New homes in London's Zone 1 on a Zone 2 budget
Our exclusive research shows a "price wall" formed by the Northern line, with property values to the east less than half those in the west. We reveal the emerging lower-value districts in Zone 1 for buyers on a Zone 2 budget.
Embassy exodus returns acres of central London to its residents
As the embassies exit Mayfair and Marylebone, their former bases will free up stunning family homes. While the move of many embassies to Nine Elms at Vauxhall is creating a new residential quarter including thousands of new apartments.
Oxford spotlight
The small city of Oxford is famous for its university and honeyed stone architecture, but its huge range of property - from affordable new homes to luxurious Victorian houses - and one hour commute to London, are big attractions to home buyers.
Brighton spotlight
The East Sussex city of Brighton and Hove offers its residents the best of both worlds: a relaxed life at one end of the line within an hour's commute of London, and a good mix of Regency terrace houses, seafront apartments and family homes.
Clerkenwell Design Week 2013
Discover one of London's most creative neighbourhoods at this year's Clerkenwell Design Week. This three-day event showcases the hottest trends in design, architecture and cutting-edge furniture.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views.
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens.
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
East Grinstead spotlight
East Grinstead in West Sussex is 30 miles south of the capital in the High Weald. The town's exclusive gated estates attract celebrity home buyers such as Tom Cruise, while London families are drawn to the area's good mix of period homes and modern flats.-
Buy of the week: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views. -
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens. -
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
Property search
Don't miss out on £6,000 for free
By Lucy Tobin
The words “auto-enrolment pension” might make your eyes glaze over but ignore them at your peril: employees could be giving up £6,000 in “free money” towards their pension over the next decade if they opt out of auto-enrolment, according to some number-crunching by Fidelity Worldwide Investment.The scheme, which started this week, sees millions of workers pay into a new, long-term pension scheme designed to work alongside both the state pension and any private pension saving. As pensions minister Steve Webb put it: “We have got half the workforce building up no pension beyond the state pension, and that is why this system is such a positive thing.”
The scheme means companies choose pension plans on behalf of their employees: the firms make a contribution as well as the employee.
A portion of the pay packets of all workers over 22, who are not already part of a workplace pension plan, and are earning at least £8,105 a year will then automatically be put into a pension pot. Up to 11 million people will be involved over the coming years: the scheme is taking place in tranches, with people working for companies with a head count of more than 120,000 employees involved first. By May 2014 it will include companies with 90 staff, and all employers should have auto-enrolled staff by 2017.
It could make a sizeable difference to retirement: according to Fidelity, someone on the UK’s median salary of £26,200 who is enrolled in the pension scheme on 1st October 2012 would receive some £6,000 in employer contributions and Government tax relief in their pension pot if they stay enrolled for 10 years.
Workers can choose to opt out of the scheme - you just need to tell whoever runs the pension scheme at your workplace. But in the future, relying on the basic state pension (currently £107.45 a week for a single person) could mean living in poverty. Plus, by staying in the scheme, your firm will also contribute a minimum of one per cent towards your retirement (rising to at least three per cent in the future). There are tax-breaks too: the money you put towards your pension won’t be liable for income tax.
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London's top property growth areas
Wise homebuyers can get ahead of the curve by buying in London's potential growth areas, thanks to new transport links, regeneration projects and the arrival of iconic new buildings such as the Shard.
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New homes in London's Zone 1 on a Zone 2 budget
Our exclusive research shows a "price wall" formed by the Northern line, with property values to the east less than half those in the west. We reveal the emerging lower-value districts in Zone 1 for buyers on a Zone 2 budget.
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New homes awards 2013
Judged by a panel of Evening Standard readers and presented by comedian Vic Reeves, this year’s new homes awards winners have everything that buyers want — inventive design, wow-factor interiors, eco-friendly features, glamour — and great value.
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New Homes Awards 2013: the winners
This year's London Evening Standard New Homes Awards, hosted by comedian Vic Reeves and England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, praised thoughtful design and spacious interiors at a range of new homes developments.
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First Olympic village homes up for rent
Relaunched as East Village this week, the Stratford athletes' quarters is set to become home to thousands of London's renters in streets named with the Olympics in mind — from Prize Walk and Cheering Lane to Medals Way and Celebration Avenue.
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Diary of an estate agent
A Fulham lettings agent gives herself a week off the gym after climbing up and down stairs to and from top-floor flats all day - and has an awkward encounter with a half-naked client during a property viewing.
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Homes gossip: rent a home in Crosby Row in Borough
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Homes gossip: James Dyson is searching for farmland in Oxfordshire
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Homes gossip
Live moments away from Nelson's Column in one of Liz Hurley's favourite spots; James Dyson is looking for more farmland; Marc Anthony has bought a Californian home; and the chance to rent in Crosby Row.
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Knightsbridge residents fury as Harvey Nichols applies for 3am "nightclub" licence
The residents of Knightsbridge are in uproar over plans submitted by Harvey Nichols to extend its “nightclub” licence until 3am every day except Sundays.
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