Why do you think this property isn't selling?

[zzuple]

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156099821#/?channel=RES_BUY

I like it FWIW, but I am not in the market for a London property!

First photo looks like someone has had an accident on the floor but it’s the pattern on the rug.

Short lease.
Dated kitchen.
One bedroom although they do say that there could be space to use as a second bedroom.

You could get two 5 bed detached in the North East for that.

Length of lease and large service charges. Personally I love your flat, but it's going to appeal to the Brutalist brigade, well not quite that but it's a particular marmite style of architecture. Get some photos of the bathroom. The kitchen is almost Bauhaus functional, I like it & it fits the architectural style but might need updating. Try AI for tweaks and upgrades maybe?

Ooo no!! I much prefer the OP’s flat.

Yes the kitchen and bathroom require attention but you are at the behest of the Landlord for consent and for design approval… so you can’t do whatever you fancy to your own interior. Residents are encouraged to replace like for like wherever possible. That combined with hefty annual service charges and a liability for (inevitably pricey) works to the building with unknown timescales (such as a lift replacement) is understandably off-putting for a lot of people. I love the Barbican but I also love my dog so I can’t ever consider a property within the complex. When you add in cat owners, This also rules out a significant number of potential buyers who may have been in the market at this price range.

You would struggle to get a mortgage with that lease, so you have lost most of your buyers. Can you get an extension of the lease? Like others have said your kitchen is bland, then there is the matter of service charge. My guess it is expensive.

The lease length. The lease length. The lease length.

Lease length - my friend just had to extend his (he lives there, absolutely loves it) - can’t remember what it cost but it wasn’t cheap. I love the kitchen! Reminds me of being a kid. Those units must be pretty solid to last 50 / 60 years.

Is it yours OP?

You need a more specialist agent. 7 really ‘meh’ photos aren’t going to convince anyone that Barbican living is for them. https://themodernhouse.com do this kind of thing well. You’re looking for a niche buyer, as the responses on this thread will tell you, so you need to put in the work and the money to get the sale.

The flat needs to be staged. At the moment (and I say this as someone who loves brutalist architecture and would give my right arm to live in the Barbican) there is very little in those photos that sets this flat apart from any ex council flat in any other estate in central London. That bedroom could be any bedroom in any house in any city or suburb going by the decor.

Sorry to be brutal(ist) but 🤷‍♀️

Barbican is a world renowned example of Brutalist architecture. It has massive cachet, though clearly doesn’t appeal to everyone. If anything it will increase the price.

Leasehold plus it looks quite tiny for the price.

The lease, although the kitchen is dated I’d take an original Barbican kitchen over many of the renovated ones, except one done by Thomson Brothers or other specialist. What’s wrong with the bathroom?

I like it, but the kitchen is awfully dated and the balcony looks dingy.

Soulless was the word that came to my mind on seeing the pictures and I see others have used that too. When I've been house hunting, the overall vibe has always been important to me. I've no idea of central London flat prices, but I know a lot of new builds have been completed recently, in plenty of other areas close to the city / central, plus transport links are good anyway. No need now to covet the once trendy Barbican.

Agreed. It’s the most annoying and pointless comparison.

I wouldn’t change the kitchen. It needs attention but these flats are nicest when they’re done up in the original style with cool retro furnishings, not like that modernised one linked to above which could be anywhere. It’s a shame this isn’t styled in an authentic way to show the potential to people who aren’t familiar with the Barbican’s unique appeal. I’d love to live there, but couldn’t afford it and unless I was loaded, I wouldn’t risk the service charge fees esp when they can sting you for huge random sums for the lifts, as PPs said. There will be a buyer for this but if price is the issue, the extra charges will be a problem too so you’d be better off targeting the minted market, staging it better and selling for more.

The lack of pictures is suspicious you really only have three pictures inside the flat as two are AI, it makes me think you are hiding something. I would want pictures of the bathroom as well as communal areas such as the entrance and hallway going to the flat.

the short lease would be an issue for anyone getting a mortgage however I would suspect that with the location, size of the property and the price your typical buyer would do it without a mortgage.

The London housing market seems dire at the moment. I have friends trying to sell flats in desirable areas and nothing is happening

Because they are taking the piss with:
A. The price
B. That ASDA smart price kitchen

I'm a Londoner and honestly that price is a disgrace.

Lack of bathroom photos (apparently theres a Brooke Marine kitchen and bathroom so you can expect the bathroom to be as luxurious as the kitchen 🙄) and then theres the lease length

The lease is the big issue.

But mainly the barbican is a niche choice, you have to be a fan of the architecture (I’m not) and the location which post Covid is becoming more and more depressing.

for that money I’d buy in a mansion block off Marylebone high street where’s there’s much more of a weekend vibe.

It’s the lease. I know it’s being extended but I’d take it off the market until that’s done

Price seems about right based on what’s sold but the compromise things will put off people who will hold out for one that’s on a better floor with better views or has the lease extended or is in better condition or has ANY thing that makes it the one flat for them from the several that will always be available in that location.
Of course it will sell if the price drops steadily until someone bites.

You need more photos. And price. Properties sold nearby" suggests a similar flat sold recently in same place for £715k.

Initially I thought the kitchen looked dated, but now I see it is an original feature so in the barbican that is a positive point! But maybe see if anywhere needs a repaint so it doesn't look tired.

Looks like it's been rented to students or something, so empty and void.

If the bathroom is fully tiled with the small white squares like others then it's no wonder they haven't put photos up!