Does the council matter for the value of property

TranceNRG

Hello ladies and gents,
The property I'm interested in buying has a W5 postcode (Ealing) but the local authority is Hounslow council instead of Ealing council. Normally the W5 postcodes are served by Ealing council.

Does the local authority matter when it comes to the valuation of the property or does it depend on the postcode?

I got a insurance quotation for my car using the address of this property and the address of another w5 property which is in Ealing council's catchment area. The former came out about 150 pounds more expensive!

What are your opinions on this?

cheers.
Cam.

System

I know the area well. What is the general kind of area you are looking at?

BTW Chiswick is in Hounslow's borough and they manage OK!

TranceNRG

Hi Walcott, I was previously looking at a flat on Carlyle road, South Ealing. I had my offer accepted last Friday. since I hadn't booked the survey, they didn't take the property off the market. Apparently someone offered substantially higher today so they want me to offer 20K more to buy the property. I said I'll think about it.

So I had a viewing on this flat on Windmill road, tonight. Unfortunately it's on a relatively busy road but it's a bigger flat (needs work doing to it though).
Through this site I found out that this was in Hounslow council's catchment area:
http://local.direct.gov.uk/LDGRedirect/Start.do?mode=1

I know properties on the side of the road (odd numbers) and properties about 100m towards Ealing Broadway are served by Ealing council.
Just wondering if it makes a difference whether it's Ealing council or Hounslow council?

I'm thinking ahead in terms of the growth potential.

cheers.

Edit - You are right about Chiswick! so mabye it doesn't matter.

Owain_Moneysaver

It might do. School catchment areas can make a big difference; if one council has a better reputation for providing services - or the council tax is a lot lower - then that might make a slight difference.

System

I know exactly where you mean. I had a flat purchase fall through on Darwin Road around 5 years ago.

My personal opinion is that the road you are looking on is for all intents and purposes South Ealing. But I do know that around there it changes from South Ealing to Brentford (which is the town that is in Hounslow). I can see why you got the high quote. Don't know if you have been to Brentford but it isn't pleasant and I can see insurers not being happy to insure. But that is a technicality as the road you are looking on should feel no different to South Ealing.

I personally wouldn't hesitate. I like South Ealing as it has a nice village feel to it and it will always be popular being on the Picadilly line.

TranceNRG

Hi Walcott, yeah I've actually lived in South Ealing (Carlyle Road and then Chandos Avenue) for 4 years and know the area well.

Last time I went to look at a room in shared accommodation flat, it was on Windmill road and near the flat I viewed tonight (same side of the road). I remember the landlord saying that the flat used to be in Ealing council's catchment area but now in Hounslow council's catchment area.

It doesn't bother me as long as the post code doesn't change! Because I know most people look at the postcode when it comes to properties.

As you said Brentford is usually cheaper but I must say Brentford isn't that bad in fact I think it's quite nice but not as nice as Ealing. It does have some dodgy parts but overall it's still nice hence the prices are still pretty expensive (but cheaper than Ealing)

Do you think there's a chance that the postcode might change from W5 to TW8? Does this ever happen?

Also what's your opinion on buying a property on a relative busy road? Will I have trouble selling it/renting it out in the future?

cheers.

System

Brentford itself isn't that bad but it's bad parts are probably mostly located to the side it borders onto South Ealing from.

No idea if the postcode could change but as far as I am aware there were TW8 streets off Windmill Road and it doesn't seem to have impacted them. From my experience, that entire part is quite desirable right up to the roundabout at the A4. After that it is Brentford 'proper' and prices drop and in general the area changes.

The street you're looking at to me with be South Ealing regardless of which borough it was in.

MrWillyWonka

I would say yes, the reason I say that is because I have a friend who lives on one side of the road in Islington, the other side of the road is Hackney. House prices are thousands of pounds cheaper on the Hackney side even though the houses are identical. One side of the street has free parking, the other requires a permit!

Strange ways but the point is, there has to be a boundary somewhere even if we don't agree with it. Boundaries mean price differences and this applies to insurance too.

TranceNRG

Thanks everyone for your input. I've made an offer on this new flat. Fingers crossed!