Ex Council in Brixton/Stockwell

Kujos

Hi there - I'm a first time buyer and have been renting in Brixton for 2 years. I can see the area has changed since I've been here. I like that it's colourful and a little bit mad. I've never had any problems and in fact find it friendly and edgily trendy - so I have found a property in a nice ex-council - one of those that doesn't actually look like it used to be council with gardens and so on - close to Myatts Field South..I just don't know whether it's a good area to buy in in terms of return. Any advice would be much appreciated. Ta.

amcluesent

Look at Zoopla etc. for trends in the area. Plus, depends on the price you can get it for.

mr_fishbulb

Kujos wrote: »

Hi there - I'm a first time buyer and have been renting in Brixton for 2 years. I can see the area has changed since I've been here. I like that it's colourful and a little bit mad. I've never had any problems and in fact find it friendly and edgily trendy - so I have found a property in a nice ex-council - one of those that doesn't actually look like it used to be council with gardens and so on - close to Myatts Field South..I just don't know whether it's a good area to buy in in terms of return. Any advice would be much appreciated. Ta.

What do you mean in terms of return?

Is it an investment, or a home?

londonlydia

I think I know the houses you mean. When I was a child my nan lived in Stockwell Park estate, overlooking the skateboard park. Unbelievable crime rate (she was burgled every 3-6months). However, as she looked after me most of the time, I grew up in Brixton and think of it fondly (so much for kids to do and I loved the multi-cultural upbringing of living there)....I lived in Kennington myself.

Not very helpful for you, but I'd be interested in people's opinions on it. My feeling is that it will take a lot to change people's perceptions of Brixton, and especially Stockwell, and that will always limit what people think of it. Even yourself opened up your post almost apologetically for liking Brixton...I'm guessing people say the same sort of things to you...

jozbo

Rental return? What's the transport like?
Used to live near Myatt's fields and crime was a real issue.
Value will increase but ex-council will always have a ceiling value imho

AlexMac

I was brought up on the (then) Cowley Estate very near the patch you mention, later owned a house in a much rougher area of Brixton, loved the area, and yes- got burgled a couple of times so had to put in more effective door and window locks and also an alarm system.

I now live in leafy Blackheath- and yes - got burgled a couple of weeks after moving in; the key to avoiding it is sensible perimeter security (locks etc...) which we now have!

But I'd go for it - I'm assuming that as you know the area, you'll be happy owning there, and that others like you will too- the kind of people who check the Met's crime map website, dislike ex-council houses or have problems with multi-ethnic communities will go elsewhere. And if you do ever have to rent it out, proximity to transport, shops and bars will be more crucial anyway. Good luck