2021 proved to be an exceptional year for the property market, with annual growth hitting 10.4% and prices are 15% above the level they were at just before the pandemic hit in March 2020. At the same time, thanks to the stamp duty holiday, the number of transactions came close to highs last seen in 2007 (source: Nationwide). London had been lagging behind the rest of the country but after a slow start, showed signs of a sustained rec...
The property world is becoming ever more regulated and that includes what we do in our own homes. Keeping up with it all can prove challenging and many of us are either unaware of the full extent of the rules or are simply ignoring them. Up and down the country, people are adding light fittings or ordering incorrect replacement windows and doors without realising the consequences. You could land yourself with a fine of up to £5,000. Mostl...
Michael Gove has been in the news recently as he tries to tackle the thorny issue of who should pay for the huge cost of removing dangerous cladding on high rise buildings. In 2017, the Grenfell fire cost the lives of 72 people and cast huge doubts over the safety of many high-rise buildings. In response, the government tightened its safety guidelines and nervous mortgage companies began demanding to see proof high rise buildings complied b...
Because most of the indices are based on sold prices, they tend to lag at least 3 months behind Rightmove’s, which is based on current asking prices. As a result, so far only Rightmove’s shows the true effect of the stamp duty holiday extension. Their latest data reveals demand is now surging ahead of supply in many areas and is creating considerable upward pressure on prices. Spring is already one of the busiest perio...
The rental market continues to operate at two very different speeds. Homelet’s latest data shows the average rent rose by 0.3% between January and February and by 3.0% when compared to the same period last year. Ten out of the twelve regions saw significant rises during the last 12 months, with the East Midlands up by as much as 8.2%. If you take London out of the equation, the average rent rose by 6.2%. In the capital, annually, rents w...
Disclosure – what you need to disclose when selling a home So, Manors have found you your buyer, you’ve accepted an offer, the champagne has been drunk and now it’s time to do the paperwork. If you haven’t sold a property for a few years, you might be surprised by how much there is. There’s the Sellers Property Information Form, the Fixtures Fittings and Contents Form and, for leasehold properties, there&...
Damp, it’s extremely common, especially in older houses, but if you are a landlord, you have a legal responsibility to your tenants to deal with it. But, don’t panic. Damp is not always as big a problem as it may seem and sometimes the cure can be surprisingly straightforward. With a little knowledge, you should be able to identify and fix some of the more obvious causes, or at least make you feel confident about calling ...
Mortgages and interest rates in 2021 In 2020, the mortgage market, like everything else, was heavily affected by the COVID crisis. At the start, lenders worried about the prospect of defaults and negative equity, began withdrawing their high LTV mortgages, squeezing many first-time buyers (FTBs) out of the market. The Stamp Duty holiday, however, ensured house prices remained stable and there were high levels of demand for those a...
How to prepare your house for sale in Marylebone It’s been a while since we talked about preparing your home for sale or rent, so we thought we might give you a little reminder of what you need to do: 1) Kerb appeal is incredibly important. If it doesn’t look right on the outside then any potential buyer may not even bother to go inside: Wash and clean external doors and windows ...
2021 – what will happen to house prices? It’s hard to believe now, but this time last year, all the talk was about how resilient the housing market had been in the face of Brexit uncertainty. And, with Boris Johnson’s election and his unexpected success in renegotiating terms with the EU, it all ended with a rising sense of optimism. Commentators were even promising ‘a far brighter, smoother year in 2020...
2021 – what will happen to the rental market? At the start of 2020, supplies of rental property were plunging and rents were rising. In January, Homelet’s Rental Index showed average rents were up by 2.3% and by 4.4% in London. Despite a raft of upcoming tax and legislative changes, landlords’ confidence remained surprisingly high - 25% were expecting rents to increase, and 32% were expecting property prices to r...
Renewable energy for your home With gas boilers increasingly in the crosshairs in our fight to reduce carbon emissions, we thought it might be a good time to take a look at some more eco-friendly options for heating and powering our homes. There are five main categories of renewable energy sources and these are wind turbines, solar power, micro-hydro power, ground source heat pumps and biomass fuels. Each one has a different set o...
Putting the style into Christmas The main problem with Christmas decorations is that they are a collection of; whatever didn’t break last year, a couple of new bits you picked up whilst out shopping and an old box full of random, unrelated, brightly coloured objects and a spot of tinsel. The result looks like the aftermath of an explosion in a Christmas gifts shop. That is why there is one rule and one rule only - decide on a theme an...
What factors are taken into account when your property is valued in Marylebone?
When it comes to selling your home, it’s safe to say that there’s a lot to think about.
A valuation is an essential part of the process, allowing you to better understand how much your property is worth and where you should set your asking price.
But what can you expect during your property valuation? And what factors will impact...
Fittings and fixtures
What should stay and what should go
Over the years there have been an awful lot of horror stories about people moving into a new house or flat, only to find it stripped bare, with even the light switches removed. Don’t panic, these are extreme examples, but whether you are buying or selling a property you need to be very clear about what is staying and what is going. Arguments ove...
Property news October - the mini-boom continues With the data now coming thick and fast, the shape of the mini-boom is becoming ever clearer. Under the circumstances, it’s not surprising it’s a little unusual. Traditionally, it’s first time buyers that drive the market, but not this time. This time the market is being driven by buyers of three and four bed houses, as existing homeowners seek larger properties. ...
Mortgage News The scale of the mini-boom is made clear by the latest report from the Bank of England. According to them, in May there were just 9,300 mortgage approvals. In June, that number had risen to 39,900, then 66,000 in July and 85,000 in August. As a result of such high levels of demand, there are long delays in the processing of applications, a situation that has been further exacerbated by many lenders’ staff working from ho...
Rental news Covid has resulted in some testing times for landlords. With the government’s ban on evictions of non-paying tenants, many landlords have had to bear a heavy financial burden and the protective measures keep coming. Evictions were allowed to begin again on 21st of September but there are big backlogs at the courts. At more or less the same time, though, the rules for regaining possession changed. Now, if you want to sell t...
Making alterations to a leasehold property Most homeowners pay little attention to the finer details of the ownership and title of their properties. That's what solicitors are for. However, the chances are that if you bought a residential flat (and in some cases houses too), you may have a lease on it, which means you don’t technically own it. In our parts of London - Mayfair, Marylebone, Regent’s Park and Hyde Park, for exa...
How is coronavirus affecting house prices in Westminster and surrounding areas?
The UK property market has enjoyed a mini boom since reopening after the lockdown and the government’s stamp duty cut could result in more people moving home over the next few months.
What’s happening to the property market? Property markets across the UK have now reopened, meaning estate agents are conducting in-person house viewi...
Legislation 2020 – Are You A Landlord In Marylebone?
Did you know during the course of the last 2 years, there have been 19 new legislative changes that effect Landlords and Letting Agents for tenancies in England and Wales, and the penalties and fines imposed for non-compliance have been on the rise.
How many of the below are you familiar with as a landlord?
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2...
What’s in a road name? We attach a surprising amount of value to the names of the roads we live in. 3% of us are willing to pay as much as £50,000 for a house with the right road name, according to a survey by property portal OnTheMarket. And what we want most of all is anything that sounds like it’s got some kind of regal connection, such as Royal, Palace, King, Queen or Crown, even more so if you live in some of...
With the housing market reopened, what are the rules for safe viewings? A group of the property industry’s main trade and government bodies have got together to formulate a guide to best practice. The full document covers many operational aspects, but we have extracted their recommendations for viewings for both buyers and sellers - see below. If. on the other hand, you want to read the full document click here. When bookin...
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has just announced that, until 31st March of next year, you will not have to pay stamp duty on the first £500,000 of any house purchase. It means the average buyer will save £6,894.20 which should give a substantial boost to the housing market. It is likely to benefit the more expensive purchases rather than first time buyers, who don’t normally have to pay the tax. In our parts of London, Mayfair, Maryle...
Guide to property viewings - Tips & Tricks While some house hunters still take an instinctive approach, it certainly pays off to be thorough during a property viewing to make sure you are absolutely sure the property is right for you and are fully aware of any wear and tear before you make an offer. This tip guide lists everything you need to look for to make sure you get the most out of your property viewing. ...
How to maximise the value of your property portfolio across London? If you’re a landlord, you might be considering maximising the value of your rental portfolio. A property portfolio is a collection of property investments which are owned by a company or individual. The main benefit of a property portfolio is that it gives you better access to equity and gives you multiple streams of income. Becoming a property investor in Marylebo...
With so many tax and legislative changes for the rental market, it’s difficult to keep up with it all. We thought it might be useful to give you a rundown of everything that will be happening in 2020. 1) Capital Gains Tax There will be two significant changes to CGT on any properties you sell that are not your main home. Lettings Relief means that if you lived in your second property at any point, you won’t have to ...
Last month, we saw some of the first real rental data for 2020 - Homelet’s Rental Index showed average rents were up by 2.3% and by 4.4% in London, compared to January 2019. Average rent (excluding London) was £793pcm and £1,627pcm in the capital. With the Consumer Prices Index running at 1.8%, the rises were considerably above inflation, especially in London, in the areas like Marylebone, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and May...
Ironically, before the coronavirus hit, the housing market was in rude health. The much anticipated Boris Bounce meant prices were rising across the board. According to Nationwide, annual house price growth hit 3% in March, up from 2.3% the previous month - the fastest pace since January 2018. And, after five difficult years, Prime Central London, including Marylebone, Mayfair, Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, was also showing signs of a sig...
Working from home can be quite a shock. After a lifetime of commuting to offices filled with people, buzz and banter, suddenly we are sat at home in makeshift workspaces, trying to concentrate while the world is turning upside down. For many, it’s a truly challenging transition. Don’t panic. I’ve been doing it happily for six years now, and there are some simple things you can do to make it a whole lot easier. Th...
2019 was a year that will live long in the memory. As we predicted, from its outset, it was dominated by Brexit. The government’s lack of majority meant their Brexit bill was continually rejected and any kind of compromise seemed impossible. By May, May was out and we had a leadership contest and a new Prime Minister - Boris Johnson. The result heightened fears over a hard Brexit, but then Johnson surprised us all by getting the EU to ag...
There is an ever increasing amount of paperwork attached to the sale of your home. If you are thinking of selling a property in Marylebone this year, your solicitor will be able to take you through the process, but below is a quick and easy guide to the kind of information you will be expected to provide:
1) Proof of identity
You will need proof of your current address, such as a recent utility bill, as well as some sort o...
Rental market predictions 2020 2019 was a year marked by plunging supply levels, rising demand and prices, yet more legislation and landlord exoduses. According to Homelet’s index, the average rent rose by an inflation busting 3.2% (to November 2019) and by the same amount in London. The average rent now stands at £947pcm and £1,648 in London and £4,225 pcm In Marylebone (median). The biggest rise was in Wales (+5.2%...
Like the sales market, there is a shortage of stock in the rental market at the moment and that includes homes for rent in Marylebone. At the same time, strong demand from tenants, means we are seeing record high rents everywhere except Scotland and the North East. Outside London, rents have hit a peak of £828pcm - the biggest quarterly rise since 2015. Within London, rents are now £2,104pcm after the biggest jump at this time of yea...
Tory General Election landslide victory puts a spring into
the market
The prospects for London’s spring property market look better
than they have for more than three years, thanks to a
combination of political stability and progress on Brexit giving
both buyers and sellers increased confidence.
This should mean more owners getting off the fence and putting their
homes up for s...
How to add value to your property in Marylebone
Increasing the value of your property in Marylebone could be a great option before you come to sell your property, to maximise of the full value of your property.
Here are a list with some percentages on potential added value.
1. Convert your cellar
Potential Value Added: Up to 30%
Transforming an existing cellar into a living or storage space can boost a p...
Top 5 places to go ice skating in London From stunning historic locations to modern surroundings, check out London's best outdoor ice-skating rinks. Temporary ice rinks pop up in iconic settings throughout the city and are among the top attractions over Christmas and New Year. Natural History Museum ice rink Skate right in front of one of London’s most iconic museums, as it’s transformed for winter with twink...
Coco Momo Marylebone NEW YEAR’S EVE The perfect cocktail stop off before you head off into the night to a friends or even, if you’re feeling braver a club! It is always a trick one to organise but Coco Momo is a real safe bet. A beautifully simple and stylish café bar is a Marylebone institution. Come for excellent coffee, open sandwiches, indulgent salads and perfectly served classic cocktails, served with ...
Cheap mortgages, a resilient economy, Brexit fatigue and an endless round of extensions have enabled the housing market to weather the storm created by the referendum far better than most commentators had predicted. And, as we reported last month, there have even been times when the market has performed above the levels of previous years. However, with an election looming, there is now a temporary hiatus in home sales as we all wa...
Just as the weather is turning and we are all about to all huddle back inside, it’s good to see how much we value our outside space According to recent research carried out by Zoopla, us Brits are willing to pay a huge £27,100 premium for a house with a garden or £243 extra per month for those who are renting. As a result of its high house prices, it is no surprise to find the biggest premiums are to be found in Lo...
How quickly will my house to sell?” It’s a common enough question, especially during the autumn sales window, which is the shortest. Unfortunately it's not a question that has any easy answers, because there are just too many variables. Every sale is different and so is every location. It doesn’t stop there either, it also depends on the time of year, the state of the economy and how many similar properties a...
The peak month for the rental industry is usually July. Not this year. When the tenants’ fee ban came into force on June 1st, there was a huge spike in demand immediately after with some agents reporting up two or three times the usual activity levels. Coming amidst already low stock levels, it resulted in a highly competitive market with some tenants having to pay over the asking price to secure a property. Rightmove’...
What with all the headlines about Brexit that are currently dominating the news, you could be forgiven for thinking that regeneration schemes are over for good. Quite surprisingly, though, that doesn’t seem to be the case. If you just look out of a London window, you will in fact see plenty of cranes in the skyline - construction is still booming at the minute. Here’s a list of the projects currently changing the face of Westmin...
Trying to get your little one into the right school is an anxious and stressful experience. And, with only one month to go before the deadline, the tension is going to get worse. The good news is we’ve put together a guide with the best tips and hints to help.
The Schools You Can Apply To
At a recent council meeting for Westminster school applications, Wendy Anthony, the Head of Admissions, provided some much-needed ...
Our relationship with property and the rise of Generation Rent Here at Manors Estate Agents, we’ve talked a lot about Generation Rent in recent years, but how have our households evolved? Who’s living where? With whom? How many of us are renting and how many own their home? And what does it all mean for the property market and the knock on effects on the way we live? Not just in our backyard in Marylebone, but across the country...
Confidence Survey We pride ourselves at Manors Estate Agent, Marylebone, on keeping our finger on the pulse of the property market and the latest survey from Zoopla makes for some fascinating reading. They have just conducted an exhaustive survey to find out how we’re feeling about the direction of the housing market amidst ongoing Brexit uncertainty. The good news is that we are feeling a lot more positive than you might expect &#...
Now that the ashes are in full swing, you are probably wondering where the best place to watch sport in Marylebone is. Sure, you could stay at home and watch a match with a cool drink and some snacks, but it won’t have quite the same atmosphere as if you went to a bar or pub to watch, would it? Plus, you might not have the right channel to watch a match at home. That’s why there’s no better place to watch the ashes - or any s...
If you are looking for a new apartment, then you have certainly come to the right place. Here at Manors, we are one of the leading estate agents in the whole of London, so you can be sure that you will find some of the capital’s finer properties on our site. Take a browse around to see what kind of apartments we have for sale right now. If you don’t have much time on your hands at the minute, simply read through this blog post. ...
House price news: It’s that time again when we bring you all the latest news and views from the housing market, not just from Manors Estate Agents home patch in Marylebone, but across the UK. Here’s what’s been happening over the last few weeks: The election of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister has added, in the short term, to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Will there be a hard Brexit, or will there be a last minute ...
Lettings news Here at Manors Estate Agents, Marylebone, we like to keep you up to date with all the latest developments in the lettings industry – so here they are: Homelet’s latest index shows the rental market continues on its upward trajectory. Average rents rose by 1.8% in June when compared to last year, hitting £941pcm. In London, rents were up by 0.9% at an average of £1,611pcm, 71.2% higher than th...
How does a buyer/renter decide what homes they want to view? It’s mainly based on the photos they see of your property. If you have the best pictures, then it entices people to look for more. You want to blow them away, so they’re left with no decision other than to come for a viewing. Creating the perfect photos of your home can be a tough task. There’s a fine balancing act between making it look homely without going over...
First opened in 1828, London Zoo has been one of the most popular attractions in the capital for well almost two centuries. As the world’s oldest scientific zoo, it has a rich history of conservation, research and animal protection. In addition to offering scientific insights and species preservation, London Zoo gives visitors an unrivalled opportunity to see a variety of animals in spacious enclosures and outdoor pens. Welcoming over...
Madame Tussauds is a waxwork museum in London, depicting the likeness of famous people, both past and present. But have you ever wondered how the British institution decides who to recreate? Why is it that some of the rich and powerful make the cut, while others don't? Madame Tussauds Hosts Annual Meetings To Decide Who To Depict In Waxwork The process of who gets chosen is straightforward and, surprisingly, no...
When you think you've seen it all in London, the city has an uncanny ability to surprise you with something new. You might think that when it comes to coffee shops, you've "been there, done that" (after all, there's a Costa on practically every corner, including right here in Marylebone), but we can confidently assert that you haven't. Take Saint Espresso, for instance, a coffee shop right here in the heart of Maryle...
Mary Quant is the playful clothing designer who launched a fashion revolution; from miniskirts and hot pants to vibrant tights and makeup, you can now discover how Mary Quant launched a fashion revolution on the British high street, with over 200 garments and accessories, including unseen pieces from the designer's personal archive at the Mary Quant Clothing Exhibition on Kings Road. The exhibition explores the years between 1...
Tickets are now on sale for Marylebone summer festival on Saturday the 15th of June, so make sure you save the date if you want to have an awesome time full of music, street food, and amazing little gifts and souvenirs! More About Marylebone Summer Festival The festival starts with the Marylebone summer film night on Saturday the 15th. This is held in the atmospheric surroundings of Paddington street gardens, and Billy Elliot w...
Are you looking for a fantastic way to revitalise the style of your Marleybone Home? Well, the results are in and according to the latest trends, green is the colour that you want to focus on. We’re not talking about energy efficiency here. We literally mean decorating the rooms in your home with beautiful, bright shades of green that will look absolutely stunning. With green shades, you can make a room look warm, welcoming and even get ...
RIGHT TO LIGHT If you, or one of your neighbours is planning on doing any building work, perhaps a new extension, a shed, or even a new garden wall and it obstructs the light to another property, you need to know about the ‘Right to Light’. If you don’t, it could cost you money. ‘Right to Light’ is an area filled with misconceptions. Most people think it is all part of the planning process and only become aware...
What do renters want? So what is it that renters are really looking for these days? You may be surprised by the answers because, according to data from Zoopla’s keyword searches, renters are more concerned about their cars and their pets than they are about themselves when it comes to finding their perfect home. The top search terms were ‘Parking’,‘Garage’ and ‘Pets’. “Furnished’, on the...
How Much Is My Home Worth In Marylebone?
Whether you bought your home 10 years ago or 2 years ago, its value could have changed significantly in that time. As well as the overall property market rising and falling, your geographical location may have affected the value of your home. In addition to this, any work you’ve had done to the property or renovations you’ve carried out could have increased its value.
Kno...
Marylebone House prices Yet again, this month, it’s all about Brexit. Fortunately, the fundamentals behind both the economy and the housing market remain strong, but it is having an effect. Confidence is down and activity is somewhat subdued for this time of year. Prices are still rising, though – up 0.7% in February (source: Nationwide). Robert Gardner, Nationwide's Chief Economist, comments: ...
RENTAL NEWS
Homelet’s Rental Index reveals that, as expected, Brexit uncertainty is pushing up demand for rental properties.
Rents rose in all 12 of the UK’s regions in February. The average UK rent was up 3.8% compared to the same month last year at £940 pcm. In London, rents rose even faster, at 5%, with average rents hitting £1,599pcm.
The biggest rise of all was in the Southwest, where...
As part of a busy Central London area, Baker Street is always going to be chaotic in the rush hour mornings and evenings. Back in February, part of the road was changed from a one-way street to a two-way street, which caused some disruption but - as always - London continues on.
Baker Street has had a revamp that has taken some getting used to for some road users, and there is so much that you need to know about the overhaul a...
One of the biggest deciding factors when relocating to London is knowing where the best schools are. The top schools in the city usually correlate with their catchment areas and the prices of properties are reflected in this too. Some say finding a good school nearby is becoming increasingly difficult as there is higher demand for school places, but it’s all about doing your research. All in all, investing in an outstanding education for...
Here at Manors, we feel truly blessed to work in one of London’s most exclusive, stylish, and affluent areas. Marylebone is truly one of the capital’s most stunning locations and is blessed with dozens of wonderful destinations for enjoyable unforgettable experiences. With so many fantastic options to choose from, shortlisting just 10 top things to do was tough. In no particular order, though, here are our selections: ...
Dress your house to sell
In a competitive market, property dressing expert Shelly Robinson of Robinson Stone explains how to achieve the quickest sale of your property at the best price.
Over the last six months, I've had countless conversations with people about what's currently happening in the property market, and whether it's a good time, or not, to sell. Much of this hesitation comes about as a result of th...
As expected, 2018 was a year shaped by Brexit, although its full impact was not really felt until the autumn. In fact, the housing market started 2018 in relatively brisk fashion, with prices rising by 0.6%. The figures, however, hid some wide variations across the regions. Prices fell in London, where affordability was already reaching its limits, but rose elsewhere. By May, the market had become more subdued and the gap between the North ...
In recent years, there has been an avalanche of legislation in the rental sector, so we thought it might be useful to give you a quick checklist of the main requirements for a landlord. The length of the list and the complexity of many of the areas makes it very clear why it is so much better to rent out your property via an agent, as they can guide you through the process.
Paperwork: These are some things you need to sort ou...
Selling your property? Don’t bank on a Christmas lull – it’s the most wonderful time of the year! For some, the run up to Christmas may not be particularly conducive to the buying or selling of Properties throughout London, there are statistics that prove this, but that’s not to say that eyes are off the proverbial balls as soon as November spills into the festive froth of December. Figures from Rightmove suggest ...
Christmas Is Coming to London Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s setting up shop slap-bang in the middle of Leicester Square. As well as the big man’s grotto, there will be stalls, food and drink, and festive entertainment courtesy of Udderbelly; expect cabaret, burlesque and enough bauble-boasting drag shows to decorate a Christmas tree with. When is Christmas in Leicester Square 2018? Christmas in Leiceste...
Manors Staff Top 5 Selfridges Black Friday Deals This Friday retailers across the country have reduced prices ahead of Black Friday, which takes place on November 23. Gadgets, kitchenware and fashion products have seen massive price cuts from Amazon, John Lewis, Currys PC World and more, with an increase expected as the week continues. Selfridges released a wide range of deals, but under the guise '...
Get Ready For Bonfire Night In London
Have you been searching for the ultimate Bonfire Night guide for the dazzling city of London? Well, you’re in luck. On the 5th of November, the skies of London light up with dazzling displays and an array of colours and shades that are not to be missed. Whizzes, bangs and whistles can be heard all throughout the streets, echoing from great green parks and other locations where firewo...
Visual arts in London this Autumn
There are many reasons that you might be considering going to see some fantastic visual arts in London this Autumn. You might be an art buff, or you might be trying to impress your new partner with your knowledge of the arts. For whatever reason, you have decided to find the best exhibits that London has to offer. As there are so many of them, it might be hard to narrow it down. Lucki...
News From The Rental Sector Where house prices have been either stagnating or falling, rents are rising. Homelet’s rental index shows rents rose by 1.3% between July 2017 and July 2018, with the average hitting £937pcm. Some of the biggest growth occurred in London where rents were up 3.3% on an annual basis, but an impressive 8 out of ten regions saw rises. The biggest faller, however, was the East of England (-1.1%), ...
A Growing Shortage Of Rental Property Whilst interest rates on savings were at all-time lows, many investors turned to bricks and mortar, and the private rental sector (PRS) in particular, for better returns. The government, concerned landlords were pushing up prices and outbidding first time buyers, introduced a series of measures to curb demand. These included a 3% stamp duty surcharge on landlords and a reduction o...
On the move? Moving house can be a somewhat stressful occupation. Not only do you have to pack a life time’s worth of possessions into a lorry, but you also need to deal with various kids, the dog, a couple of cats, a dozen pot plants and all the junk you left in the attic from your last move. Relax, we are going to show you how to make the smoothest move possible. The key is in the planning. The better the plan the easier it...
Located in the West End, Marylebone is truly one of London’s best loved districts. While there are many reasons for its reputation as one of the most prestigious locations anywhere in the capital, the plethora of world-class restaurants is certainly near the top. Marylebone is truly blessed with incredible dining across a range of cuisines. Here are five incredible restaurants that will delight your taste buds and provide me...
It isn’t the norm to buy a home that doesn’t even exist yet, but for some homebuyers, it’s becoming more commonplace to secure an off plan property and wait for their dream home to be built. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits of this and what to expect in terms of how different it is to buying a home that has already been built. Who Should Think About Buying An Off Plan Property? If yo...
If you’re in need of inspiration for kid-friendly activities in and around Marylebone, then the following guide is the perfect solution. We have searched far and wide to compile the best information possible, so that you and your kids will be able to enjoy a variety of days out and family bonding experiences that will live long in the memory. Thankfully, Marylebone has a wealth of options for child-friendly activities and days out - s...
When it comes to judging which schools offer the best possible educational experience for children, the Ofsted ratings are the gold standard. Ofsted’s role in the education system is to inspect, rate, and grade a school into one of the following four categories: ● 1 - Outstanding ● 2 - Good ● 3 - Requires Improvement ●...
Marylebone has a wonderfully rich history and, although it’s now one of London’s most desirable areas, over the centuries, it has undergone many changes and several different names. It started life in surprisingly humble fashion. Some of the earliest records come from the Doomsday book of 1068, which recorded it as a collection of muddy field with less than 50 residents and a value of just 52 shillings. Its name, at the time, wa...
One of the things that make Marylebone so special is that it manages to retain a village like atmosphere, despite being in the very heart of London. Part of that charm comes from community events such as the hugely popular Marylebone Summer Fayre. The festival, organised by the Henry de Walden Estate, takes place every year in June in Paddington Street Gardens and the surrounding roads and is a wonderful mix of music, food, dancing and enterta...
These days, most people are aware that the peak times for selling a home are spring and autumn. Summer is traditionally thought of as a quieter period, especially in an area like Marylebone where many of its residents go abroad at that of year. However, you can’t always choose when to sell, but there are some serious advantages to selling in summer and, statistics show, it’s nowhere near as quiet as you might thin...
Water leaks from neighbours are a very common problem, but it’s not always easy to establish precisely where they are coming from and who is responsible for organising and paying for the resulting repair work. According to Direct Line Home insurance, it happens a massive 800,000 times a year! Even a simple leak can cause extensive damage to walls, carpets, tiles and even built-in furniture that can’t be moved out of the way, such a...
Your home is, of course, an expression of yourself and your values. The longer you live there, the more of you it contains. It means you can tell a lot about a person from a quick look around their house. For example, according to psychologists, you can easily guess someone’s politics - Conservatives tend to live in neater and tidier homes with plenty of sports related paraphernalia. Those of a more left wing persuasion tend to live in m...
Moving house may be a major upheaval, but 370,300 people decided to do it last year. So what is it that triggers this desire to move on? 1) More space/growing family That are not many who don't want a bit more space. The decision to upsize can sometimes be provoked by visits to friends’ and family’s more spacious homes, but the most common reason is a new baby. And it doesn’t just end there - as the kids get older, ...
You’ve chosen your perfect house, your offer has been accepted and now you need a survey. The problem is which one? There are three different types of surveys and there are no hard and fast rules as to which is best for you, because everyone’s circumstances are different. Here’s a rough guide to what’s involved: Valuation Survey: This is carried out on behalf of the lender to verify the value of the prop...
Have you ever wondered which were the world’s most expensive homes? Where are they? And how much do they cost? Well here you go… Antili If you are expecting them all to be in and around Beverley Hills, you’d be wrong. This spectacular tower block, built in 2006, is in fact a single dwelling and is worth an eye watering $2bn. It’s owned by Mukesh Ambani, reportedly the richest man in India, and is to be found in do...
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