£250 million Russian Investment in London Property

The Russian Billionaire Andrey Goncharenko is now reported to have invested a total of £250 million in London having now bought up a total of four luxurious properties. Goncharenko is apparently well known for excess and therefore, it is of no surprise that his purchases include Britain's most expensive home – the Hanover Lodge in exclusive Regent's Park. 

Hanover Lodge was previously owned by conservative peer Lord Bagri who had purchased the property in 1994 for £5.9 million. He then refurbished the grade-II listed building to glamourous standards. It is said that Goncharenko now plans to spend a further £1.2 million with even more renovation works to the 33,000 sq ft home.

Goncharenko's other properties are 50 St James Street, Mayfair, which sold for £70million; a mansion in Lyndhurst Road, Hampstead, sold for £41million; and 102 Eaton Square in Belgravia, sold for £15million.

This year has seen even more Russian investment in the UK than ever before. It is thought that continued unrest in Russia is encouraging those to set-up homes across the country and, in particular, in London. Jones Lang La Salle estimated that Russian money accounts for 7pc of all property, both old and new, worth more than £1m in the capital’s core. The short 4 hour transit by aeroplane makes it an appealing prospect for those seeking more stable bricks and mortar investments. 

“London is seen as liquid,” said Tom Mundy, head of research Russia at JLLS. “It’s easy to buy, easy to sell and it has a depth of stock not available in Moscow. Pricing is not dissimilar and the pound is relatively strong compared to the rouble.” [source]

Foreign investment stimulating the London new-build property market also take the form of Middle Eastern , African and Eastern European investment.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2690093/Revealed-Billionaire-party-animal-s-snapped-Britain-s-expensive-house-120m-London.html#ixzz3GgJ1znCP

Dawson & Associates are able to advise on your international property investment with full property consultation bred from over 40 years of professional practice. We can provide thorough and accurate Building Surveys, Party Wall Awards, Property Design, Construction Management & Legal Services for your property in the UK. Be asured that a team of professional are providing the best possible results from your UK property investment/portfolio. Contact us now for more info.

Which UK Town Council do you Want?

Whilst most of the town council's work is made mandatory by the government, they are generally self-organised. Therefore, there are variables between the practices of one town council and another. Obviously the needs or desires of one town resident and another differs greatly but, it seems, there are definite bonuses to living in certain areas of the UK.

The truth is that town councils actually have access to huge amounts of money and the Telegraph has recently applauded certain districts where those budgets have been put to extremely good use. Those mentioned were as wide-reaching as Norfolk, Uttlesford in Essex, Flyde in Lancashire, Royal Borough of Kensington in Chelsea and Wiltshire. Their accolades include maintaining tax rates whilst drastically improving local services, sustaining award-winning cleanliness and encouraging healthier lifestyles.

Telegraph's acclaimed Norfolk Town Council

But what power does a town council actually have? Well, they make key decisions for issues such as:

• Education
• Transport
• Town planning
• Fire & public safety
• Social care
• Libraries
• Waste Management

Plus deciding upon other discretionary services such as regeneration projects.
It is these discretionary tasks that test the vision of each council. It is a matter of priorities for those decision-makers as well as the demands of the citizens themselves.

Obviously these types of decisions will often vastly affect UK property prices and the lifestyle of those who have invested in that area. Dawson & Associates has seen the progression of cities, towns and villages all over England within the last 40 years of professional practice and it is easy to spot which development plans and initiatives will be beneficial for those based in the area. 

For more information on potential property investment projects across the UK, please feel free to call Dawson & Associates. Not only are we able to assist with property surveys but we can also advise on planning applications and help to liaise with the local town hall.

UK Property Market Still Bubbling...

... but beware, there are signs of calmer waters ahead...

June 2014 reports showed that UK property prices were still on the rise. And hope for a full economic recovery abounds after so many were wounded in the 2008 crash. But experts warn that growth will now begin to slow. 

Those who were fortunate enough to sell a property in June 2013, were likely to have received substantially more than they would have done 12 month before. First-time buyers were hit by a 12% increase on their investment with the average investment rising to £204,000. But, statistics for July and August told a different story with asking prices dropping (source: Rightmove).

Advice from Dawson & Associates is the same as it has always been. Never rush into a property purchase decision and ALWAYS take advice from a professional. The markets show fluctuating (and to some extent unfathomable) prices that are literally changing on a month-by-month basis. Back in February Ha-Joon Chang warned, "This is no recovery, this is a bubble – and it will burst" but those who have been lucky enough to sell over subsequent months have profited well, so there has indeed been reason for celebration. 

It should also be well considered that prices throughout the UK vary wildly so a rule for South-East investments does not work so well in the North. Rather, as Dawson has always advised, the single most valuable piece of advice is to judge each property investment on its independent merits. Sometimes the best investments can actually be made during the crisis not during the booms nor bubbles. 

With over 40 years of experience in the UK property industry we have seen every type of price increase and decrease. And we have seen property investments go very wrong even during the most palatable circumstances. For this reason, we offer initial advice for free. 

Please contact us to discuss your unique property investment opportunity 0044 1424 882263
Should your investment be worthy of further investigation, we are able to offer Building Surveys (& Listed Building Surveys), Homebuyers Reports and Valuations across the UK. 

PLEASE TAKE HONEST, PROFESSIONAL ADVICE PRIOR TO PURCHASING YOUR PROPERTY. 
www.dawsonsurveyors.com