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Is Help to Buy costing new homeowners more?

Posted October 14, 2019 by John King

The government?s Help to Buy scheme was launched in 2013 to boost housebuilding and help generation rent onto the housing ladder. However, new research shows that people using scheme may actually be paying a premium – and that they may have been able to get on the housing ladder without it.

Conveyancing firm Reallymoving analysed data from 40,000 first-time buyers over the year to September 2019. The researched showed that those using Help to Buy, paid on average 10% more than those who funded their purchases without the scheme. The figure in London was higher at almost 12%, however, in Yorkshire and the West Midlands it was more than 21%.

The study follows the release of figures from housebuilder, Barratt, which revealed that 40% of its business comes from Help to Buy customers.

New builds generally attract a premium price and can subsequently lose value, meaning that first-time buyers using the scheme are at risk of negative equity.

Critics also believe that the popularity of Help to Buy has led developers to inflate prices and that the scheme could have a negative impact on the overall housing market.

Reallymoving chief executive Rob Houghton said: ?Most first-time buyers find it difficult to raise a deposit and as a consequence they are being cornered into the new-build sector, where homes already command higher prices, before paying an additional premium on top if they need to use a Help to Buy Equity Loan.

?In many cases they simply don?t have the deposit required to explore other options such as buying a second-hand home, which may offer considerably better value.?

How help to buy works

Opening a Help to Buy ISA means the government will add 25% to the amount saved, up to a maximum of ?3,000 on savings of ?12,000, if used as a deposit on a first home.

The deposit can be used to buy a property using a Help to Buy: Equity Loan, where the government lends 40% of the cost of a new-build home in London (or 20% elsewhere). The loan is interest free for five years. A Help to Buy: Shared Ownership scheme allows the purchaser to buy a share of the home (between 25% and 75%) and pay rent on the remainder.

Applications for a Help to Buy ISAs close on 30 November this year, and prospective homeowners have been encouraged to open an account now, to ensure they can take advantage of the scheme ? including by Money Saving Expert founder, Martin Lewis.

Read more about this story in The Stylist.

What is the difference between freehold and leasehold property?

Posted September 24, 2019 by asrobertson

If you are looking at flats in Wimbledon, whether in a new-build development, mansion block or period conversion, they will almost certainly be on the market as leasehold. Most houses in the area, are by contrast sold on a freehold basis.

The owner of a freehold house effectively has full, outright ownership of the house and the land on which it is built. By contrast, a leasehold flat gives the purchaser the right to occupy the property for the amount of time specified in a lease. The overwhelming majority of flats and apartments in London – and England and Wales as a whole – are leasehold. This is because under old land law freehold ownership couldn’t be applied to flats, that were one above the other on a single plot of land.

If you are new to buying property, it is worth finding out more about the differences between leasehold and freehold properties, and some of the key questions to ask before you buy.

What happens when you buy leasehold?

Although leaseholders ? also known as lessees – own the property?s internal space, fittings, floor and walls, they do not own the land the flat sits above or the fabric of the building, including the roof and external walls.

Where a flat is in a block, the freeholder ? also known as the landlord ? is responsible for managing, maintaining and carrying out repairs to the building?s structure, grounds and communal areas, such as staircases, hallways and lifts.

The leaseholder has obligations too, which will be set out in the lease. These may include keeping the flat in good order or behaving in a neighbourly fashion. There may also be restrictions in the lease, such as no pets without the prior consent of the landlord.

Questions to ask before you buy leasehold

With leasehold property such a common form of tenure, there is no reason to be put off making a purchase. But there are three important differences between buying leasehold and freehold that you should consider first.

1.You need to be aware of the lease length

Lease lengths can vary dramatically, and ownership of a leasehold home will revert back to the freeholder once the lease runs out.

The length of the lease is therefore the first question you should ask about the property before deciding whether it is the one for you.

When buying you should, ideally, be looking for a lease of at least 90 to 125 years, although some new-build properties come with 999-year leases.

Some properties do go on sale with short leases ? this may be the reason for a flat appearing to be surprisingly good value for the area.

Be aware that anyone buying a flat with a lease of less than 80 years remaining may find it difficult to obtain a mortgage or to sell the property on, should they wish to.

Under the 1993 Leasehold Reform, Housing & Urban Development Act, however, leaseholders are entitled to a 90-year extension to their lease at a fair market price, if they have owned the property for at least two years. The process is known as leasehold enfranchisement.

If you wish to purchase a property with a short lease, you can make it a condition of the sale that the vendors begin the leasehold enfranchisement process, which you will be able to take forward once the sale goes through.

2. You will need to pay ground rent

Ground rent is a fee payable to the landlord on an annual or half-yearly basis. While it is usually a token payment in the range of ?50 to ?300 a year.

Beware, however since, as has been widely reported in the news, many new-build developments have clauses in their leases, allowing for dramatic increases in ground rent, although the government is looking to curb this practice.

3. You will be liable for service charges

To cover the costs of maintaining the fabric of the building and the shared areas of the development, the landlord will impose a service charge.

Fees vary depending on the size and nature of the development and some service charges include contributions to a reserve (or sinking) fund that is used to cover large one-off bills.

Whether you opt for a leasehold or freehold property will depend upon the type of home you are looking as well as your budget. Whichever you choose Wimbledon is a sought-after area and a likely wise investment for the future. If you would like more information about buying freehold or leasehold, or to find out about the properties we currently have for sale, please contact us today.

Homeowners warned of property fraud increase

Posted September 10, 2019 by John King

In her 2018 bestseller, Our House, Louise Candlish describes the moment when a woman realises an imposter is moving into her London home ? and appears to own it. While the book centres around the twists of an elaborate blackmail plot, losing your home to fraud is a real, if small, possibility in 2019.

Research on the website Property Investor Today has revealed that since 2005 property fraud claims submitted to the Land Registry totalled ?73.3 million, averaging out at ?107,669 per scam. This contrasts to the more common, and heavily publicised, online financial scams, which set the average victim back by ?600.

Alarmingly, with so much at stake, property fraud can be quite simple to carry out. Details of ownership of properties in England and Wales can be sourced online and recent cases have involved fraudsters using the homeowner?s identity to secure a mortgage. In other examples, scammers have impersonated the homeowner to have deeds transferred to their name.

Other forms of property fraud include mortgage scams involving fake sellers and holiday homes advertised as properties for sale. So-called ?Friday afternoon scams? are also common ? with many property transactions taking place on a Friday, hackers intercept solicitors? emails, sending their own bank details to buyers instead.

According to the HomeOwners Alliance, these types of fraud are on the increase. ?Unfortunately, the value of successful frauds of property sales have more than tripled ? from ?7 million in 2013 to ?25 million in 2017,? says chief executive, Paula Higgins.

?Email and IT systems (especially those of conveyancers) are being attacked continuously. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated ? fake emails can now be very hard to spot, and people may find themselves caught out, especially when under the stress of buying a home.?

If you are concerned about property fraud, register for free email property alerts from the Land Registry. Using the service means you will be alerted of any attempted activity regarding the deeds of your house.

In addition, for a ?40 fee, homeowners can opt to put a restriction on the title deed of their property, stopping the Land Registry from registering a sale or mortgage unless a conveyancer certifies the application is genuine.

For more information about property fraud visit the gov.uk and the HomeOwners Alliance websites.

Andrew Scott Robertson wins The British Property Awards

Posted August 22, 2019 by John King

Andrew Scott Robertson, Wimbledon Town have just won The British Property Award for SW19.

Our team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels.

Andrew Scott Robertson, Wimbledon Town have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced later in the year.

The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition.

Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS are one of the most inclusive estate agency awards providers as they do not charge to enter. This has enabled their award to be structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over 90% of agents that meet their minimum criteria on a local level.

The Awards team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged.

Robert McLean from The British Property Awards said ?Our awards has been specifically designed to be attainable to all agents, removing common barriers to entry, such as cost, to ensure that we have the most inclusive awards. Our award has also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a benchmark for their local, regional and national competition?.

Why location is the key to successful buy-to-let investing

Posted August 19, 2019 by John King

We all know location counts when you are looking to buy a family home, but the same is true if you are buying to let. If you are looking in South West London, Wimbledon is a good choice as it will undoubtedly always be popular with tenants.

Wimbledon?s appeal lies in its versatility. Living in Wimbledon gives you all the amenities of the town centre with the rural feel of the village close by. Plus, there are amazing transport links to central London and beyond, as well as plenty of outstanding schools in the state and independent sectors.

Wherever you decide to invest in a buy-to-let property, location is key. As a landlord you?ll be looking for high rental yields, minimal void periods and for your property to gain in value over time. Choosing the best location for your budget can help you achieve this, so before you commit to a property think carefully about how attractive it will be to tenants.

It makes sense to have your ideal tenant in mind when deciding on a location. If your budget will only stretch to smaller apartments, your target market probably isn?t families, where more space is a priority.

If you are looking at young professionals, you?ll probably want a flat that?s close to amenities and night life as well as handy for good transport links. You might also want to consider whether it?s close to a local employer ? Wimbledon is close to St George?s Hospital and medical school, for example.

You should do plenty of research about who lives in the area and the average rents they pay. This will help you get a good idea of whether you?ll achieve the return on investment you?re looking for.

To help you decide if a location is right for your buy-to-let project, look at our local area guides. Then use our checklist of what to look out for when choosing your investment.

1. Avoid traffic hotspots

Go back a street from the main road – quieter streets with less traffic may hold their value better and are more attractive to tenants.

2. Look to the future

Do your research on any planned regeneration schemes in the area and think about the impact on the property you?re considering, good and bad. Will the plans bring better transport links and upgraded facilities, or mean noisy works for years to come that will deter renters?

3. How are the schools?

Families are drawn to areas like Wimbledon because of their proximity to good schools. Houses close to outstanding state schools will be popular with renters and retain their value ? as long as the schools remain high-performing and popular. If you?re targeting families, do your research into popular schools and where people need to live to secure a place.

4. What are the main attractions?

Look at properties with good amenities close by. Attractive parks, bars, restaurants and shops can all make a place appealing to tenants. Wimbledon is well served in this respect, with the common and Wimbledon Park, plus numerous other open spaces. The area also has plenty to do, including New Wimbledon Theatre and a range of amazing places to eat in both the town and village.

Factors like a corner shop or mini supermarket, neighbourhood pub and coffee shop can also give a particular street the edge.

5. How is the transport?

This is a crucial one, especially for city professionals looking for an easy commute. Wimbledon may have been planned with commuters in mind, so well is it served for transport, with frequent trains into London Waterloo, Vauxhall and Clapham Junction as well as access to the District Line, Tram, Thameslink and Northern Line services.

If you are considering purchasing a buy-to-let property in the Wimbledon area, we?d be happy to discuss the merits different parts of the area and show you some great properties. Contact us today to find out more.

When Wimbledon becomes tennis town

Posted July 8, 2019 by John King

As the Wimbledon Championships enter their second week, with the nail-biting finals in sight, Wimbledon town and village are at tennis fever pitch. Here are five ways to make the most of the tennis season:

1 You might still get tickets

Official tickets from the All England Club are sold by a ballot, which closed in December. Limited tickets are, however, still available, daily from the Ticketmaster website.

You can also join Wimbledon?s famous queue. The club releases 500 tickets a day for Centre Court, No 1 and No 2 Court – apart from the last four days on Centre Court. Thousands of grounds passes are available daily too, allowing access to unreserved seating and standing on Courts No 3 to 18. Arrive as early as possible and before the ground opens at 10.30am.

2 Watch the final on a big screen

Queuing for a grounds pass allows you to watch the action from the big screen on Murray Mound, the piece of land to the north of Centre Court.

Or head for the Piazza in Wimbledon town centre, where the atmosphere is possibly just as good. If you?re early and very lucky you might bag a deckchair or an outdoor table at a local restaurant.

Alternatively, go further afield where there are big screens at Granary Square, Kings Cross; beside Tower Bridge and City Hall; in the grounds of Fulham Palace or at St Katharine Dock.

Find more options on the Time Out website.

3 Soak up the atmosphere

Shops and businesses in the town and village go all out to make the most of a time when the eyes of the world are on Wimbledon. Check out the amazing shop front displays and post pictures of your favourites on Instagram or go tennis-related celebrity spotting from local cafes and restaurants.

4 Dress to impress, or not

If you?re heading to the tournament, unless you?re competing, there?s no dress code. In spite of the glamour of Wimbledon, for spectators it?s all about comfortable and casual. During the first week of play temperatures soared. Forecasts for the second week are cooler with a chance of rain, so wear layers and come prepared for sunshine and showers.

5 Can I bring a picnic?

There are plenty of places to eat inside the ground, but they aren?t cheap and it?s likely you?ll need to queue ? so bringing your own picnic is a good option. You can only take in one bag per person, measuring no more than 40 x 30 x 30cm, so no hard-sided picnic hampers or cool boxes are allowed.

If you wish to sell or let your property in Wimbledon, then please contact us for more information on how we can help your journey to #TennisTown

Ten steps to becoming the tenant that landlords love

Posted June 17, 2019 by John King

If you are new to renting, there are a few things you need to know about your responsibilities as a tenant ? ten, in fact!

While a difficult landlord is every renter?s worst fear, the relationship works both ways and tenants can be big trouble too. More often than not, problems occur because of a lack of communication, which lets minor issues escalate, creating a difficult situation.

A good landlord/tenant relationship is great for everyone. As a tenant you may find your landlord eager to respond when there?s an issue and happy to keep you in the property for as long as you wish. The landlord will also benefit from a longer-term tenant, who will look after the place.

If you?re new to renting, there are a few responsibilities in your tenancy agreement that you really need to know about, from being on time with your rent to getting on with the neighbour. Read on for our ultimate guide to becoming the tenant that landlords love.

1. Always pay your rent on time

Your number one duty as a tenant is to pay your rent on time. If you pay by standing order, make sure you have funds to cover your rent on the due date. If you fail to pay, your landlord can take steps to evict you and reclaim the money that?s owed. You need to make sure you pay any other charges, as agreed with your landlord too ? council tax or utility bills, for example.

2. Look after your home

It?s generally a condition of your shorthold tenancy agreement that you keep the property in good order.

While your landlord is responsible for carrying out repairs to the structure, plumbing, electrics and heating, you?ll be expected to complete small tasks to keep your home running smoothly ? checking smoke alarms, changing lightbulbs and keeping the place well-ventilated, to prevent damp.

While not everyone is a Mrs Hinch, you?ll need to keep your home clean and tidy, and take reasonable steps to prevent problems occurring ? not flushing wipes down the loo and turning off the water at the mains if you?re away in cold weather.

Always report repairs to your landlord promptly ? small damp patches could become a big deal if not treated. If further damage is caused because a problem wasn?t fixed, you could be liable.

3. Allow your landlord access

Unless living in the property, landlords don?t have the right to come and go as they please. Your landlord must give you at least 24-hours? notice before visiting and should visit at a reasonable time, apart from in an emergency.

You do need to allow them access, however, to carry out repairs and maintenance and to make fire and gas safety checks. It?s in your interest to be as accommodating as possible ? being flexible, by offering a choice of dates and times, will help you to a good relationship and make sure repairs are completed in a timely fashion.

4. Don?t make alterations without permission.

Rental properties tend to be decorated in neutral tones, which suit most tastes. Avoid the temptation to personalise your space with something more radical. Unauthorised redecorating, or drilling holes to hang pictures, is likely to result in the landlord withholding your security deposit, so they can make good after you?ve gone.

5. Don?t sublet

Subletting happens when an existing tenant lets part or all of a property they rent to another person. There are genuine reasons why it might suit you to sublet. You may be struggling to pay the rent alone or need to be away from home for a short period but want to make sure the rent is covered. If you have a good reason, your landlord is likely to be sympathetic, but will want it all made official so you must get their permission first.

6. Be a good neighbour

Your behaviour in the property reflects on your landlord, so don?t create a nuisance. Keep your music to a reasonable volume and avoid noisy parties. Make sure you put your rubbish and recycling out on time and keep the outside of the property tidy ? check your responsibilities around gardening in your tenancy agreement. Landlords can start eviction proceedings against tenants for antisocial behaviour caused to neighbours. As a tenant you will be held responsible for the actions of anyone visiting you too.

7. Communicate with your landlord

Try to respond to texts, calls and emails as soon as possible and be helpful. Keeping the lines of communication open will help your relationship long-term.

8. Ask before getting a pet

Some landlords allow cats and dogs, others don?t. While some people are relaxed about animals, others are concerned about damage to furnishings, annoyance to neighbours and smells. If the property is a flat, there may be a clause in the Landlord?s own lease that prevents anyone from keeping animals. If you have a pet, or are thinking of getting one, always check your tenancy agreement and get permission in writing before bringing home a furry friend.

9. Let your landlord know if you?re going away

If you ?re going to be away from your home for a substantial period ? because you?re in hospital, travelling abroad or caring for a relative ? let your landlord know. You?ll still need to pay rent while you?re away unless you come to some arrangement with your landlord or sublet with permission.

When going on holiday, or away from the property for a short time, it?s also good practice to let you landlord know and to give their details to a neighbour in case there?s an emergency while you?re away.

10. Saying goodbye

You should end your tenancy properly by giving the correct notice. If you don?t you will still be liable to pay rent. You can?t give notice if you are still in the fixed term of a tenancy, unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise.

If you are looking for somewhere to rent in Wimbledon area contact us today to find out more about our selection of rental properties.

Book now for Taste of Sport charity event

Posted June 11, 2019 by John King

Head to South Park Gardens, Wimbledon on Sunday 23 June for Taste of Sport; a day of fun challenges and delicious food, all in aid of good causes. Try new activities ? from boxing to capoeira, listen to live music and meet Haydon the Womble, while supporting Molly?s Smile Fund.

The fund raises money for charities, including St George?s Hospital general intensive care unit (GICU), as a tribute to student, Molly Burdett, who died aged 19, shortly after being diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Her family and friends set up the fund, in her memory, a week after her death.

Sponsored by Andrew Scott Robertson, estate agents and APPI, Pilates and physio, the Taste of Sport event will take place from 10am to 1pm on Sunday 23 June in South Park Gardens, SW19 8PN.

The event will include races and workshops throughout the day. You can:

Grab a selfie with Wimbledon AFC mascot, Haydon the Womble
Dance to live music and have a try at swing and capoeira
Try a taster session – choose boxing, skipping or strength training with top personal trainers
Join a pilates class with APPI Wimbledon clinic?s team of physiotherapists and instructors
Find expert advice on getting back to exercise, after an injury for example.

Delicious food will be available for ?7.50 per adult or ?4 for the under 13s, plus there?ll be drinks and snacks for sale all day.

Taste of Sport will raise money for St George?s Hospital GICU, Mind, Cancer Research UK, SOS Children’s Village, Mauritius and Momentum Children?s Charity (which supports children with life-limiting conditions in South West London and Surrey).

To book a place and food at the event, email tasteofsport1@gmail.com or pop into Bliss in the Park kiosk in South Park Gardens. Entry costs ?5 for a family of four or ?2 for individuals ? you can also pay on the day.

Andrew Scott Robertson previously sponsored the event when it was last held in 2017. Marc Gregory, Director of Residential Sales, said: ?Taste of Sport is a brilliant community day out. It?s a chance for families to get together in beautiful South Park Gardens, try some fun activities and compete against friends in some sporty challenges. Best of all we?ll be raising money for some really good causes, via the amazing Molly?s Smile Fund. Let?s hope we get plenty of sunshine!?

Additional sponsors are the park?s personal training crews – Fitwise, HA Fitness, Fitnessize and Fitstate as well as Bliss in the Park.

Staging a Property to Sell

Posted May 13, 2019 by John King

In an uncertain market, staging your property to attract buyers is crucial to standing out from the crowd, achieving the best price and possibly even clinching the sale.

First impressions really do count so, once you have decided to sell, you need to get to work on making your home buyer-ready. Firstly, put aside sentimental attachment to you home and belongings and look at the property as potential buyers will see it. This will help you set about depersonalising the space.

You?ll probably need to spend money on bringing your property up to scratch ? possibly on work that feels pointless. But, most likely, you?ll reap rewards with higher offers and a quick sale.

Read on for our essential guide to staging your property, room by room:

The bathroom

Bathrooms and kitchens definitely sell houses, and if yours are looking a bit dated, a revamp could pay off. If you can?t stretch to a full bathroom refit, think about replacing taps, mirrors or other fixtures and fittings.

Replace any broken tiles and mouldy sealant and give the place a good clean, scrubbing away all limescale deposits. Tidy away random toiletries and shampoo bottles and give the place a spa-like feel with rolled towels, quality scent diffusers and tropical plants.

The kitchen

A new kitchen can be transformative, so think about a refresh if your units are looking tired. It?s cheaper to replace your cabinet doors, while retaining carcases if you can. Clear away all the clutter, mend anything that?s broken and make sure it?s all spotless for an elegant finish.

The living room

The first step to transforming your living space is to clear it of all the trappings of everyday life. Put away anything that personalises the place too much; family photos, children?s drawings, birthday cards. It?s worth having a big declutter too, throwing away or donating to charity possessions you no longer love or need.

Make sure bookshelves aren?t overstuffed with books ? remove any that are looking tatty. The advice is to leave at least 10% of your bookshelves as free space.

If your home is overloaded with furniture, which you want to keep, think about putting it in storage. Never ram it all into a garage or spare room – your prospective buyers are more than likely to peek inside.

The bedroom

Make sure your bedrooms have a calm, relaxed feel, with clean and neutral colour schemes. Keep the rooms tidy and impersonal and think about upgrading your bed-linen, adding cushions and throws.

Sort through wardrobes to ensure they?re not crammed full of clothes. There are plenty of storage solutions, from Ikea and the like, to help turn your wardrobes into a carefully-ordered space.

If you tend to use a spare bedroom as a study or storage area, show buyers its true purpose. If you don?t have a bed, borrow one from a friend or buy second-hand. Similarly, if you have a double bedroom with just a single bed, make sure it is clear that the room can accommodate a double. This is all part of helping buyers imagine themselves in your space.

Around the home

Sprucing up your home with a lick of paint could make all the difference to securing a sale. This is especially true if your existing colour scheme involves dark or bright shades.

White and pale hues have the advantage of reflecting light to make your rooms appear, not just bright and airy, but bigger too. You can also give the impression of size by adding a mirror or two and glass fixtures and fittings.

Replace patterned or dingy carpets with light floor coverings and remove any dark and imposing pieces of furniture. If you?re keeping your carpets, have them professionally cleaned to get rid of any stains or lingering smells and if you have pets, think about sending them on brief holiday while you sell!

Outdoor space

A recent survey estimated that a good garden landscape design could increase the value of a property way above the initial outlay. You may not have time for a big redesign, but getting to work on the garden is essential. Cut back overgrown shrubs, so your viewers can see how big it is and imagine themselves using the space. Cut the grass too and clean the patio and any garden furniture. If it?s looking a bit sparse, a few planted pots can make a difference.

And never underestimate the power of kerb appeal. Your front garden is the first thing buyers will see, so it needs to make a welcoming impression. Give your front door a lick of attractive-coloured paint and polish your door furniture. Clean your windows and, if you can, add a window box or two.

Don?t begrudge doing all this work on a home you will be leaving soon. In most cases it absolutely pays off. Investing a bit of time and money in sprucing up your property can help you to win over potential buyers and it might secure a higher offer too.

Your Wimbledon Easter sorted!

Posted April 16, 2019 by John King

There?s only so much chocolate you can eat, so if you?re spending Easter at home this year, we?ve pulled together five top Wimbledon-based ideas for a bit of a change of scene:

A night at the ballet

Celebrated choreographer Matthew Bourne?s Swan Lake comes to the New Wimbledon Theatre this Easter, with a 21st century take on this iconic show, almost a quarter of a century since it was first performed. Described as thrilling, audacious and emotive, Bourne?s Swan Lake is best known for its male ensemble, which shattered conventions and took the dance world by storm. You can catch the show on Good Friday and Easter Saturday.

Paddling free

Talking of lakes, Wimbledon Park has a beautiful one with a packed programme of watersports sessions for all ages and abilities. If your children are looking for something different to do over the Easter holidays, check out the lake?s four and five-day multi-watersports camps for ages eight to 16. During the sessions they can have a try at sailing, kayaking and canoeing ? as well as raft building and team games on dry land. Courses run throughout the holidays and cost from ?230.

Down the rabbit hole

If you?re shopping in Wimbledon for Easter essentials, make sure you pop into Centre Court to experience Alice in Wonderland performed in silent theatre. This interactive, 15-minute show features everyone?s favourite Wonderland characters, including Alice and the White Rabbit. Plus, every child who attends will receive a free chocolate bunny.

Hunt those eggs

There?s more chocolate on offer up at Wimbledon and Putney Commons ? but you need to find it. Starting at the ranger’s office, follow the trails to hunt the commons for Easter eggs. There?s a prize for every entrant. Or take part in the Easter colouring competitions with categories for all ages – including adults. The event takes place from 10am to 4pm Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Dine in style

If you?re getting together with family and friends, there are plenty of great spots for a chilled Easter Sunday lunch in Wimbledon Village. The Fox and Grapes, right by the common, is open throughout the holidays and promises to have the big days covered with some splendid lunch menus. There are plenty of other options too, from the historic Crooked Billet to the lively Dog and Fox and glamorous Ivy Caf?.

If you want to spend your Easter break looking for residential or commercial properties, Contact us today!