The Government’s Decree That Completions Of Residential Properties Should Be Postponed And Viewings Of Properties By Applicants Banned

The devastating effects of this planetary curse – Covid-19 – are yet to be fully accounted for. One should never underestimate the devastation and sadness that this epidemiological problem has caused, in most nations of the world.

Therefore it is understandable that the government wants the ‘shutdown’ of movement between citizens, to lessen the surge on the finite NHS resources, which at present are creaking under strain. Continue reading

Virus invokes a surge of super-mansion enquiries to help last the incarceration of families

We are all concerned about the severity of this epidemiological virus. It is also allowing us a moment to reflect on the value of life and how lucky we are to have good health and to be able to live in this wonderful liberal society that the UK represents for its people.

Families are understandably becoming so worried about keeping safe from this omnipresent scourge, that at Glentree, we are processing three rental enquiries for people to sit out the storm, be this 3 or 6 months, and are looking for a fully-kitted mansion for this purpose.

The requirements are the usual array of grand reception rooms and enough entertainment areas to keep the whole family (from grandchildren to great-grandmas) from murdering each other, or rather, in good health and spirit for the viral incarceration, however long that may be.

The desirable residence will function as a self-contained, private bijou hotel with comparable wellness leisure complex. Essential requirements include a pool/leisure area and when you’ve finished playing with the ‘toys’, you can go out and enjoy the generous garden.

Every member of the family will want a bedroom suite and access to the luxurious features, including:
• Cinema
• Indoor pool
• Jacuzzi
• Sauna
• Steam room
• Massage room
• Hairdressing salon
• Wine cellar
• Cigar smoking room
• Art gallery
• Games room
• Fully fitted, state-of-the-art gym.

This is not forgetting an imposing entrance hall, with a triple-story, galleried landing, adorned with the appropriate Italian Murano glass chandelier. Needless to say, the tenants will expect, as standard, a fully-fitted European kitchen, separate catering facilities for parties, and a 15-car garage to show off your stable of classic automobilia, which is a must-have in today’s upper-end residential world.

Grand staircases like Topol’s

These mansions are defined by their grand staircases- overtures of Topol’s wonderful tenor voice in Fiddler on the Roof, “There would be one long staircase just going up, and one even longer coming down, and one more leading nowhere, just for show.”

On top of the list of cherished leafy residential areas are Kenwood and Hampstead. One of their great charms is being nestled between the two medieval villages of Hampstead and Highgate, with two golf courses and 900acres of ancient heathland, within walking distance.

It’s an ideal haven to maintain one’s mental and physical equilibrium, with plenty of room to uphold Boris’s 2m social distancing rule.

Hampstead, place of choice

Since time immemorial, Hampstead has been the place of choice for the landed gentry, away from the stench and Bubonic Plague (known as The Black Death) of the City of London. Horse and carriages used to trundle along the stony paths, trying to get to the famous watering holes of the Spaniards Inn and The Flask. Invariably, the legendary highwayman, Dick Turpin, was waiting in hiding for his prey and evidence can be found of his pistol and gunshot which now bedeck the walls of these historic drinking places.

Finally, if escape in the form of international travel calls – ban permitting – a private airport is a mere bagatelle at half an hour’s journey.

These uber-mansions give one the opportunity to “prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.”

If you want to live somewhere with character and charm, look no further than Hampstead. We have everything you need right here – whether it be a flat or house for sale or rent, we have something perfect for everyone! Visit our website today so we can help you find your dream home in Hampstead!

Budget 2020: Conspicuously absent of any reforms on the parlous SDLT escalator, apart from a much unneeded surcharge for foreign buyers

Here was a golden opportunity missed by the new Chancellor, to get the Residential Property Market off its knees, by reviewing the Stamp Duty Escalator, imposed by former Chancellor Osborne, in 2014.

According to the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility), Osborne claimed that the Stamp Duty Receipts in 2014 i.e. £14.5billion would, as a result of his reforms, be £19.5billion in 2020, but instead, turned out to be a paltry £12.5billion.

In effect, that these measures cost the Treasury £1billion in lost tax and was an eye watering 50% prediction error, which is an unacceptable overstatement. Continue reading