renting with ffields in westbourne grove

Renting Property In Pimlico, Victoria, Westminster, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

Renting Property In Pimlico, Victoria,

Westminster, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

Westbourne Grove is a retail road running across Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It runs from Kensington Park Road in the west to Queensway in the east, crossing over Portobello Road. It contains a mixture of independent and chain retailers, and has been termed both "fashionable" and "up-and-coming".

The Notting Hill Carnival passes along the central part of Westbourne Grove.

History

The development of Westbourne Grove began in the 1840s and proceeded from the east (which lay in Bayswater) to the west, where it became the principal east-west artery into the Ladbroke Estate. The far western end of the street only became known as Westbourne Grove relatively recently in 1938, having previously been called Archer Street. In 1929, the novelist A.J. Cronin opened his own medical practice at 152 Westbourne Grove, which was put up for sale in 2007.

Westbourne Grove takes its name from Westbourne Green - a settlement that developed to the west of the bourne that later took the name River Westbourne. This river currently runs underground at Ossington Street. The area is first recorded in 1222 as Westeburn. Westbourne Green is first recorded as Westborne Grene in 1548. Westbourne Green formed part of the parish of Paddington.

There was a small settlement to the north of what is now Westbourne Grove at Westbourne Green. It had five main houses. The largest of these was Westbourne Place or Westbourne House, which was rebuilt in 1745 by the architect Isaac Ware as an elegant Georgian mansion of three storeys with a frontage of nine windows divided into three parts. The central third was topped by a large pediment and contained the main door, which also had a pediment over it. The lower two storeys were formed into bays at each end, which contained three windows each. Amongst the well-known residents of this house were Sir William Yorke, baronet; the Venetian ambassador; the architect Samuel Pepys Cockerell (a great great nephew of the diarist Samuel Pepys); and the General Commander in Chief of the Army, Viscount Hill, who left in 1836 (and who gave his name to the modern road bridge north of Westbourne Grove called Lord Hill's Bridge). The house was demolished in 1836 to make way for the houses and gardens of what is now Westbourne Park Villas. Thomas Hardy lived in this area, mainly at no 16 Westbourne Park Villas, which was his home 1863-67.

Also north of what is now Westbourne Grove was Westbourne Farm which was the home, between 1815 - 1817, of the actress Sarah Siddons, who lived there with her daughter. The Farm was at the point where the Harrow Road, the Westway and the canal converge. Mrs Siddons was buried at St Mary's Church, the main church of Paddington, on Paddington Green, where her grave can still be seen.

Though now popular and expensive for home-buyers, much of the area become run-down in the 1950s when it was the centre of the activities of Peter Rachman, the notorious slum-landlord after whom the phrase "Rachmanism" was coined. He was known for his violent evictions of tenants with legally-fixed rents. He replaced them, in what became overcrowded multi-occupied housing, with people, mainly recent migrants from the West Indies, who, because of discrimination and council tenant restrictions, could not find accommodation. He operated from an office in Westbourne Grove. Part of the area, including streets between Ledbury Rd & Shrewsbury Road to the south of Westbourne Park Road, became derelict and was consequently compulsory purchased and demolished.

Notting Hill Post Office, on Westbourne Grove, finally closed in a storm of controversy during early 2005. However, the Royal Mail retained its sorting office on the site.

An Overview of Renting Residential Property

Click here for our latest property lettings list, or click here to subscribe to receive automatic emails of properties to rent that may match your requirements.

Residential property ownership is the biggest capital outlay most people ever make. For people who have made this commitment and find themselves, for numerous reasons, in a position where their property is vacant for a period of time, or who have residential property and wish to have an income from it, then letting out their property can be, if managed correctly, a very useful source of income.

Our Renting Service

We aim to make sure that residential property letting maximises benefits to both parties in a worry free relationship.

As an independent lettings agency we can provide the type of personal service that this warrants.

We treat every property as if it were our own home, by amongst many other things:

• Matching suitable properties to tenants and vice-versa.

• Manoeuvre through complex legislation affecting property renting and letting.

• Deal immediately with any unforeseeable events which always occur - before, during and after occupation.

• Make regular visits to check on the state of the rental property.

• Negotiate terms of tenancy, ensuring any special requirements (e.g. pets) are agreed by all parties prior to rental contracts being signed

Above all, our rentals service is based around one principle:-

"We treat our tenants as if it were we ourselves renting a home, and our properties as if they were our own home"

Renting guide FAQ

What do I need to budget for apart from rent?

You'll probably need a deposit of between 4-6 weeks rent. You may also be asked to give a holding deposit once you confirm your wish to rent a certain property. This would normally be deducted from the first rental payment. You may also have to pay an administration charge.

Who pays for utilities - is it included in the rent?

Normally the tenant takes over the utilities on moving into the property. The only exception to this the water. Unless it metered a lot of letting agents advise their landlord clients to pay for this.

Who should fix items that need repairing in the property?

The landlord should fix any appliances that need repairing. However tenants are responsible for breakages. A tenant should report repairs as soon as they become aware

What privacy will I get?

No. Your privacy is respected. If you rent through an agent it is not usual that either the landlord or letting agent will try to gain access to the property outside pre agreed times. For example, the agent will want to inspect the property at least 2 times during the tenancy. They should give you reasonable notice of this. This area is normally covered in the tenancy agreement signed by you and agent.

Does it matter which letting agent I rent through?

Yes and no. To ensure you receive a professional service its best to choose an agent who is a member of ARLA. They ensure that the let is handled properly. An ARLA agent works to professional standards that work well for both landlord and tenant. For example, the tenant renting by an ARLA agent can expect that the landlord carry out safety checks e.g. gas, electricity etc. The correct tenancy agreement will be used, ensuring that responsibilities are clearly set down and privacy of the tenant is adequate. An ARLA agent will also have proper procedures for reporting and dealing with repairs.

How long is a let?

Most lets are for 12 months. However some letting agents are now offering shorter periods of between 6 and 3 months. Shorter lets are harder to find.

If I want to leave can I give notice at any time during the tenancy?

If you give notice earlier you'll be liable to pay the rent until the end of the tenancy. However, when drawing up agreements you could negotiate a break clause entitling you to give notice after 6 months. This would mean you'd be liable for the rent for the notice period of 2 months - releasing you from the remaining 4 months on a 12 month tenancy.

Can I stop paying rent if the landlord does not carry out repairs needed?

This is a dangerous tactic because you would be in breach of the tenancy agreement and the landlord could take you to court. However, it would be worth taking advice if an important repair needed such as a broken shower or washing machine is not dealt with. A tenant should not stop paying the rent they are satisfied that it is due to the landlord and not delay on the part of the agent or contractors. Some agents ask for repairs to be reported in writing - this avoids ambiguity.

When do I get my deposit back?

Usually after the property has been inspected at the end of the tenancy. If there are any damages the tenant and landlord will have to agree what sum is deductible. There is no set law on when deposits have to be returned. We encourage landlords to make the process as fair as possible by having a professional inventory carried out by us. A report is prepared at the beginning of the tenancy recording the condition of the property interior, and then again at the end of the tenancy.

What type of agreement is used? Can I add things I want agreed?

An assured shorthold tenancy is used for a 6 to 12 month let. This is normally a standard contract between landlord and tenant. If you agree that landlord will provide extras such as furnishings like a bed you should ask that a rider be attached to the agreement to this effect. The landlord is not obliged to carry out promises so the rider is advisable.

Who do I deal with - the letting agent or landlord?

The letting agent will deal with the property viewings, references, agreements and getting you moved in. From that point on contact depends on whether the landlord pays ffields to manage their property. If the property is managed you will normally report any repairs or queries to ffields - otherwise you will deal with the landlord direct.

Renting Property In Pimlico, Victoria, Westminster, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

For background information to help you make the right property rental decisions please follow the links below

Services for renting and letting property, property management and property investments

Houses, flats, studios and apartments to rent in Pimlico, Victoria, Westminster, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

Click here to search houses, flats, apartments and studios in Pimlico / renting a property in Pimlico / our property rental service

Flat hunting basics / determine accommodation needs / inspect property / tenancy agreement questions

Rent / deposits / references / timescales

Tenants rental obligations / rental rights

Rental insurance / building contents insurance

Tenants questions

• Tenant registration form

Property Rentals in Pimlico, Victoria, Westminster,

Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

Flat hunting basics

Determine accommodation needs

To plan your personal finance - the first question is with expert help to work out how much you can afford.

Searching for property can be daunting, so why not use our interactive agent to keep you up to date with changes in the market and fresh properties coming to the market.

Once you have found a property you may need help in agreeing all the terms to secure the deal. There may be a chain involved, or survey difficulties. We are there to help you through this stage. Liaison with your legal adviser will also be crucial.

Houses, flats, studios and apartments to let and rent in Pimlico, Victoria, Westminster, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Belgravia

Block Management

Commercial

News

Energy Performance Certificates EPC

T: +44 (0)20 7978 0144

F: +44 (0)20 7978 0134