Home Renovation Series: Updating A Buy-To-Let Flat in Camden, North London
Sometimes, a full home renovation is the only solution for those who want to completely reimagine their living space from top to bottom – and this is exactly what our client in Camden was looking for. They enquired with us in regards to a property that they owned, as their plan was to let it out to tenants. As they currently live overseas, they were facing the task of finding the right, UK-based contractors for the project; they needed dependable providers that could keep them informed, and bring their vision for the property to life.
We’re going to take you through the stages of this full internal refurbishment over the course of this blog series, starting with our initial brief, and guiding you through our approach to different spaces within this beautiful home.
The property: conservation area challenges
The home is located within the Dartmouth Park conservation area; and while it isn’t a listed building, it adjoins a Grade II listed multi-occupancy terraced property.
The home is laid out over four storeys: a lower ground floor (also referred to as a ‘garden floor’) , a raised ground floor, a first floor, and a second floor. It is located within a popular residential area, and many of the surrounding four-storey Victorian properties have a similar layout.
The initial brief & client requirements
Our client’s main motivator for contacting us was that they were planning to start letting out a property that they owned in London, while they themselves were living overseas. They had lived in the spacious 2-bedroom flat in Camden before relocating, but they felt that it was time to let the property out to new tenants, rather than it sitting vacant.
Through an initial design consultation, our clients main requirements quickly turned into a full home renovation. While their objectives didn’t warrant making any kind of serious structural changes, the updates that they wanted to see spanned across the whole home, ranging from new installations to decor overhauls. This meant that our team would need to create a concept design for the entire space, including the living room, kitchen, main corridor, bathroom, and both bedrooms.
What we proposed
We translated some of the main requirements of the project into key design pillars:
Expand the current access panel
The flat had a small loft space that wasn’t serving much value as any kind of living or storage space, and one of our first challenges was to change this. While the dimensions of the lost space weren’t compatible with a loft conversion, the area could definitely become used for storage. Our plan involved creating a larger access panel, complete with an integrated ladder, giving our client/future tenants easy access to a practical storage space.
Updating key fixtures & doors
Most of the doors in the home were outdated, and did not meet either our clients style preferences, or any kind of efficiency standards. This was a simple but effective change to make, and we outlined different options for the current store room and main door,
Revising the current flooring layout
Across the property, our clients had opted for various flooring styles, but this made some of the spaces feel slightly outdated and gave the space an overall lack of coherence. One of our interior design focuses would be to revise the current flooring choices, suggesting new material alternatives that would better suit each space.
Modernising electrical and plumbing systems
The property was running on rather outdated electrical and plumbing systems, so overall efficiency was being hindered. Our clients knew that these updates were necessary, as in the long-run they’d help to keep running costs of the house down. Our tradespeople suggested a full rewire and removal and update of key plumbing fixtures. Naturally, the bathroom and kitchen would be two of our priority rooms in this regard.
Why consider renovating a buy-to-let property in London?
As a capital city, London has a huge property rental market, with no shortage of prospective tenants looking for a place to call home. Whether you’re in a similar position to our clients and have a property that you don’t live in, or if you’re considering buying a property for the purpose of renting it out, a carefully thought out renovation could be the key to making the most from the space you have. Here are a few reasons why renovating a buy-to-let is a smart move, especially in London:
Boosted property value
One of the most tangible benefits of a property renovation is the fact that it can lead to a higher rental yield. Making tasteful aesthetic updates, carrying out a structural reconfiguration, or simply updating key operating systems such as plumbing and electrics will all contribute towards achieving a higher monthly rental fee.
Appeal to longer term tenants
Tenants for rental properties are often only looking for convenience, but when you carry out a strategic renovation, you can gear their thinking more towards long-term living and quality. This means that your fully renovated property can appeal to tenants who want to agree to longer term rentals contracts, giving you peace of mind.
Stand out in a competitive rental market
London attracts countless people moving into the city for work, but with such a consistent influx, it often creates high competition for properties on the rental market. In order to be in the shortlist of a prospective tenant, your space will need to meet their expectations in terms of practicality, style, and comfort – and this can all be sought out through a renovation.
Follow the progress of this project with We Love Build
This is the starting point of the journey we’re on with our client in Camden, and we’re bringing you along with us. Next, we’ll be sharing our concept design plan and client requirements for the living room, so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, get inspired with some of our latest residential home renovation projects in London, from an earthy kitchen revamp in Kentish Town, to the open, airy rear extension we built on De Beauvoir Road. To arrange your free design consultation, simply contact us today and a member of our team will be in touch.
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