How To Acquire The Finest Property in Knightsbridge:

If you are planning to acquire a property in Knightsbridge, you have one goal: to acquire the best property available within your requirements on the best terms possible. You will also want to achieve this with the minimum of wasted time and hassle.

Unfortunately this is easier said than done. Many of the properties are on short leases. Most buyers still think these are bad purchases or refuse to consider short leases because they do not understand the legal or valuation process.

However, by discounting properties on short or mid-term leases you are immediately handicapping yourself in the quest to find the best property available.

Changes to the leasehold reform act have made it much easier for leaseholders to extend or enfranchise their leases. Unfortunately, the cost to extend or enfranchise depends on a number of various factors including the length of the lease, ground rent & the estimated value of the building if it was already freehold or held on a long lease. This is an immensely complex subject, which unfortunately cannot be covered here.

Therefore it is essential that you are represented by a good solicitor and surveyor, who understand the intricacies of the short leases. If you have a team who can advise you, then the complexities of the subject should not be unduly frightening for you.

Of course the other major issue is how to find the ideal property - There are numerous estate agents who cover the area, many of whom are not even based in Knightsbridge. You must register with all of them to ensure that you do not suffer the frustration of discovering your ideal home has been sold before you even knew it was available.

(There is a way to have the finest properties including off market” properties presented to you. You will not have to waste huge amounts of time regularly contacting estate agents and viewing unsuitable properties, but I will come to that later.)

A Selection Of Estate Agents Who Sell Property In Knightsbridge

Hobart Slater	Savills
Marler & Marler	Knight Frank
Strutt & Parker	Hamptons
WA Ellis	Fine & Country
Harrods Estates	Sotheby’s Real Estate
Beauchamp Estates	Plaza Estates
Winkworth	King Sturge
Henry & James	Curzon Estates
Kaye & Carey	Waterbridge Estates
Iles Property	Chesterton
Foxtons

(This is not a complete list, but if you contact all these agents regularly then you will be two or three steps ahead of most other buyers with similar requirements to you.)

If you are unfamiliar with Knightsbridge, I have listed a few of the better buildings and addresses to help save you time.

THE MOST EXCLUSIVE ADDRESSES IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE:

The Knightsbridge Apartments, 199 Knightsbridge – Arguably London’s finest residential building. It contains a wide range of apartments from studios to huge penthouses. There are over 100 apartments in the building (the exact number changes as some occupants have bought neighbouring apartments and incorporated them into one large apartment). It has all the facilities one would expect: Hyatt Trained Concierge Service, 24 Hour Security, Valet Parking, Spa, Swimming Pool, Meeting Rooms, Secure Underground Parking & Storage Facility. Embarrassingly it is the only building in prime central London to provide all these facilities – hence its popularity.

1 Hyde Park – Currently under construction, but being marketed as the number one residential development in London, if not the world. Time will tell.

Lowndes Square – One of Knightsbridge’s most famous addresses. The garden square is surrounded by huge 1930’s mansion blocks and a few 19th Century buildings too. The latter have fantastic ceiling heights on the raised ground and first floors. Some occupants have acquired apartments on the same floor over two buildings and have converted them into glorious lateral spaces. The larger apartments are over 6500 sq.ft. (618 sq.m.)

Hans Place – Situated behind Harrods, this popular garden square consists predominantly of Edwardian mansion blocks. Many of the apartments are currently on 40 year leases but these can be extended once the qualifying criteria have been fulfilled.

Egerton Crescent – This stucco-fronted terrace of houses is regarded as one of the finest streets in Knightsbridge. They are typically c. 3500 sq.ft. with a couple of the larger houses being over 4000 sq.ft. One of the main attractions is that these houses have the largest gardens in Knightsbridge.

Of course there are numerous other streets like Ennismore Gardens, Montpelier Square & Trevor Square that I have not mentioned. I would have to write an entire book or website to fully cover the wide variety of property in Knightsbridge alone.

Needless to say, if you want to find the finest properties in Knightsbridge you will need to carry out extensive research, be able to accurately value property and be a good negotiator.

However, you may feel that:

• You are too busy to focus on finding a home.
• You don't have time to waste speaking to estate agents & viewing unsuitable properties.
• You don't have an in-depth knowledge of the prime central London market.
• You want to avoid unnecessary stress and frustration.
• You want first refusal on the best opportunities.
• You won't be able to source exclusive "off-market" properties.
• You don't want to suffer the frustration of discovering homes have been sold before you have even been informed of their availability.
• You need access to accurate information so that you can make an informed decision.
• You feel uncomfortable negotiating.
• You are unhappy with the level of service provided by the estate agents as they represent the sellers and you are not their priority.
• You require confidentiality or even anonymity.

If you agree with any of the above statements you may like to consider applying for membership to our club. We represent a select list of members who want the entire process of buying a home handled for them, so that they can focus on what is important to them.

I am so confident in the service we provide that I insist that all new members are covered by the Mercury Guarantee:

“If you are not entirely happy with your membership within the first month, we will refund your membership fee immediately (no small print or caveats).”

If you would like to register your interest in applying for membership please call +44 (0) 800 389 4280 or fill in the form below and we will contact you. Your details are held in the strictest confidence and will never be passed to a third party.

Please note that you may not be eligible for membership. We only ever act for a select list of members at any one time & no two members may have the same property criteria.