London's new garden squares
London is already the greenest capital in Europe, with homeowners enjoying more than 600 garden squares. And the good news is that there are more to come.
As the BBC move out, Shepherd's Bush switches to a new programme
As Aunty leaves the Bush the borough seizes the opportunity to create a proper neighbourhood.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Revealed: from Reading to Redhill – the top 20 commuter stations
Choose your route. Our exclusive property buyers’ guide shows travel times, costs and house prices.
My design London - Russell Norman
Owner of Polpo, Spuntino and Polpetto restaurants in Soho, and da Polpo and Mishkin's in Covent Garden, restauranteur Russell Norman opens up on his favourite London haunts.
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: Camden Town
This two-bedroom flat has a pretty park on its doorstep, while buzzing Camden Town is only 10 minutes’ walk away. Big sash windows and high ceilings give a spacious feel and there’s a private garden with a studio/home office (£525,000).
Swap of the week: Willersey, Glouc
This little Cotswolds beauty is just across the road from the village green and duck pond. For £530,000 you get beams, exposed stone walls and an open fireplace, plus four bedrooms, a useful attic room and lush gardens to enjoy.
Life-changer: Trescowe, Cornwall
For a project brimming with potential, what about this coastal home, yours for £545,000? The family space includes six bedrooms, while its collection of outbuildings overlooking an acre of gardens could become income-generating holiday lets.
Spotlight on Camden Town
The shops and markets clustered around the high street and canal make Camden one of the most colourful of London's neighbourhoods. The area's period homes and loft-style apartments attract a mix of homebuyers.
Property search
Property recovery funds
By Alex Sheridan
With buy-to-let finance harder to obtain these days, investors looking to take advantage of reduced house prices may be tempted by property “recovery” funds.What are they? A raft of new funds, many focusing on central London properties, are offering the prospect of double-digit returns and a hassle-free way of profiting from a pick-up in prices.
What’s good? investors’ cash is pooled to build up a portfolio of properties. This should reduce the risk compared with buying a single buy-to-let property. Purchases and lettings are professionally managed for the fund, and investors don’t have the bother of dealing with tenants.
What’s on offer? The Candy & Candy Growth Fund plans to buy properties at £2 million to £10 million each in Mayfair, Chelsea and other “golden postcodes”, let them out for five years, then refurbish and sell. The London Central Residential Recovery Fund, managed by London Central Portfolio (LCP), will acquire one- and two-bedroom flats to rent. RPAM’s Residential Property Recovery Fund will buy distressed property to rent.
What’s the catch? Many of the funds have investment minimums of about £25,000. Charges may also be high: LCP charges two per cent on all properties it buys for the London Central fund, plus a project management fee on refurbishments and 15 per cent on rental income. The funds are unregulated and financial advisers say investors should be wary of projected returns.
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As the BBC move out, Shepherd's Bush switches to a new programme
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London’s epidemic of discounting
A combination of greedy sellers, nervous buyers and unscrupulous estate agents who promise sky-high prices in order to tempt clients, is being blamed for an epidemic of discounting in the London property market, where a third of all homes for sale have had their original asking price slashed.
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