Opinions please: stuck between two properties!

Fizzymartini

I'd love your thoughts as I'm stuck deciding between two London properties. I made a list of Pros & Cons for each, but they're coming up level pegging and I need to make a decision, fast!

Both are top floor (2nd floor) 1-bed flats, in very similar condition and square footage. Both share the same asking price, so, assuming they are both valued fairly, which would be your choice based on the following info?

Flat 1: A period conversion in Edwardian house (loft conversion) in W3, close to parents' house, on a residential road of £950K+ houses. Share of Freehold. Open-plan living room/kitchen. Zone 3, 0.5mi away from a Piccadilly line tube station.

Flat 2: A purpose-built flat in a privately-owned block of 100+ flats in SW18, on a residential road, the other side of the city from parents. Long leasehold. Separate kitchen. Zone 2, no tube stations nearby but Clapham Junction isn't far.

Any thoughts appreciated

Dan-Dan

Flat one sounds good!

mrsmchapman

Have you got any links, will be easier to give and opinion

somethingcorporate

What are the service charges on each? You may find one of them is disproportionately costly in terms of on-going maintenance of communal areas.

phoebe1989seb

Based on the relatively limited info you've given Flat 1 sounds better to me........but then I'm a sucker for period properties

Moonraker71

Things I would bear in mind:

No neighbours above - a tick for both BUT are sloping loft conversion ceilings going to mean less usable space and cause any issues with furniture, head height, storage etc?

Share of freehold - also a tick for no. 1 BUT only if all neighbours are in agreement with what needs doing and when. Can sometimes be tricky getting things done in the case of absent freeholders renting out their flats. Is the rest of the building owner occupied and is the whole building in good repair and well-cared for?

Near the tube is a massive plus in my opinion.

Purpose built flat - probably (though not absolutely definitely) better soundproofed than flat 1. Do you know when flat 1 was converted? Old period conversions are notorious for noise issues.

Purpose built flats can often feel safer too, if that's a concern.

Long lease and managing agents mean you don't have to worry about hassles of maintenance BUT you have a lack of control over costs (unless building is Right to Manage?). Big blocks of flats can often have hefty service charges, especially if there are lifts. Ie, a £2,000 yearly service charge is another £166 per month to find from somewhere.

All things considered and based on what you've said I'd go for no. 1. Close to parents often handy when you come home drunk and lose your keys too

Moonraker71

Oops didn't see the links before posting that. Will take a look...

Moonraker71

The Ealing one already says Sold STC?

cattie

I think all the points raised by Moonraker are my thoughts also.

It's difficult to make an informed choice for us because without actually being able to physically look around the properties, we can't gauge if the period conversion gives a feeling of being hemmed in because of the eaves. Also it can be difficult to make a direct comparison between a period & a relatively modern property.

Some people hate open plan living/kitchens (such as myself) & prefer the kitchen to be a separate room, whilst other people adore open plan living. On that basis alone I think I'd chose flat 2, even though I find flat 1 perhaps that bit more appealing.

DLTAG89

I'd go with flat 1.

It looks a little nicer and newer to me. Being close to your parents is always very handy and also the fact its close to the tube.

Good luck with your descision.

Fizzymartini

Moonraker71 wrote: »

Oops didn't see the links before posting that. Will take a look...

Thank you so much for your detailed response - all still very valid points!
Flat 1 was converted about 10 years ago. We can ignore the STC sign on the ad I'm not sure about whether the other floors are owner-occupied, hadn't thought of that...
The service charge for Flat 2 is OK for my budget, and I can see it's put to good use, as the block is well-maintained.