Parking versus no parking

JSB101

Dear all,

My wife and I are considering buying a period flat, with a garden but with limited on-street parking in a non-patrolled area of SW London. Apparently sometimes you need to park 2-3 streets away, or a 5 min walk.

Alternatively, we could opt for more modern property with a balcony or shared outside space with off street parking (OSP) and/ or a garage.

I commute by car outside of London so parking is important.

However I am of the view that OSP is worth surrendering as period property is more saleable, more likely to appreciate in value, and also (in general) has lower ground rent and service charges.

Am I alone in having this opinion or do others share it?

I'd be interested and appreciative of any views!

giraffe69

In lots of areas of London the free on street parking has disappeared. The nearer a station you are the quicker that happens. What happens if your area suffers this. Perhaps you will be able to get a permit and visitors permits also but at a cost and some aggravation.
Parking is important for some buyers so at resale time you will restrict your market somewhat.

elsien

JSB101 wrote: »

Apparently sometimes you need to park 2-3 streets away, or a 5 min walk.

That would be manageable for me, if true. Depends what is meant by "sometimes" and how accurate it is. Is it something you could check out with neighbours rather than the vendor?

SG27

I can't see any reason why period properties should appreciate in value more than non period properties. They are more desirable but that is already reflected in higher prices conpared to comparable non period properties.
Is it near a tube station? If it was outside London there is no way I would buy a house without some parking. Either on or off street. But in London with the tube I don't think it's as important.

ognum

I would always buy something with some kind of outside space, preferably not shared and not ground floor, balcony is fine.

I would always go for a place with parking!

Yolina

Many years ago, I was renting in West London (Acton/Ealing border), it was free on-street parking and a complete utter nightmare even then. Particularly annoying late at night in winter, when it's bucketing down for good measure. When I bought my flat 14 years ago, I wouldn't even look at anything that didn't have allocated parking.

Hermia

I would never buy a place without off-street parking, especially not in a city. I have lived in places with free for all parking and places with resident's permits and they are all a nightmare IMO. Where I live at the moment they seem to give out more permits than there are spaces which is just great!

I think if you are going to seriously consider this flat you need to really going to find out whether what you have heard about the parking is true. I've heard friends who live in city centres tell me about having to park at least 15 minutes away every night.

phoebe1989seb

DS and his GF have a period garden flat in SW London (Colliers Wood) and there is permit parking in their road and those surrounding. AFAIK in the two years since they purchased they have always been able to park in their own road, although not directly outside of course They're also very close to the tube station

FWIW we lived in a period house in a city on the South Coast we found that once permit parking was introduced to our conservation area we had far less problems finding a space than previously when we often had to park a couple of streets away.........

Fraise

Whether on street or off street parking I would find it very important. I would seriously be put off a property where you had to park 3 streets away.

sirmosh

Lack of parking can quickly become one of the most pointlessly stressful things in your life. It's not so bad if you have guaranteed spaces a few minutes walk away but there are so many cars these days that it seems just about every gap a car can fit in is taken most of the time.

hazyjo

Hi

Try to imagine it for a while - turning up with bagfulls of shopping, or golf clubs, or kids' stuff, or furniture/heavy stuff you've bought, etc (and then add rain into the mix!).

Maybe try parking 3 streets/5 mins away from where you are now and see how quickly you get fed up of it!

If you invite several people over, or elderly family, it'll be a pain too. I hope there's a nearby station cos you'll probably find you'll think sod it, I'll get the tube/train instead of taking the car and battling for a space on your return.

I lived in a Victorian house once with limited parking. It was fine at the weekend or during the day, quite a few spaces actually, but if I went out at night and drove home, I would be driving round for ages desperate to find a space. Ended up selling my car for a smart car to help with the situation!

Think very carefully... it's likely to become a major issue after a while.

Jx