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The London property market can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you are investing in a market which is constantly changing and you have the opportunity to make great returns. Plus, you would be living in one of the most sought-after cities in the world! However, if you want to personalise your home or expand your family, it can be difficult to find the space to extend your house, due to the lack of garden space.
A lot of city dwellers are investing in loft conversions, which is a great way to add value and space to your property. In With the ongoing pandemic, loft pods gained popularity as people worked from home or needed space for home schooling their children. For some people the option of converting their loft is not an option, so what are some alternatives?
London homes do not have the luxury of vast garden space, and so a rear extension can seem a poor option. Typically, a rear extension is great for properties that have excess garden space, as it extends the home backwards into this garden area. Garden space is incredibly valuable in London, not only for property prices but also to the individuals living there, being good for mental and physical health whilst living and working in a busy city.
If eating into your garden isn’t an option, a side return extension could be for you. Side extensions use up the dead space down the sides of your property, extending your house width-ways. For many people, the space down the side of the house is home to broken plant pots, wound up hose pipe reels, or simply left to grow weeds. By choosing to extend your property into this space, you are bringing a new lease of life to wasted space and adding value to the property at the same time.
A wrap around extension builds on the rear of the house and the dead space to the side of the house and can be a great option if you have the space and money. It can completely transform the inside space, as well as creating a smart look for the outside of your property. By changing the roofing structure of your extension, you can include skylights which make any extension space seem more spacious and more attractive.
“Remember that any extension plans would be subject to planning approval or, in certain circumstances Permitted Development Rights (PDRs),” comments Ruban Selvanayagam of London residential / commercial property buying company Property Solvers.
If you do opt to build into your garden with a rear extension, there are a couple of ways to accentuate your garden space. A common way to showcase back gardens following a rear extension is to use Crittall doors or bi-fold doors on the rear wall. This can frame the backdrop of your garden, with the bright greens of your garden being showcased as a further extension of your property. If you are aiming to have an open plan extension, this can be a great way to open your property to create that airy feel.
If, for whatever reason, you do end up losing some of your garden space there are always ways that you can add some greenery to your kitchen. Silly Greens do disposable crop boxes that regularly bring plant life into the kitchen. By adding the indoor herb planter to your windowsill you’ll be able to grow something edible without having to use up a lot of space!