North West London letting agents anticipate stronger demand for quality properties

North West London letting agents, Paramount Properties, anticipate even stronger demand for good quality West Hampstead property rentals in the near future.

New figures from the Association of Residential Letting Agents reveal that one in five buy-to-let investors intends to sell some or all of their properties over the coming year, a 31 per cent increase on three months ago. Property repossessions are at a 10-year high and the withdrawal of mortgages over 75 per cent for first-time buyers means many wannabe homeowners will be forced to rent.

Says Paramount's lettings director from their prestigious West Hampstead estate agents offices in West End Lane, Spencer Lawrence: "We are experiencing a surge in corporate enquiries for exclusive houses and apartments this year as young European and American professionals and their families continue to move into the area.

'The Jubilee line is a huge pull for these overseas professionals. It’s unique in providing access to Canary Wharf, the City, the West End, and the rest of North West London. Education is vital to these families and Hampstead and St John's Wood have some of the best international schools in London. West Hampstead offers plenty of independent shops and has a cosmopolitan feel.'

"We are letting properties almost as soon as they become available, and so would advise anyone considering buying a property to let, or thinking about renting out a property they already own, that now is a fantastic time to do so. We are receiving enquiries for all types of quality properties for rent in all areas of North West London. The rent is virtually guaranteed especially when paid by a company. Indeed large companies often pay quarterly in advance generating good cash flow for landlords."

Whilst Spencer believes there are many excellent opportunities available for landlords considering investing in West Hampstead, he stresses how important it is for landlords to seek expert advice from an independent specialist in order to make the most from their investment: "An experienced letting specialist such as ourselves who knows the local market inside-out can help landlords make the best decision when choosing a property to let," he said.

"Our ARLA-qualified lettings agency staff give expert advice - free of charge - on everything you need to know: from what and where to buy in West Hampstead and which properties to avoid, to what features are most in demand by corporate tenants, and how to obtain the best rental value for your property."

Paramount Properties are offering landlords in West Hampstead special rates for a limited period. For more information about this - or for a free rental appraisal - please contact Spencer Lawrence on 020 7372 0202 or email info@paramount-properties.co.uk

North West London community websites and blogs

Local Mouth guide to West Hampstead

West Hampstead Blog written by Alisa, a local resident, interested in the neighbourhood and its facilities, with a distinct lack of interest in local politics.

Northwest 6 provides very local news primarily for residents of Ravenshaw, Broomsleigh, Glastonbury and Dornfell Streets in West Hampstead, London NW6.

The Queen's Park Area Residents Association


Offers blogs organised by London Transport Underground Stations

Step free access West Hampstead Thameslink

Transport for London has received funding for step-free access to nine rail stations in London as part of the Department for Transport's £370 million Access for All programme.

The nine stations are Bromley South, New Eltham, Tottenham Hale, New Malden, West Hampstead Thameslink, Brockley, Camden Road, Gospel Oak and Honor Oak Park.

Highgate trumps Chelsea as priciest postcode

Kensington and Chelsea, the fashionable west London district, has been pipped as the most expensive address in Britain by a street in North London's Highgate.

One of the largest houses in London after Buckingham Palace, on West Hill in Highgate Courtenay Avenue, near the parkland of Hampstead Heath, is the UK's new priciest place to live, with average property values of £6.8m, according to Mouseprice, the property website.

Chelsea Square, home of Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone, ranked second on the grid, with an average house price of £6.44m.

Famed for its cemetery, Highgate was home to political thinker Karl Marx, the author George Eliot and more recently, murdered ex-KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko. Current dwellers include the pop singer George Michael, who owns an £8m-pound property there.

The highest property prices can be found in Courtenay Avenue in Highgate (postcode N6) where the average is more than 6.8 million pounds, according to the third annual survey by property Web site Mouseprice.net.

Other streets in the same area -- five avenues between the Hampstead and Highgate golf courses -- make up the first cluster of property hotspots.

Ingram Avenue ranks number 11, with an average property price of 5.16 million pounds, and Winnington Road comes in 17th place, with an average price-tag of 4.73 million pounds.

The Bishops Avenue and Compton Avenue, both in the same area, narrowly fail to make the top 20.

Read more at The Telegraph

Post Office Closures in North West London

This week we have seen the announcement by the Government of the 150 post offices in London which are due to close and another 2,000 across England. In Hampstead and Highgate the post offices in South End Green, England's Lane and Highgate Village are on the list. Post offices in Cricklewood, Somers Town and Kensal Rise are also scheduled for closure.

Read more at the Ham and High