point. Are there drying facilities in the garden for when the weather is fine?
Good luck in your lovely new home!

You could say the same of any flat.

@CherieBabySpliffUp - Thanks for this! It's not the most ideal (A previous place I lived had a small child above me with elephant feet and would hang out the window and scream HI! at me whenever I was trying to relax on the patio) but I'll get myself a good pair of noise cancelling headphones if I need to.

@JMSA - Hah thanks! I was hoping that put people off viewing! It deffo looks more cramped in there, but they have 4 people living there and I'd be just me, so it should hopefully feel more spacious! There are no drying facilities outside but I can throw a laundry horse out in the short term. I'm classy like that! haha.

South Norwood isn’t terrible at all. I have friends there. I think it looks pretty good.

@Year13novice - Thanks muchly! I've heard both things - that it's bad and that it's actually OK (but has a bad rep).

There’s nothing particularly wrong about it, just things you’ll have to live with which are pretty obvious. My main concern would be noise, from the trains (that’s a busy line, not sure if trains run all night but they’ll definitely start early) but also from neighbours and surrounding roads. Because you’re on the ground floor you have neighbours upstairs who you will definitely hear, but also at least 2 sets of people to the side who you will also hear. It only takes one set of those people to behave like ducks (noise at night, rows etc) for your life to be made miserable. Some might also have kids who will, quite rightly, play in their homes. So if noise is in any way an issue for you, don’t buy it.

Other than that I think the flat looks nice, good garden and super convenient as well as close to green space. I don’t think the area is particularly unsafe, not really any worse than most of that part of London and at least you’re close to the station and can walk on main roads.

The noise of the cars coming and going to the parking next to the flat, and the doors slamming would annoy me more than the train, but that's probably something you can handle.
In terms of the inside I'd want to know how old the boiler is, because new ones are expensive and changing to newer ones can be hugely disruptive in terms of pipework needing to change (speaking from experience 😢). Also, when was it last rewired. Flats of that age often don't have anywhere near the number is sockets needed for modern living. Either of those can be a significant impact on having to replaster/reflooring/redecorate everywhere, and suddenly your costs have gone up a lot.

@Crash123 I wouldn't say it's scary but I'd have my wits about me & would avoid the bits close to Thornton Heath at night.

What's your council tax as Croydon council is in severe debt?

The flat itself looks nice with little needed done to it.

Im not sure about the up & coming bit tbh as wfh/hybrid I think will change the pattern of that & I read that more FTBs then ever left London to buy & are prioritising houses. So I wouldn't bet on gaining loads of equity, however you will have security.

Where is rubbish dumped?

I think it's pretty good OP.

@watersprites - Thank you! I absolutely would stay away from the TH side of the neighbourhood. And yeah, I think even if the price of the plays stays level, at least it's mine. The absurd amount of times I've had to move in the last couple years (following a breakup) is a lot. Never again unless it's on my terms!

@Crash123 I grew up not very far & some of my friends lived there. You kind of know an area differently with that experience vs moving there as there's a lot going on that's not necessarily in sight if that makes sense. Tbf same can be said of many areas.

It's the parking spaces so close that would concern me.

Also I terms of potential I think if you ever wanted to you could turn it into a 3 bed by extending into the garden- as it’s a private garden and a good size. You’d need planning/ freeholder permission and I’m not sure how much it would cost/ add to the value but it’s good to have the option. I’d definitely be looking to open it up to the garden more, even if I didn’t extend, maybe by rejigging the kitchen and lounge and adding some foors st the end. It’s a shame not to make more of the garden.

And as I said the main thing is common sense eg don't wear headphones if it's late, don't have your phone in your hand, walk with purpose etc

Congrats on your new home!

Wouldn't worry about trains. We have then running past us and it's really weird but I only seem to notice when they aren't running running than the fact they are iyswim?!

If the garden is private and not shared it's fab. You can check out whether you can put a Something up that pulls across for privacy from above if you wanted too.

Rooms will be fine for someone on their own but they aren't that big.

Depending on your circumstances, age and plans I'd imagine would be fine for family of 3.

Can't comment on area because I don't know London!

It looks like you could move straight in then put your stamp on it in your own time.
Plenty of room for just you plus an extra bedroom which you could use as a dressing room/office/spare room.
You could easily put a washing line up, a rotary one would be easier to install.
Ask the EA about the leasehold, how long is left, how much are service charges, if any.
I used to live in TH but back then SN was a nice place to live.
I'd be slightly concerned about noise from the flat above but that's something you'd have to overcome living in a downstairs flat.
The trains might take some getting used to at first but they become background noise eventually.
If it helps I like it.

Leasehold

Huge no no