brik magazine q1 2015
DESCRIPTION
Brik Magazine - Bear or Bull MarketTRANSCRIPT
Q1 15 London ProPerty & LifestyLe Magazine
Ligne Roset Westend23/25 Mortimer Street
0207 323 1248www.ligne-roset-westend.co.uk
PRADO settee with cushion & EVERYWHERE sideboard. Design: Christian Werner.
LUMIÈRE NOIRE f loor lamps. Design: Philippe Nigro.
Contents ISSUE 21Q1 / 2015
Brik Magazine is published by Brik Property Ltd (Brik) and the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of Brik, the editor, publishers or their agents. articles and other information in this magazine are as up-to-date and accurate as possible, at the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Brik for any errors or omissions contained herein. responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Brik or their agents. all property descriptions and photographs contained within are for guidance only and are not necessarily accurate or comprehensive. all content Copyright © 2013 Brik Property Ltd. all rights reserved.
PRoPeRtY MARKet
BEAR OR BULL? fraser Maldoom
07
InteRIoR & DesIGn
CLeVeR KItCHensrowena Vaughan
18
KnoW MoRe
VALUAtIon + sURVeYfraser Maldoom
32
eXtenDInG
tHe RIGHt BUILDeRJosh Woodfin
22
MARKet
MoneY, MoneY...Ben Littlewood
34
neWs & InteRest
BRIKoLAGe
12
InVestMent GUIDe
on toP oF tHe WoRLD
24
LAnDLoRD GUIDe
PReP FoR MARKetInG
36
MoRtGAGes
tHe CALL oF DUtYalistair Hargreaves
16
BUYeR’s GUIDe
BUYeR’s CHeCKLIstJosh Woodfin
07
InteRIoR & DesIGn
CoPPeR & BRAssVeronica Lucey
38
INSPIRATION TRANSMISSION
PRETTY LITTLE THINGS
DEVELOPERSHOWCASE
PROPERTY GALLERY
14 26 40 46
live cook sleep
149 St Johns Hill London SW11 1TQ | 0207 078 9912 | [email protected] | www.espressodesign.co.uk
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Fraser MaldoomCapital Chartered
fraser knows pretty much everything there is to know about London property stock, being a Chartered surveyor with nearly 30 years of south West London experience and director of local firm Capital Chartered surveyors and Valuers.
ContRIBUtoRs
Josh WoodfinJournalist
Rowena VaughanrJV designs
Veronica LuceyMagenta Pink interiors
Josh Woodfin is a writer and editor with nearly 10-years experience including credits with the guardian, House, esquire, and numerous other high-profile magazines and websites. His interests include antique maps, cooking with fish, and post-apocalyptic thrillers. He once beat Usain Bolt in a race...with an 80-meter head start.
rowena studied interior design at London’s prestigious Chelsea school of art (UaL). she has over 20 years’ experience refurbishing everything from a simple residential bathroom to the Crockfords Casino Mayfair.
Veronica Lucey is a partner at Magentapink interiors, a fulham based interior design studio she previously worked in advertising but decided to follow her passion for interiors and changed careers in 2010 setting up Magentapink interiors with friend and business partner Kate thornton.
Ben LittlewoodCo-founder, Brik
Being a co-founder of Brik and also having run a London based property magazine in the past, Ben knows a thing or two about the world of property, with over 9 years experience in the field. He couples this first hand knowledge with a creative background to give unique insights on all things bricks, mortar and design.
Coen Van LeeuwenColumnist
Coen is a design aficionado, arguably the product of his dutch roots and being an avid reader, and debater (should you encourage him) on design philosophy. His designer eye misses little and is always in search of design nirvana.
Alistair HargreavesMortgage expert
alistair is an executive Mortgage and Protection Consultant with John Charcol, specialising in High net Worth and complex deals for both residential and buy to let. Being in the financial services industry since 2004, alistair worked for banks, building societies and mortgage brokers, seeing both the good times and the bad times.
Marc Da silvaProperty Journalist
Property journalist, Marc da silva, has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things property having written for a range of publications, including the daily Mail, daily express, sunday Business Post and ‘a Place in the sun’, amongst others.
live cook sleep
149 St Johns Hill London SW11 1TQ | 0207 078 9912 | [email protected] | www.espressodesign.co.uk
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At Design Hotels™ we believe in the power of creative expression. That’s why each of our 280 handpicked independent hotels reflects the idea of a visionary hotelier, someone like Anne Jousse whose Hotel Vernet, just steps from the Arc de Triomphe, is helping to give old Paris a new face. Subscribe to the Design Hotels™ Community to experience the world’s most authentic hotels and gain access to great benefits around the globe.
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HOTEL
Hotel Vernet
DEST INAT ION
Paris, France
OR IG INAL
Anne Jousse
The V restaurant, at Hotel Vernet, sits beneath a monumental glass dome by Gustave Eiffel.
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With the UK economy seemingly on the right path to recovery, unemployment falling and wages rising, not to mention record-low mortgage borrowing rates and housing initiatives (such as the Help to Buy scheme) there are a number of factors that have contributed to the strong bull market which we saw over the past year in what has been a rather buoyant housing market.
sealed bids, soaring property prices, the London property boom witnessed in the early part of 2014 has cooled somewhat to more sustainable levels in recent months, but the housing market still remained strong even towards the tail end of 2014.
residential U.K. property prices rose by 12.1% in the year to the end of
september, the latest figures from the office for national statistics (ons) show.
the data provided by the ons reveals that the rate of growth increased from 11.7% year-on-year during the previous month, led by London, where the average price of a home rose by 18.8% year-on-year. the figures from the ons showing a strong annual uplift in average property prices provide another display of strength, particularly in the sub £2 million market which performed particularly well over the past year.
What’s next in 2015? While the housing market continued to recover in 2014 with prices soaring in some parts of the capital and record low mortgage borrowing rates fueling demand, the market does look set to cool further in the coming months of this new year as the bear rears it’s head once more.
talk of a rise in interest rates, stricter mortgage lending conditions, caused in part by the implantation of the Mortgage Market review (MMr) in april last year, along with a looming general election, with housing expected to be high on the political agenda. When you combine all of these factors the result is a residential property market rife with uncertainty. this is especially set to be the case during the first half of 2015 given that the outcome of the election in May is still unclear. signs of buyer uncertainty are already starting to appear, as reflected by a recent marginal drop in the rate of transactions in recent months, on the back of mortgage lending which has been more measured compared to a few months ago.
the latest figures from the British Bankers’ association show a sharp slowdown in mortgage approvals, and some lenders now reporting a
BeAR oR BULL?What’s in store for the unpredictable property market this year?
Words
Marc Da silvaProperty Journalist
PRoPeRtY MARKet
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fall in lending volumes, suggesting that lending may calm further in the coming months as tougher afford-ability measures deter, or prevent, some would-be buyers from purchasing property.
Modest growth With market conditions slowing, any property price growth in 2015 is broadly expected to be far more moderate, as the market enters a fresh phase of sustainable stability, amid lower levels of activity.“With housing market activity clearly off its early-2014 highs, we suspect house prices will generally rise at a more restrained rate over the coming months,” said Howard archer, an economist at iHs global insight, who expects property values to rise by around 5% in 2015. the Halifax projects that the general
election and rising interest rates will create a ‘better balance’ in supply and demand for housing. Consequently, the mortgage lender expects UK home prices to increase by a ‘more moderate’ 3%-5% in 2015, down from growth of about 8% in 2014 said Martin ellis, the Halifax’s housing economist.
“A further moderation in house price growth is likely in 2015,”
Window of opportunity the fact that annual property prices are rising at a lower rate may alarm some people, but it shouldn’t. a few months back property prices were racing ahead at an unsustainable level, leaving the
government and the Bank of england with little alternative but to try and take the heat of the market by introducing various measures, such as stricter lending conditions, to intentionally slow demand for property, and in turn home prices, helping to keep interest rates at a record low and boost afford-ability.
What’s more, one of the main drivers fueling price growth across many parts of the country over the past 12 months has been a lack of housing stock on the market, but developers are working hard to significantly increase the supply of new homes being developed, with the volume of new home registrations reaching its highest level since prior to the financial crisis in the third quarter of 2014, the latest figures show.
With uncertainty over the coming election, and vast price rises already banked in 2014 we could expect a year of cautious, albeit modest growth.
sCenARIo 1
MODEST GROWTH
2015
eLeCtIons
PRoPeRtY PRICes
WInDoW oF oPPoRtUnItY
2016
3 - 5%
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alan Muse, riCs director of Built environment, commented: “Unprecedented housing demand, the bounce back from a very deep recession and government’s commitment to invest £36 billion in over 200 infrastructure projects is driving much-needed confidence across the industry.” the result: we should see a rather muted market in the first half of 2015, which should favour the opportunist purchaser by offering some room for negotiations – a genuine ‘window of opportunity’ to strike a good value for money deal - on certain properties in some areas, especially in the run-up to the election. Conversely, it could be argued that the election may cause some people to sit on their hands and await political certainty before listing their property for sale, but savvy vendors could take
advantage of this time when there are fewer homes on the market, generating greater competition.
Mini-boom despite some downward pressures, the market is likely to be helped by an ongoing economic recovery, lower unemployment and still record low mortgage rates, not to mention a severe housing shortage, because despite the upturn in house building levels there are still nowhere near enough properties being developed to meet high demand from national and international buyers.
“Coupled with rising employment and the imminent return of real earnings growth, consumers are the most confident in making a major purchase since mid-2007,” said Capital economics property
expert Matthew Pointon. once the uncertainty of the election is out of the way, market conditions should improve and we could very well witness a post-election ‘mini-boom’, with property transactions and price rises picking up speed once more, supported by record low mortgage rates.
as in 2014, activity among property investors will contribute significantly to overall demand, with buy-to-let set to continue to be a highly popular investment choice due to a combination of rising prices and a squeeze on lower earners real incomes, preventing them from buying property and being forced to rent instead, driving up rental demand further in the process. We might not see the rapid surge in home price growth that we
Lack of activity in the housing market after large price rises in the first half of last year have led to a cautious period prior to the general election. Once the election is over confidence in the market swoops back and we experience a mini-boom until 2016.
sCenARIo 2
MINI BOOM
2015
eLeCtIons
PRoPeRtY PRICes
WInDoW oF oPPoRtUnItY
2016
10 - 13%
PRoPeRtY MARKet
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RICs£567,051
nHF£738,314
BRIK£697,118
CeBR£795,108
experienced in the early part of 2014, but improved economic foundations mean that the market is more stable and over the medium to long-term, prices should continue to steadily increase.
Beyond 2015 With the UK economic recovery continuing to gain traction and with positive real wage growth
increasingly likely over the next few years, there does appear to be scope for sustained property price growth beyond 2015.the average price of a home in London is predicted to increase by 39% by 2020, outstripping the average of 30% in england and Wales, according to a comprehensive forecast made by rightmove and oxford economics, which takes into account both
asking and sold prices, surveyor valuations and analytics from the oxford economics’ forecasting models.
Miles shipside, rightmove director and housing market analyst believes that “understanding the path” of future house price growth is a key element of “UK economic strategy and decision making”, and very few people would disagree with him.
2015 2020
£650k
£700k
£500k
£600k
54%
43%
AVERAGE LONDON HOUSE PRICES
PREDICTIONS FOR 2020
Everyone seems to agree that average London house prices are going only one way, up. But by how much over the next coming 5 years is open to some speculation. Some predict a massive 54% increase whist RICS predicts a more modest 9.3%.
CEBR: Center for Economics & Business ResearchNHF: National Housing FederationRICS: Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
£516,304
35%
9.3%
PRoPeRtY MARKet
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to find your nearest showroom
Poliform UK Ltd 276-278 Kings Road London SW3 5AW, tel 0207 368 7600
Design Centre Chelsea Harbour SW10 OXE, tel 0207 352 0064
Contact us for our free design servicewww.poliformuk.com
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BRIKoLAGe
MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAYdesign
We have the privilege to look at amazing architecture and interior design every day, but we often forget to put our design-vanity aside, escape the metropolis and enjoy the un-designed landscape we call nature from a good olde cabin. the cabin design however, provokes some design questions itself. swiss studio Bureau a tackled this issue by concealing a wooden cabin inside an artificial rock and transporting it to a remote site in the swiss alps. genius.
With Japanese whiskey yamazaki (the 2013 sherry Cask bottle, to be precise) recently taking the top spot in whiskey connoisseur Jim Murray’s appropriately named ‘Whiskey Bible’, it seems that scottish tipple has finally been toppled by the Japanese, who are themselves insatiable whiskey sinkers. But like the Japanese culture and all things Japanese (origami, zen gardens, swords,
you get the idea), this is not perfect enough. across Japan you can enjoy your yamazaki with a perfectly executed mineral water ice ball, with a smaller surface area than ‘on the rocks’ it both chills and dilutes in the most superior of manners. don’t be outdone by your far eastern guests though, why not opt for these more Western of ice balls, fashioned in your own freezer to solidify into
the shape of none other than the death star (as if you have to ask...), but just be sure to use only the finest scottish mineral water!
JAPANESE WHISKEYLifestyLe
neWs & InteRests
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1950’S IKEA FURNITURE REVIVALdesign
you could argue that ikea lost it’s originality after they started the flat-pack revolution in the 1950’s - 1960’s, creating design as a mass-market product. remembering that time, ikea is reissuing some of their early signature pieces from the 1950’s. is this exciting news, well it could go both ways.
if you are like us at Brik you may find ikea a useful destination for those one off pieces of necessary furniture on the cheap, a large wardrobe, some boxes, perhaps a candle or two or even a teapot. although it’s unlikely they’ll feel as celebrated as your reclaimed 50’s piece they do the job and don’t look too naff. on hearing this latest news you might feel one of two things: one: you’re happy that finding quirky fifties furniture
to finish your home just got a lot easier. or two: you’re frustrated that all that effort of collecting your most unique pieces has now been diluted by everyman and his dog bundling them, flat pack, into their cars in Croydon on saturdays.
Whichever of the two you are, it’s great news for ikea and they should be celebrated for not forgetting where they came from.
BEAR & BULLCoVer
the wild bull market of early last year which saw massive growth in house prices has, for the time being it seems, stood down. it’s not out of the arena yet though and what’s more a new beast has entered, the bear. it seems for the time being their power is matched creating a market in limbo, if not growing marginally. the big question is which will get the upper
hand in a market where ‘all bets are off’ and the long shadow of the coming election still hangs in the air. Without a major event most people agree that the current circumstances will prevail for some time longer, perhaps even up to the new year market of 2016. there are others though, who are gambling on a mini boom post-election that will see the bull push the bear clear out of the equation (see page 7 for more).
neWs & InteRests
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TRANSFORMER HOUSEMadrid, sPain
Mostly, people don’t like the idea of limitations, they are often thought of as the synonym for hindrance. PKMn architects thought differently, and considered limitations to be the first step towards innovation. for this small house in Madrid they were briefed to create a living space as well as a creative working space, within the limitations of the space. the result, a brilliant customisable interior to change within seconds to fit your needs. it brings a whole new meaning to working from home!
InsPIRAtIontRAnsMIssIon
InteRIoR & DesIGn
Who needs to commute to an office when you can turn your apartment into one within just a few minutes?
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DUPLICATE DUPLEXBraga, PortUgaL
a home is certainly a place to relax in, but often forgotten is the way the occupants can move within the space. architect Correia ragazzi arquitectos laid their focus on this aspect by uniting two apartments, creating one large duplex maisonette to fit a whole family. thus giving both the parents and two children their own suite. the stairs are the focal piece, being central to the apartment and connecting the suites on the first floor, with the social areas on the ground floor.
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you make think that Christmas is long gone but the mortgage market still has the tree up, and it’s busy putting some tastefully wrapped boxes under it in the form of a number of new lenders.
it really is an exciting time as we have some banks coming back into the market after a long time out, and this can only be a good thing for clients. However, as i sat down to write this last year the biggest gift has been brought along by the Chancellor, with his reform of the old slab stamp duty Land tax. We’ll come back to the new lenders in a bit, but lets have a closer look at the new sdLt format.
instead of the entire value of the house being taxed at a given percentage, so for example a property at £650,000 attracting tax of 4% on the whole amount, the new duty is on an incremental basis in the same way we pay income tax. so instead of the buyer being charged £26,000 on the £650,000 flat in Parsons green, it’s broken down with the new amount being based on no tax between £1-
£125,000; 2% between £125,000 and £250,000; 5% between £250,000 and £925,000; 10% for £925,000 to £1,500,000 and then a whopping 12% on anything above that.
“The break even point appears to be £937,000...”
so on our £650,000 property you would now be paying £22,500, saving a tidy £3,500. the break even point (apart from an anomaly at around £1,200,000) appears to be £937,000. Below this you are either better off or you break even compared to the old scheme – above this then you will lose out. Bearing in mind the housing stock in southwest London you would think that a large percentage would fill into the category above £937,000.
However, because the lower end becomes cheaper i would expect the housing market to start to move again. at £260,000 you will save £4,800 under the new rules – that kind of sum could make the difference between someone buying or not. and with movement
at the cheaper end of the market this should feed through up the food chain. so although you may end up paying more tax for your next purchase, you may also end up selling your current home for more. i see it as swings and roundabouts. and not to get all socialist on you, surely its fair that those with higher incomes and greater wealth pay higher taxes?
anyhow, back to the lenders, and the other reason to be cheerful in 2015. the Post office (backed by Bank of ireland) have started using intermediaries again, and tsB are launching shortly. in the buy to let world, fleet Mortgages are gearing up to re-enter the fray once more. there are also some new entrants as well, notably Harrods Private Bank, plus tesco Bank are moving towards a move into the broker world. even HsBC, the one UK mortgage provider that has stood alone in being direct only, has started to consider accepting business from intermediaries.so why is this? Well partly it’s due to the Mortgage Market review (MMr) where the regulator now expects that advice be given in the vast majority of applications, and it’s certainly easier for a lender to accept advised business from
Words
Alistair HargreavesJohn Charcol
tHe CALL oF DUtYHow do the new rules on Stamp Duty effect getting a mortgage?
MoRtGAGe MARKet
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£250k
£925k
£1.5m
£125k
“There are also some new entrants as well, notably Harrods Private Bank, plus Tesco Bank are moving towards a move into the broker world.”
a mortgage broker as opposed to having to recommend a deal themselves. on the back of this the broking industry is expected to take a 75% market share within 5 years and lenders want to tap into this as quickly as possible.
for clients this offers great choice and more competition, both in terms of rates and fees and also criteria. i do not expect many of the new entrants to have weird and wonderful lending policies – they will almost certainly be “vanilla” lenders on the whole; however you often find that
they will have a little quirk or something unusual that can help a specific client out. and the longer these lenders are in the intermediary market, and the more they see applications come they may well start to change their criteria to reflect the market. this is exactly what we need, with brokers providing useful feedback and lender’s adapting slowing to the demands of our clients.
so if you’re looking for a mortgage it could be a great time to see what’s still under the tree, even if Christmas is long over you’ll be surprised what you might find.
£3.0m£2.0m£1.0m£500k £1.5m £2.5m £3.5m0
YoU PAY Cost + / -
THE NEWSTAMP DUTY
LAND TAX
£250k
PRICe
£300k
£350k
£400k
£450k
£500k
£600k
£700k
£800k
£900k
£1.0m
£1.1m
£1.2m
£1.3m
£1.4m
£1.5m
£2.0m
£2.5m
£3.0m
£3.5m
£4.0m
£2,500
£5,000
£7,500
£10,000
£15,000
£15,000
£17,500
£25,000
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£35,000
£43,750
£53,750
£63,750
£73,750
£83,750
£93,750
£153,750
£213,750
£273,750
£333,750
£393,750
£0
-£4,000
-£3,000
-£2,000
-£1,000
£0
-£4,000
-£3,000
-£2,000
-£1,000
£3,750
-£1,250
£3,750
£8,750
£13,750
£18,750
£53,750
£38,750
£63,750
£88,750
£113,750
neW stAMP
DUtY
oLD stAMP
DUtY
MoRtGAGe MARKet
10% 12%5%2%0%
Winners
Losers
Old SDLT
KeY
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this time of year, home-owners are resolving to complete that long overdue kitchen renovation. But before you get swept away by the latest kitchen trends, remember that a kitchen also has to be a highly practical work space. go beyond the glossy veneers and consider what your lifestyle demands and all the practicalities to deliver a kitchen with substance. People demand a lot of the kitchen. it has to be an ergonomic workplace for the cook, an inviting space for the guests, a social co-ordination hub for families, even a makeshift home office. if you can address all of these lifestyle needs and still make it visually appealing, you will get a kitchen with longevity and a good return on investment. above all, it has to be highly practical. no fluff; just sensible stuff which improves your life through its clever design.
Look for kitchen furniture which can adapt to your varied lifestyle needs. the sliding top Kitchen island by West London joinery
company interior-id is an ingenious example. the full-functioning island features a breakfast bar which slides over the work-surface with integrated sink, automated pop-up tap and flush fitted induction hob. the kitchen island magically transforms into a beautiful piece of furniture with a large work surface which could be used for meetings, a party hub or a homework station. With the worktop closed, there is still access to the pull-out bar and storage drawer at either end, both with concealed Led lights. not only very practical, it’s also desirable; made from polished smoked eucalyptus wood with red claret suede, bronzed mirror and antique brass details. “Go beyond the glossy veneers and consider what your lifestyle demands and all the practicalities to deliver a kitchen with substance.”a clever kitchen should also maximize storage. especially in London, home-owners are trying
Words
Rowena VaughanrJV designs
CLeVeR KItCHensThe kitchen, the most important space in the house, do it proud!
01
02
InteRIoR & DesIGn
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to squeeze out every inch of sacred space. Undoubtedly the best way of achieving this in the kitchen is by building bespoke cabinetry. it means you can carve out space from quirky alcoves and chimney breasts and overcome layout limitations with personalized solutions. Most people baulk at ‘bespoke’ but for the increased space it can provide, it actually represents good value. sola Kitchens’ on Munster road have some particularly crafty ideas like their cutlery drawer cut to work around the grill gas supply, their
discreet hob-side shutter units and their island dog kennel. time spent efficiently also makes for a clever kitchen. this relies on well-placed storage which meets the ‘2-steps’ principal. everything you need for food preparation should be within 2-steps’ reach. Bulthaup’s b3 kitchen design makes ingenious use of the area above the work surface. the ‘louvers’ in the multi-functional wall can be opened to create pouch-like compartments to place chopping boards and
InteRIoR & DesIGn
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utensils directly above you while you’re cooking. When not in use, you can close the louvers to retain a minimalist and striking look. Practicality meets appeal. tastefully contained in sleek drawers are other natty ideas like spice jars and cylindrical roll holders (for paper towels, plastic wrap or aluminium) which neatly slot into grooves within the drawer. one of those simple ideas that makes you wonder why it hasn’t been thought of sooner. West London Kitchens also have a huge
range of concealed storage ideas like magnetic box drawer inserts which can be shifted into any position and compartmentalised refuse drawers.
Four Considerations for a Clever Kitchen:1. the layout and type of kitchen furniture must be adaptive to modern lifestyle needs; not only for cooking, but as a social hub, a dining area, a make-shift home office or homework station.2. the storage should exploit
inconspicuous spots. Use an interior designer to plan the layout and use bespoke cabinet makers. together they will help you carve out every inch of sacred space. 3. apply the ‘2-steps’ principal to your food preparation area. Use a combination of innovative ideas to make your time spent in the kitchen efficient and enjoyable.4. Make sure that you have ample, layered lighting that illuminates for every need; food preparation, dining, working and entertaining.
03
05
04
01/02 Bulthaup’s b3 kitchen storage ideas
03/04 Sola Kitchens bespoke storage solutions
05 West London Kitchens magnetic drawer inserts
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are you looking to improve your home but concerned about who to use to do the work due to fear of falling victim to a rogue trader? Having building or home improvement work done can be tough and stressful and that is why you need to take the right measures to ensure that you are
confident both in their ability to do the work, and that you will have a good working relationship with them. Here are a few things that you can do before you employ builders to try and make sure that you appoint the right people and that the job goes as smoothly as possible.
Word of mouth: ask your friends and family to recom-mend building firms who have done work for them.
Building regulations: aside from potentially needing to secure planning consent from the local authority for the building work, some development jobs need to meet building regulations. to ensure the regulations are met, you will either need to use a tradesperson registered with the competent persons’ scheme in england and Wales. Prepare a brief: Write a detailed specific job specification that explains precisely what work that needs to be done so that both you and your builders have a clear idea about what you want. the more detailed you are, the greater your chances of getting an accurate quote for the work.
BUILD RIGHt
Quotes: ask at least three builders to provide quotes. it is important to agree a fixed cost or daily rate of pay, and the number of days the job is likely to take. Make sure you are clear how many hours work a builder will do a day for the price quoted.
What is included? Make sure the builders’ quotes cover everything you would like done, including supply of materials, removal of rubbish and cleaning up after the work is finished. agree as much with the builder as possible in advance to avoid problems later on. it is best to get the terms and conditions of an agreement in writing.
Previous jobs: ask for references and if possible visit the jobs that the builders have previously done and ask the customers if all went well.
Qualifications: ask if the builder has nVQ or Hnd qualifications in construction and see copies of the certificates. you could also contact a professional association or a trade association to check which qualifications are relevant to the type of work being undertaken.
Payment: ask for details of how the builder should be paid. this should be in instalments, as parts of the project are completed.
Insurance: Make sure the builder has the appropriate level of public liability insurance for the work to be carried out at your property.
Delivery date: agree upon a day in writing that the work will be completed by.
Watch videos online on this topic and others at brik.co.uk.
eXtenDInG
How to find the right builder.
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New Loewe Connect.An exceptional range of Ultra HD 4K televisions.
©Loewe Connect. Breathtaking Ultra HD 4K picture quality and outstanding sound, thanks to state-of-the art speaker technology from audio specialists SOEN. A truly multi-talented television, featuring Loewe’s unique integrated DR+ hard disk recorder with the convenience of mobile recording. And with the Loewe Smart tv2move app you can even stream live TV or recorded content to your tablet. New Loewe Connect is distinctive and yet timeless, meticulous in its attention to every detail, hallmarks of a product beautifully engineered and manufactured in Germany. Available in Black, Silver, Cappuccino and Petrol Blue in screen sizes from 40” to 55”. www.loewe.tv
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LAnsDoWne RoAD CRoYDon377 FLATS
VAUXHALL sQUARe VAUXHALL410 FLATS
oneBLACKFRIARs
274 FLATS
PRInCIPAL PLACe sHoReDItCH
243 FLATS
CUBA stReetCAnARY WHARF
792 FLATS
55 STORIES52 STORIES
50 STORIES50 STORIES50 STORIES
i have an oasis, it’s up in the clouds’ wrote Children’s poet and illustrator, Colin Mcnaughton, in ‘i Have an oasis’, his charming poem about the pleasures of high-rise living. ‘it’s up in the clouds. away from the rush, and the roar of the crowds.’ it’s a lovely sentiment that ends with the words ‘what more could i need? i grow my geraniums, and lettuce that’s curled, in my little garden, on top of the world.’
for anyone who has ever lived on the upper levels of a high-rise complex, it will be a sentiment they quite understand - that feeling of being above it all and away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. and if recent figures are anything
to go buy, it looks like a lot more people, especially in London, are going to be living in a room with a view. the telegraph recently wrote that a report carried out on behalf new London architecture by property consultancy, gL Hearn, states that there are currently 236 buildings of 20-storeys or more currently in various stages – planning, approved or being built – around the city. even more interestingly, nearly 200 of these buildings are going to be residential apartment blocks.
But what are the benefits of living in these properties, as opposed to the (literally) lowly houses that sit on London’s ground floor.
on toP oF tHe WoRLD Who wants to live in a high-rise new build? Who wouldn’t?
InVestoR’s GUIDe
TOP 10 TALLESTThe 10 tallest residential skyscrapers of the 230 planned high-risers which will be built across London over the next decade.
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MoReLLo toWeR CRoYDon458 FLATS
ARRoWHeAD QUAY CAnARY WHARF
792 FLATS
PARK PLACe CAnARY WHARF
493 FLATS
one nIne eLMsVAUXHALL436 FLATS
CItY PRIDeDoCKLAnDs
792 FLATS
59 STORIES58 STORIES
55 STORIES55 STORIES
Well there’s location, for starters. it’s pretty unlikely (read: impossible) that any new streets will be built within zones one to three in the near future, but with the demolition of derelict or dangerous buildings in prime locations such as Battersea, Vauxhall, City road between angle and old street, Canary Wharf and along to stratford, as well as developments in earls Court, greenwich and up to old oak Common, which will see a huge amount of development as the Crossrail project expands, you only need a relatively small plot of land to build a very tall building on.
then there are the services that come with living in a high-rise
apartment complex. sure you have to forgo a bit of space at the front of the house for the bins, but you gain concierges, subsidized or inclusive gyms and swimming pools, guaranteed parking and probably a really satisfying rubbish shoot.
‘It’s up in the clouds. Away from the rush, and the roar of the crowds.’
there’s the security, too. High tech entry systems and 24-hour guards make for a peaceful nights sleep and a worry-free holiday. Construction costs, however, mean
that modern apartment buildings are often more expensive with many new towers at the higher end offering one-bed apartments starting at £750,000.
But that isn’t stopping people. the telegraph also reports that 355 apartments at the ideally located one tower Bridge have been sold (that’s 90% of the building’s capacity), even though prices start at a shade under £1.5 million, and going up (to the top floor) £15 million for that most luscious of statement symbols, the penthouse suite. so with ground level property in London now at premium, maybe it’s time to start asking yourself if you have a head for heights.
tHe sHard72 stories
75 STORIES
InVestoR’s GUIDe
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Grasshopper Floor lamp£565 | madeindesign.co.uk
Remix Desk£1,256 | madeindesign.co.uk
trip Case & notebook£154 | hardgraft.com
solo table set £654 | twentytwentyone.com
spitfire oxfords £69 | shoeembassy.com
PRettY LIttLe tHInGs
InteRIoR & DesIGn
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Icon ties by Cable tidy$12 | thegadgetflow.com
Biegert & Funk Qlocktwo Clock£853 | panik-design.com
soft sofa$1,175 | fancy.com
Box Vakka box£150 | madeindesign.co.uk
Hr-3 Hot Rod Coupe toy$50 | fab.com
InteRIoR & DesIGn
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T H E D E T A I L S
A R E N O T
T H E D E T A I L S.
T H E Y M A K E
T H E D E S I G N.
C H A R L E S E A M E S
P R O D U C T: D A L A B Y D E D O NL E I S U R E P L A N | + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 2 7 9 8 1 6 0 0 1 | S A L E S @ L E I S U R E P L A N . CO . U K L E I S U R E P L A N . CO . U K
LP2014_DALA_BRIK_SINGLE.indd 1 27/11/2014 10:43
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on the 3rd of december, 2014, george osbourne made his autumn statement, and one of the major announcements was a huge overhaul of the stamp duty tax - a complete reform, in fact. as of midnight that day, the old system of ‘slab structure’ price brackets, which would see someone buying a home for £250,000 pay £2500 in stamp duty, but nearly £8000 if the house cost £251,000, will be replaced by a graduated rate. the good news is that stamp duty will be cut for 98% of home buyers, meaning cheaper transactions and a little bit more breathing room when it comes to counting your costs. But for those people in the luxury London home
market (£1m plus properties), the announcement meant a frantic scramble to exchange contracts in order to avoid significant charges. London estate agents reported scenes that were more like city trading floors as buyers tried to push through sales as quickly as possible. some lawyers were even offered £10000 ‘success fees’ if the sales were completed in time, according to the evening standard. Hectic times. But one side effect of the events of december 3rd, is that it offered a neat illustration of the frantic world of the London property market. this is most definitely not something to boast about, but in the capital, everything involving the property market is bigger, faster, and more competitive. Buyers, sellers, landlords, lawyers and agents are all competing for a slice of a very popular pie.
and this is putting home buyers, specifically, under a huge amount of pressure to make quick and seriously daunting decisions when it comes to buying a property. a recent study from aviva insurance revealed that on average, people in the UK spend about 33 minutes looking at properties before making a decision about whether or not they’re going to buy them. the pressures put on people to move fast means that as much as 24% of house buyers view a property just once before making an offer. and even more staggeringly, the report from aviva also says that as many as 40,000 people a year buy a home without viewing it at all. this pressure means that although some people can now expect to save themselves a decent wedge of cash due to the reforms in stamp duty, they may well lose out
Words
Josh WoodfinJournalist
BUYeR’s CHeCKLIstDon’t get caught out with costly maintenance on your home before you’ve even had a chance to move in.
BUYeR’s GUIDe
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down the line by buying a house and missing significant existing problems that are affecting the property. the aviva survey of 4,000 homeowners states that ‘buyers are forced to spend £1,094 more than they had expected on essential repairs once they move in to their property, with the average total bill coming in at £3,490.’ these problems can include plumbing and drain blockages, damp and structural issues such as cracks in walls and ceilings. “renewed competition and rising prices have combined to make many buyers more pressurised to snap up a property quickly,” said Heather smith, Marketing director at aviva. “our research showed that buyers in the past year devoted under 10 seconds to looking round a property for every £1,000 they spent purchasing it.” the report also says that one in three (31%) home buyers did not make any specific checks for issues or problems when viewing their future home.
so to avoid costs down the line, it’s imperative that you go into house viewing with both your eyes and your heart open. of course it has to feel right, but you don’t want any nasty surprises down the line that might lead to some serious costs. With that in mind, here’s a handy checklist of things to look out for and check the condition of.
Japanese knotweed
you’ve seen the horror stories in the news about people’s houses becoming
infested with this horror plant, like something out of science fiction novel.
But in reality it is a very serious issue. introduced to Britain in the 19th
century, this is a pervasive weed that will ruin garden walls and paths over
time, and given the chance, will even undermine your entire house. it’s such
an issue that some lenders will restrict lending on a property infected
with Japanese knotweed. Keep an eye out for new shoots in
March and check with neighbours to see if they have
seen a plant. depending on the level of growth
and infestation, it could cost between £5000 and
£20000 for a specialist to get rid of.
Floors
in older properties with wooden floors, it’s important
to check for signs of fungal infection as this can rot the
wood. this would manifest in a musty smell and perhaps
springy floorboards as wood begins to change shape.
above all it’s important for you to be vigilant when
viewing a property. and if possible, see it twice, or even
three times.
Bathroom
it’s not just the outside that needs your keen eyes and
attention. there are plenty of things inside the house
that need to be checked. in the bathroom for example,
you should check to see if the sealant around bathes
and showers are in good condition as leaks here
can cause serious water damage and lead to major
renovation jobs.
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The Roof
Most modern properties will have a secondary layer of roofing felt below the tiles that
will act as second line of defence against the weather. But older properties may only
have tiles and these need care. first of all you need to take a step back and take a look
at the roof to spot any missing tiles and to check the condition of the roof in general.
inside the house you need to look out for damp that may indicate a leak, and if you can
get into the attic, look out for any rusted nails as this may indicate that the tiles need
some attention. it might sound stupid, but bring a pair of binoculars so you can properly
examine the roof and chimney stack. fixing a roof should cost between £1000 and
£5000, depending on size and condition.
Gutters and drains
it’s not sexy, but it’s important. gutters
channel the water away from the roof but
they are prone to getting blocked with
leaves and other detritus, especially in
the winter. this will lead to overflowing
gutters that can cause serious problems
internally. Look for damp staining on the
walls, plants growing from the gutters,
interior dampness and damp smells.
Check the drains too, as leaves and
other rubbish may gather here and
cause blockages, as indicated by some
seriously bad smells. not good. gutters
can cost upwards of £2000 if they’re in a
really bad way, but otherwise the cost of
cleaning and maintenance shouldn’t be
too bad.
Cavity Walls
if you’re buying a period brick house that was built around the 1920, you likely
have cavity walls (two walls of brick with a space in between). these are held
together with metal ties that may become damaged overtime and lead to serious
damage, like your wall falling down. Look out for horizontal cracks on exterior walls,
particularly end terraces. Bulging walls are also a sure sign that the wall needs
immediate attention. depending on the condition, it will cost anywhere between
£1000 and £10000 to repair.
Windows
on wooden window frames, check the
quality of the wood and look for signs of
rot. if there are PVC windows, examine
the frame for cracks in the sealant.
Brickwork
it’s very likely the house you’ll be buying
will be made of Victorian era bricks,
which makes the brickwork very old
indeed. over the years the exterior
brickwork will have deteriorated in places
and individual bricks will need replacing.
this can be very costly, especially when
you factor in the cost of the necessary
scaffolding to do the works.
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the incidental costs of a home purchase add up very quickly so it’s no wonder that some flat and house buyers are lured into relying on a mortgage valuation.
after all, you might think “we are paying for it!” Unfortunately all is not as it might appear...
When you pay the lender your valuation fee, the valuation is often outsourced to a “panel manager” who in turn panels the work to either an “in house” valuation department (usually within the same group of companies as the “panel manager”) or to a separate firm of “panel valuers”.
not surprisingly, by the time the fee that you have paid to the lender filters down through the lender’s hands via a “panel manager” and a valuation firm to the individual mortgage valuer there really isn’t that much left. typically, in order to earn his meagre crust, a mortgage valuer will be carrying out somewhere between five and seven valuations a day.
so, having now prised some sympathy out of you for the plight of the humble mortgage valuer, you will not be surprised to learn that the time spent at your intended new home is relatively limited. not only does he/she have to travel to, from and between the properties on his/her list for the day, he/she has to carry out the inspection, research values, write up his/her reports and answer queries from the previous day’s output.
“The time spent on site and the inspection undertaken will be sufficient to advise the lender on value and suitability as mortgage security.”
that, however, will be the sole function of the mortgage valuation. the time spent and the extent of the inspection will be nowhere near enough to carry out a proper pre purchase survey on which a purchaser can or should rely. that is one of a number of reasons why the mortgage valuation will carry
disclaimers strictly limiting liability solely to the lender. you may be given an option to “upgrade” whereby the mortgage valuer will (at additional cost) also carry out a riCs Home Buyer report or Building survey at the same time as the mortgage valuation. Whilst this may seem a cost effective option it has pitfalls. firstly, what would otherwise be an independent report for your sole use will be undertaken by a surveyor employed by the lender. secondly, the lender will usually insist that it receives a copy of the report and will consider whether the more detailed contents should be taken in to account before making a mortgage offer. this can cause problems with mortgage finance as some lenders will impose monetary retentions on mortgage advances for the defects identified in reports that they would not have seen had they been commissioned independently by the purchaser.
there really is no substitute for obtaining your own Building survey or Home Buyer report from an independent Chartered surveyor whose responsibility is to you alone.
Words
Fraser MaldoomCapital Chartered
VALUAtIon + sURVeY?I am getting an expensive mortgage valuation, will I need a survey as well?
KnoW MoRe
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British Design
West End 020 7297 6220Fulham 020 7736 7362Islington 020 7704 8260 Notting Hill 020 7229 2123Richmond 020 8744 9993Cheltenham 01242 521 900Guildford 01483 573 584
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DESIGNERAWARDS2013
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OF THE YEAR
BRIK_august_2014_Roundhouse.qxp_Layout 1 05/10/2014 12:24 Page 1
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Way back in 1900’s when most of fulham was still being built you could buy a brand new property for the princely sum of about £230, which works out at about £25,000(1)
in todays money. the average wage of a rising professional during that time was about £700(2) per year, minus about £500 in living expenses, paying for your maids, food, buying wine and paying your rent and taxes etc. this left over approximately £200 for extra spending or saving. now, on those figures your average London professional could afford to buy a house outright, easily within two years savings, provided he didn’t lose his job of course.
the average cost of a property these days in London is currently hovering around £500k and the average Londoner takes home about £35k(3) a year in salary. Based on the average cost of living in London and including taxes, which depending on who you ask, comes in around £23k a year we can see that the average professional in London has approximately £12k a year spare for holidays, mojitos and savings. now on the face of it they have about 6% more disposable
income comparatively speaking than their Victorian ancestors, and hey life is much better right. this is certainly true except when you compare it to the biggest cost of living of all, property.
“Back in the 1900s you could buy a Victorian terrace house for the princely sum of £230.”
Whereas back in the 1900’s you could save for a few years and buy your property outright, these days, based on todays figures, the average Londoner would need to save all of their free cash for over 40 years on the trot in order to make the same purchase. of course when you consider that property is expected to increase about 30% in the next 5 years alone it’s clear that short of a large lottery win or a Cadbury’s inheritance payout the average Londoner will never be able to buy a property in ‘cash’.
Why is this? Long story short, mortgages. of course the population has also risen increasing demand, but not nearly as much as you’d think. Based on the 1901 London population of 6.5m(4) it’s only increased by a meagre 1.8m souls over the last century or so.
it may strike you as crazy that a two bedroom apartment in fulham can be ‘worth’ over £1m, but as all fledgling economists know (or any foxton’s employee will be quick to quite rightly tell you) something is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it! the problem is the great majority of the time the majority of the cost is being footed by a bank in the form of a giant loan. the actual up-front cost to the buyer is considerably lower, usually about 15% of the actual amount, plus taxes. granted the buyer will ultimately pay off the full amount in time, but more on that later.
over the years it’s easy to see how person a, let’s call him tom, can out bid person B, we’ll call him Henry to buy that property he really wants, simply based on securing a larger loan than the next guy. this drives up the price of property as you can bet your bottom dollar tom won’t be selling for any less than he bought, after all he’s got a large loan to repay. this forces Henry to go out and seek an even bigger loan in order to compete in the market. fast forward a few decades and voila, hey presto house prices are in orbit.
of course the real winners here are the people in charge of dishing out the loans, the banks, as almost every home in the country are their customers, repaying vast sums over
Words
Ben LittlewoodCo-founder of Brik
MoneY, MoneY, MoneYWhy does property cost so much?
PRoPeRtY MARKet
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Cost of LiVing£23,000
disPosaBLe£12,000
aVg Wage£35,000
the term of their mortgages. the problem is that house prices cannot decrease without stratospheric implications, the likes of which we saw in 2008, so they continue they’re upward march, all the while the size of the loans needed to buy them increasing. as the loan size increases, so does the monthly repayments and so does the total repayable, increasing the financial burden even further, and without getting too socialist on you, creating an entire swathe of society addicted to credit and working in part for the banks. this is interesting because there does become a point, which we are approaching, when the
average London wage cannot support even the 15% deposit required to get the loan, to get the property. this results in a massive slow down in people being able to get on to the housing ladder, creating a large and growing rental sector, which based on recent figures has tripled in the last 5 years alone, to over £900bn.
of course the solution to this issue is to build more houses, and despite what you may think this is possible in London. indeed there are already over 230 planned high rises being built over the next 10 years (see page 24 for more on this).
nobody wants, or can afford for the value of their biggest asset to decrease, and many people, despite, and because of their mortgages have made a killing on the inflation of house prices driven by the availability of credit. But, often overlooked is the fact that this capital is usually never realised until the property is ultimately sold, usually not until retirement.
so for those of you who can remember when you could still buy a property in London for under £100k, spare a thought for your children, or at the very least offer to pay their deposit!
References: 1. thisismoney.co.uk (Historic inflation calculator: how the value of money has changed since 1900) 2. Bowley, a. L., Wages in the United
Kingdom in the 19th Century. Cambridge: University Press, 1900. 3. Monster.com 4. 20thcenturylondon.org.uk
Cost of LiVing£500
disPosaBLe£200
aVg HoMe£230
aVg Wage£700
aVg HoMe is
14xaVg Wage
aVg HoMe is
0.3xaVg Wage
20151900
aVg HoMe£500,000
the creation of easy credit, the jet fuel for house price growth, has allowed both Joe public to outbid their competitors in the market and the banks to earn a packet on the debt, as this infographic illustrates this wasn’t always the case.
1900 VS 2015
ADDICTED TO CREDIT
PRoPeRtY MARKet
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a recent report valuing Britain’s rental sector shows that it has increased, in just five years, from £302bn in 2009 to a massive £930.7bn in 2014.
assets controlled by Britain’s landlords are now 3.5 times the levels in 2001, and according to Mortgage lenders, Kent reliance, the assets could surpass £1tr during 2015.
you won’t be surprised to learn that London took the number one spot when it comes to share of the value with 41%, while the south east followed with 15%. this isn’t surprising when you take into account that a quarter of London’s population rents their homes.
this might signify a move to a more european way of living, where long-term renting is a more viable option than buying for some people. all of which means that the rental market is still a pretty decent way to invest your money and it is showing no signs of slowing down.
so when you’re operating in such an intense market, where you might be looking to attract long-term tenants, including families, how do you make your property stand out from the crowd?
Putting aside the money matters for a while – you should of course carry out detailed research and work with an agent to ensure your property is valued at the correct price – to focus on the cosmetic, here are some bombproof tips to help you rent your property to the tenants everyone wants – i.e the dream tenants!
Deep cleanassuming that property is empty or there’s a decent gap between tenants, you need to ensure that your property is spotless. invest in a professional deep clean service, touch up skirting boards and if you have the time and the money, paint the property in neutral colours – white, ideally. get the windows cleaned inside and out. if your property has a garden, make sure it’s clean and tidy. no one’s expecting to arrive at a property and find Kew garden outside the kitchen door, but it needs to look manageable at the very minimum. if a gardener moves in, they’ll make their mark. But anyone else will want something low maintenance.
stage the property if you’re renting to long-term tenants, they’ll usually have their own furniture and you’ll be renting unfurnished. But that doesn’t mean
you can’t give people the idea of what their new home might look like. Clean is good, but barren with that weird echo might not be that appealing. a staging company will furnish your home from floor to ceiling to give it that lived in field that might make potential tenants sign on the dotted line. they’ll also make the good parts of your property look better, and cleverly hide and down play the bad parts. although this is an investment, it can make a real difference, especially if you’/re moving out of a larger property and are taking your belongings with you.
secure your property if you’re renting to families, giving them a feeling of safety and security will be hugely beneficial when trying to rent your property. if the property is a house – terrace, semi or detached – installing a decent security system will give people a feeling that their home could really be their castle. if the property is in a complex, you need to reassure them that the all the relevant building security is in place. simple things make a big difference.
it really is worth investing in all these things, especially if you’re seeking to squeeze out the maximum return.
PReP FoR MARKetInGLetting? How do you make your property stand out from the competition.
LAnDLoRD’s GUIDe
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BEAT TABLE LAMP£3,475 | Heals.com
inspiration for the tom dixon Beat series was taken from the sculptural simplicity of brass cooking pots and traditional water vessels. it features a built-in brass dimmer switch and tactile brass mechanism for multidirectional movement.
TOLED DESK LAMP£1554 | Hectorfinch.com
an incredibly beautiful lamp which would enhance any desk. available in a variety of finished but looks amazing and contemporary in polished brass.
BREEzE COPPER TABLEfrom £718 | scandium.com
a fantastic design by Monica foster with clean lines. Made form laminated copper plate and copper plated steel this table is a stunning piece of art.
LOCKER SIDE TABLE£700 | Magnuspettersen.com
Part of a series of storage furniture by Magnus Pettersen studio. the table is made from blackened ash and anodized aluminium. a beautiful fusion of industrial and mid-century design.
QUOOKER TAP IN BRASS£985 | raymacgroup.co.uk
the classic Quooker hot water tap but with a twist in a beautiful gold plated brass to give your bathroom or kitchen a luxury finish.
DUNA MATT CUTLERY£275 | selfridges.com
Lend a contemporary edge to your dining table with this 24-piece cutlery set by Cutipol. the rounded silhouettes and matt copper finish is guaranteed to impress.
INNERMOST BEADS from £1,154 | Heals.co.uk
designed by Winnie Lui. the sculptural form is created by beading together identical spherical elements.
BRASS LIGHT SWITCH from £30 | Busterandpunch.com
Made from solid brushed brass these diamond cut switches feel amazing and are finished with Buster and Punch signature penny switch.
ARTISAN KITCHENAID £615 | Busterandpunch.com
Kitchen aid’s Classic artisan standmixer, now comes in a satin copper finish. the good looks and high quality craftsmanship will make food prep a pleasure.
CoPPeR & BRAssCoMPiLed By
Veronica LuceyMagenta Pink interiors
LSA REMY GLASSES£28 | Heals.co.uk
as is fitting for a collection inspired by a luxurious metal, the range is handmade from start to finish. the glasses are mouth-blown by highly-skilled glass artisans and delicately hand painted with a sumptuous metallic lustre.
ISAAC IRON CHAIR £85 | grahamandgreen.co.uk
Cast in iron with a warm copper finish, these chairs are a study in chic industrial style and will look great in a modern kitchen.
ETCH TEA LIGHT HOLDER£50 | tomdixon.net
tea light holder etched from metal. Creates a mass of intricate shadows when lit. Made from brass or stainless steel and also available as a pendant light.
InteRIoR & DesIGn
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UBER CONTRACTSubercontracts.co.uk
this large project involved the re-structuring and re-building of an entire Vic-
torian ‘Lion House’ on the Peterborough estate. a large full width basement
was constructed to accommodate an additional family room and gym area,
whilst on the floors above the layout was opened up to create a comfortable
and modern living space finished to exacting standards throughout.
sHoWCAse
CHIPSTEAD STREET, SW6House | Basement | Loft | side return | full re-development
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this project included a creation of a basement and ground floor alteration
of a traditional ‘alphabet streets’ house. forming an family room, children’s
work room, bedroom, utility room, store room and wine cellar. the extension
was designed, detailed and decorated with a close eye to intricate detail,
creating an enlarged and stunning, yet comfortable family home.
ROXBURGH roxburghconstruction.co.uk
sHoWCAse
ELLERBY STREET, SW6House | Basement | ground floor
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sHoWCAse
BLAzE & COblazeandco.co.uk
this house was a horrible 1980’s building but we changed the windows,
filled in the garage, matched the cornicing on other houses and ashlar
rendered it so it looks like a traditional double fronted house. a complete
transformation. the gorgeous Boffi kitchen looks out onto a paved Moroc-
can garden and the master suite has book matched marble and dornbracht
fittings and bespoke handprinted wallpaper with ivory suede cupboards.
FULHAM, SW6House | Basement | Loft | side return | full re-development
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brik.co.uksHoWCAse
the project comprised redevelopment of an unmodernised 550 sq. ft, one
bedroom ground floor flat, and construction of a basement. element trans-
formed the property into a spacious 1900 sq. ft residence over basement
and ground floor levels, with open plan kitchen/dining/living, WC and land-
scaped garden at ground floor and three bedrooms with generous ensuites
and walk in wardrobes across the basement level.
ELEMENT elementconstruction.co.uk
CAMPANA ROAD, SW6garden flat | Basement | ground floor
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PASCAL HUSERhuser.co.uk
this re-development included a full width basement with two front and one
large rear light well. it has a media-room, gym, family room, shower room,
wine cellar and complete utility area in the basement. on the ground floor
there is a reception room, a study, a cloakroom, larder, dining area, and
a large kitchen with sitting area and ample open space. Whilst the floors
above include a master suite and four further bedrooms.
DONERAILE STREET, SW6House | Basement | Loft | side return | full re-development
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We were asked to totally re-design and re-develop this un-modernised
Victorian family home internally into a modern property whilst retaining its
traditional Victorian exterior. the work included totally restructuring the
property internally by adding a full basement, pod room, loft extension and a
large kitchen side return, using high quality finishes throughout and creating
a spacious and open plan living area with the bedrooms on the floors above.
DESIGN 2 FINISHdesign2finish.co.uk
BRADBOURNE STREET, SW6House | Basement | Loft | side return | full re-development
an outstanding and fully extended Victorian family home, finished to the highest specification and located in the ‘Munster Village’ area of fulham.
Gowan avenue
£2,895,000FOR SALE
5BEDS
2,917Sq FT
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arranged over four floors and extending to just under 3,000 sq. ft (280 sq m), both the bedrooms and living spaces have been well implemented and balanced well. the basement floor has a large family room (with stairs leading up to the garden), utility room with Miele appliances and also a further double bedroom with en suite shower room.
£2,895,000FOR SALE
5BEDS
2,917Sq FT
50
brik.co.ukthis stylish apartment is situated on the eighth floor of the prestigious Chelsea Vista development at imperial Wharf, an impressive thames riverside location. the apartment extends to 1,355 sq. ft (126 sq. m) of living space, configured as a superb three bedroom property and is presented in excellent condition throughout.
Chelsea Vista imperial Wharf
£2,000,000FOR SALE
3BEDS
1,355Sq FT
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an outstanding, five bedroom, five bathroom, end of terrace Victorian ‘medium back Lion House’ which has undergone a thorough refurbishment, and has been finished to a high specification throughout. the layout has been designed and configured to optimise living space and practicality whilst maintaining the traditional features and almost 2,800 sq ft.
Perrymead street
£3,150,000FOR SALE
5BEDS
2,798Sq FT
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Parsons Green Lane £699,950FOR SALE
2BEDS
603Sq FT
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Lysia street £1,795,000FOR SALE
5BEDS
1,829Sq FT
a beautifully designed and finished ‘Lion House’, situated in the heart of the Peterborough estate, arguably the most prestigious location in fulham.
Chipstead street
£2,995/wkFOR RENT
7BEDS
4,028Sq FT
58
brik.co.ukthe property has been renovated to a very high standard throughout, with a bespoke italian Comprex kitchen looking out on to a bright southwest facing rear garden. Located on the first floor the master suite is situated at the front of the house, with ample built in storage, and a generous en suite bathroom.
£2,995/wkFOR RENT
7BEDS
4,028Sq FT
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a stylish three bedroom Victorian family home located on Marville road, in the popular Villes area of central fulham, not far from Parsons green. the house is arranged over three floors. the ground floor comprises a double reception room with exposed floorboards, a stylish kitchen/breakfast room and a patio garden.
Marville road
£895/wkFOR RENT
3BEDS
1,504Sq FT
62
brik.co.uka well-presented and stylish four bedroom Victorian family home located on Brookville road, in the popular Villes area of central fulham, not far from Parsons green. the house is in excess of 1550 sq ft (145 sq m) and arranged over three floors.
Brookville road
£1,000/wkFOR RENT
4BEDS
1,567Sq FT
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Danehurst street £499/wkFOR RENT
2BEDS
940Sq FT
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Hestercombe avenue £650/wkFOR RENT
2BEDS
1,173Sq FT
BUILDERS
Blaze & Co.blazeandco.co.uk020 7373 2214Flat 2, 111 Drayton GardensLondon SW10 9QU
Dalrivadalriva.co.uk020 7736 7066 Studio 3.4 The Piper Centre 50 Carnwath Rd, London SW6 3EG
Design 2 FInishdesign2finish.co.uk07968 821 1667 54 Chipstead StreetLondon SW6 3SS
element Constructionelementconstruction.co.uk07717 155 716
nU Buildsnubuilds.com0207 731684110 Fulham high streetLondon SW6 4LZ
Pascal Huserhuser.co.uk020 7381 0707600 Fulham RoadLondon, SW6 5PA
Roxburgh Constructionroxburghconstruction.co.uk020 7731 748074 The ArchesRanelagh GardensLondon SW6 3UB
Uber Contractsubercontracts.co.uk020 3151 5034
INTERIOR DESIGN
Magenta Pinkmagentapinkinteriors.co.uk07956 884 437
RJV Designsrjvdesigns.co.uk020 7385 6009126 Harbord St, London SW6 6PH
SURVEYORS
Capital Charteredcapitalchartered.co.uk020 8875 0035Argyll HouseAll Saints PassageLondon SW18 1EP
owen Powellowen-powell.com012 7369 6655
LEASEHOLD ADVICE
Capital Leaseholdcapitalchartered.co.uk020 7112 516964 KnightsbridgeLondonSW1X 7JF
MORTGAGE BROKERS
Alistair Hargreavesjohncharcol.co.uk020 7384 6790112 Dawes RoadLondon SW6 4JA
edward Checkleyprivatefinance.co.uk07908 962 49421 Bedford SquareLondon WC1B 3HH
SOLICITORS
Child & Child(Mo Hakim)childandchild.co.uk020 7235 80004 Grosvenor PlaceLondon SW1X 7HJ
Healys solicitors (tracey Cipolla)healys.com020 7822 4000Atrium Court15-17 Jockey’s FieldsLondon WC1R 4QR
Jacobsen & Co.(Helle Jacobsen)jacobsenlegal.com020 7736 62776 Stephendale Yard Stephendale Road London SW6 2LR
Judge sykes Frixou (Belinda Frixou)jsf-law.co.uk020 7395 335523 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6YF
Looking for something? Look no further with our recommended suppliers directory, just mention where you found them.
DIReCtoRY
ARCHITECTS
DBLodblo.co.uk020 7610 9333227a Stephendale RoadLondon, SW6 2PR
Hogarthhogartharchitects.co.uk020 7381 3409186 Dawes Road London SW6 7RQ
Iconicon-architects.com020 7731 0400The Glass House11 Lettice StreetLondon SW6 4EH
simon Gillsimongillarchitects.co.uk020 7610 9344Riverbank House1 Putney Bridge ApproachLondon SW6 3JD
AdditionsIf you would like to add your business to this directory please contact Coen van Leeuwan at Brik.
Q1 15 London ProPerty & LifestyLe Magazine
Contact us for a free valuation: 020 7384 6790 / brik.co.uk
Get In toUCH020 7384 6790
brik
@briklondon
brik.co.uk
77 Parsons green Lane,fulham, London sW6 4Ja
Like many people we believe estate agency is in need of improvement. We started Brik to challenge the status quo and our reputation has grown by delivering record breaking prices and quick sales with minimum fuss. our formula is simple, sound advice plus friendly approach equals good result.
We BeLIeVe
Meet BRIK
Chris LittlewoodCo-founder
nfoPP qualified
Ben FrancisLettings associate
Coen van LeeuwenBrand Coordinator
Georgina WoodsBrand Coordinator
Ben LittlewoodCo-founder
nfoPP qualified
Michael HorneCo-founder
nfoPP qualified
James simssales Manager
nfoPP qualified
Alex Weldonsales associatenfoPP qualified
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Marylebone Bag Tech Brik Mag DEC14 SALE.indd 1 05/12/2014 14:51:08