First time buyer: one bedroom in London

Crashy_Time

https://www.kfh.co.uk/north-west-london/camden-london-borough/council-tax

jonnygee2

Not many properties have appeared on the market, especially in the area (Hammersmith/Shep Bush) I'm looking at.

I've seen this one is quite interesting in between Kennington and Vauxhall:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82737560.html

I used to do some work in the area I know it a bit...but I'm afraid it may be a council block :-/

In fairness, Hammersmith, Shepherds bush, Kennington are all expensive areas. Even though you are looking for somewhere absolutely tiny, you are still stretching to live inside zone 2. Why aren't you considering more typical first time buyer areas (Walthomstow, plumstead, croydon etc?).

Also what's actually wrong with a council block? I live in one in East London, actually it's a very good place to live, Tower Hamlets Homes runs mine and they are far better freeholders than most private companies. And for the money, I got double the space I'd have gotten in a private development, and probably more friendly neighbours too.

hazyjo

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Also what's actually wrong with a council block? I live in one in East London, actually it's a very good place to live, Tower Hamlets Homes runs mine and they are far better freeholders than most private companies. And for the money, I got double the space I'd have gotten in a private development, and probably more friendly neighbours too.

Not recommended on here due mainly to the risk of very high bills landing on your doormat. Often major works get planned. Private owners often have to find tens of thousands.

Crashy_Time

jimbog wrote: »

Don't you just hate it when facts get in the way of a good story?

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/22/investors-kevin-mccloud-property-schemes-huge-losses

jonnygee2

Not recommended on here due mainly to the risk of very high bills landing on your doormat. Often major works get planned. Private owners often have to find tens of thousands.

Most councils have ten year, interest free repayment plans on repairs. Try getting that from a private management company.

The money you save on purchase price vs non-council in London will easily cover a 10k bill anyway.

jimbog

Crashy_Time wrote: »

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/22/investors-kevin-mccloud-property-schemes-huge-losses

Thanks for the link, an interesting item. I've always enjoyed Grand Designs and like Kevin McClould. I must have missed the bit about Camden Council Tax in it though.

hazyjo

jonnygee2 wrote: »

Most councils have ten year, interest free repayment plans on repairs. Try getting that from a private management company.

The money you save on purchase price vs non-council in London will easily cover a 10k bill anyway.

Only going from friends' experiences, posts on here, and other stuff I've read.

I have found council owned flats to charge a hell of a lot more. Usually extremely pricey. And do many people stay for 10+ years and want to pay what is effectively a loan each month? I certainly wouldn't. They also don't always just do the necessary repairs, they will do the lot. If a couple of balconies are worn, or some windows need replacing, they often just decide to do the entire block.

Crashy_Time

jimbog wrote: »

Thanks for the link, an interesting item. I've always enjoyed Grand Designs and like Kevin McClould. I must have missed the bit about Camden Council Tax in it though.

Hope you didn`t invest? We seem to have established that some areas in London have cheaper council tax than other parts of the country, and it is well known that food shopping in London can be cheap enough if you know where to shop, it is just that the property bubble is so big that if you didn`t buy or get housed by the council years ago you are looking at massive debt and negative equity if you want to "own" a property?

t0rt0ise

Crashy_Time wrote: »

https://www.kfh.co.uk/north-west-london/camden-london-borough/council-tax

Yes, that adds on the greater london charge but you have to add on the county charge to the rest too. For example Gateshead total goes to £1970.58 for band D which is hugely different from Camden's total.

Crashy_Time

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-78570365.html

75k price drop, how long can the London bubble last at this rate?