Description
We bought this property in 2016 as first-time buyers and it was a fantastic first home for us as a young couple. It was actually the first flat we looked at, and after viewing plenty of others in the area we realised it was perfect for us.The first things that really grabbed us were the large main bedroom, the abundance of natural light, the lack of traffic as it's on a no-through road and the view onto the garden, as you're surrounded by tall trees which gives a peaceful countryside feel.
When we first moved in we used the second bedroom as a guest room, with a double bed, although it could easily be used as a home office. The previous owners used it as a nursery for their little girl.
The main living space is a great entertaining area, spacious and light and right next to the kitchen. There's an existing connection to a Sky satellite dish for those who can't do without sports and films, and we spent many evenings hosting people, often the neighbours from the building, for whatever big game was on.
Having a large shared garden was lovely, It's perfect for sitting out with a morning coffee, barbecues on warm evenings, or just soaking up some rays. At times it's been a real sanctuary for us, as it's so quiet and idyllic. It doesn't feel like you're in London when you're out there. We had lovely new plants put in and it's really well maintained by the gardeners we use.
The street has a very friendly feel and we get along well with our neighbours, especially those in the building.
Crystal Palace is an amazing place to be, with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops. The Everyman cinema is a great local feature, and we joined as members as soon as it opened. Drinks-wise there is something for everyone - wine or cocktail bars, 'local' style pubs, gastropubs and plenty of cafes all within a ten minute stroll. There's also a great food scene on the Crystal Palace triangle; we love Urban Orient for Vietnamese, Dem for Turkish and Numidie for Moroccan.
An important thing for us was to be well-connected to central London. The flat is only a five minute walk from Gipsy Hill station which takes you straight into Victoria or London Bridge. You can get to the Northern Line quickly at Balham which is only 15 minutes away by train. We also had a car, and we never struggled to find a spot with free on-street parking.
We moved out after 3.5 years and it's been let to two sets of good tenants in the time since, they've looked after the place well and even repainted the main bedroom.
There are plans and money in the sinking fund for a completely new stone path in the area outside the front door which will really brighten up the approach to the building.
Finally, for those looking to expand, the loft space is ripe for development with plenty of room to add more living space to your home.
Chain free sale.
Service Charges £900 per annum
Ground Rent £0
Council Tax Lambeth Band C £1,566.13
Lease Term 960 years
