“DITCH the DEFECTIVE HIP” Lurot Brand’S M.D
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mewsnews 10 v2.qxd 9/3/06 8:23 Page 3 Published by News and snippets from Lurot Brand and the mews of London Issue No. 10 - March 2006 “DITCH THE DEFECTIVE HIP” Lurot Brand’s M.D. leads industry call to Minister Many readers will know that Lurot Brand’s managing director, Nick Salmon, heads a property industry lobby group of over 500 firms, representing some 1,700 offices, campaigning against the introduction of compulsory Home Information Packs (HIPs) from June 2007. The government says the HIP will make the home buying process faster and more transparent when the seller of a property has to have legal documentation including title deeds, searches, lease details and a mini-survey with an energy efficiency report, in place at the moment the property comes on the market. In theory this is an excellent idea but as MEWS IN BLOOM 2006 with so many government schemes the practicality is lacking. Lurot Brand are again organising the highly popular 'Mews in Bloom' The SPLINTA (Sellers Pack Law is not the competition, to be judged by well known author and gardening expert, Candida Answer) campaign has been running since 2001 and Nick’s high profile in the world Lycett Green - pictured below with Lurot of estate agency has been well documented in the press. The group hit the Brand’s chairman,Antoine Lurot. headlines in the national media during early February when they wrote to the housing minister,Yvette Cooper, calling on her to drop the HIP. A press release issued at the same time resulted in Nick appearing on BBC television and radio and on Channel 4 news. He has also taken part in a recent ITN documentary on HIPs. The press release is on the inside page of this Mews News. THE STATE OF THE MEWS MARKET A BRAKE ON MOVING... Given the stock shortages it is inevitable that prices will edge upwards and as they do so the concept of ‘affordable housing’ Every mews street in Central London is The last quarter of 2005 saw the sales market bounce back up in the capital will recede still further into the distance. The automatically entered and during May as buyers suddenly decided it was time to get moving. In comfortably off may not be so concerned with such matters September the number of viewings accelerated and by and early June Lurot Brand's staff but one does wonder how key workers can possibly be October offers started flowing in. Just before Christmas, a housed in London unless shared ownership and social compile a list of the mews that they think local conveyancing solicitor was telling us that he was rushed housing schemes are accelerated. are the prettiest in terms of their trees, off his feet trying to get contracts exchanged before the shrubs, flowers, planters, tubs, window holidays began. This burst of activity made up for the Price movement is treated by the media as some sort of boxes and vegetation. In late June that stagnation that had haunted the market for most of the early barometer of the health of the housing market. Rising prices list is whittled down to a shortlist which part of the year. are considered A Good Thing; falling prices are A Bad Thing. is visited by the judge who decides the What a nonsensical attitude! If the price of a litre of petrol winner. The result of efforts made and We never know quite what to expect in a January but we were climbs a few pence the media scream blue murder.Why then evidence of all the owners in the street pleasantly surprised when activity began on the first day back do they apparently welcome house price inflation? pulling together are big factors in and has continued unabated. However, the stock of property determining the victor - the name of their for sale has been steadily reducing and that is a cause for Perhaps it is because we have a developed a mindset that mews being inscribed on the magnificent, concern.The fact is that moving in the Central London area is treats property as a means of acquiring capital and forgets its solid silver, Lurot Brand armada plate. an expensive business. Changing property at a million pounds original purpose as a roof over our heads. That way of (and a large proportion of homes fall into that price range) thinking is a luxury that may not be ultimately sustainable in results in substantial bills. On top of removal costs, agent and this overcrowded island of ours. The government’s policy of In a change to the rules a winning mews solicitor fees, there is Stamp Duty to pay on the purchase.At encouraging massive building projects in the South-East is is automatically excluded from winning this price level it will be the best part of £40,000 - a huge tax supposed to alleviate the supply/demand imbalance, yet at the in the following year, so Albion Mews W2, on simply moving home. No wonder therefore that most same time they are demolishing row upon row of perfectly the winner in 2005 will not be triumphing people now stay put unless they really have to move. useable terraced houses in the North. One wonders why in 2006 despite its undoubted merits. No they do not put more effort into encouraging companies to doubt the runner-up in 2005, Elnathan Until fairly recently it was not uncommon for people to move move the jobs to where the affordable housing is already Mews W9,will be pulling out all the stops ‘across’ the market, selling and buying within a similar price available. to come first this year. range.They might be doing so because they want a change of style or location but, unlike those moving because of work or Prime Central London would be relatively unaffected by such Full details of the competition can be schools, the moving decision was based on want, not need. a policy. Our primacy in the financial markets and the cultural had from Lurot Brand on 020 7479 1999. Due to the high cost of moving it is those people who have draw of living in a capital city ensures that property in the largely disappeared and with them has gone a not insignifcant desirable parts of town will always be in demand and price proportion of housing stock turnover. levels will be sustained. www.lurotbrand.co.uk The only estate agency specialising in the sale and rental of mews properties. mewsnews 10 v2.qxd 9/3/06 8:22 Page 1 1. In which SW10 mews did Agatha Christie live? MEWS QUIZ 2. How did Archery Close in W2 get its name? 3.Which famous public house, reputed to be haunted by an officer of the Duke of Wellington regiment, is in Wilton Row SW1? According to the Victorian,History of the Counties of England, it was not 4.Which lush and verdant mews on the Hyde Park Estate was winner of the 2005 Lurot Brand Mews In Bloom competition? until the 1930s that the mews alleys 5. Name one of the two mews in London that still has working stables. The Royal Mews doesn't count! of London (as mews were then 6.Which South Kensington mews is believed to have inspired Agatha Christie’s 1937 novel ‘Murder In The Mews’? known) started to be converted into studios for “well-to-do people who 7.Which ‘discreet’ Marylebone mews played host to British War Minister John Profumo’s trysts with Christine Keeler? have a fancy for living in queer 8. In the 1989 film adaptation of the Profumo affair,‘Scandal’, which Hyde Park Estate mews played the backdrop for Dr. Stephen Ward’s places”. How times have changed! mews flat (which in reality was not in this mews at all)? We thought it would be fun for you 9. Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan said about the scandal "I was determined that no British government should be brought down by the to test your mews knowledge. action of two tarts." In which London mews did Macmillan live? 10. John Hurt starred in the film,‘Rillington Place’ in 1971.Whose infamous crimes were carried out in this Ladbroke Grove mews? Either post or email your answers (giving your name, address and 11.What was Rillington Place W11 subsequently renamed in 1954 and demolished in 1971? telephone number) to us by March 12. In which 'SW' cobbled mews could you admire classic motors from ‘The Queen's Head’? 31st 2006, and the first correct set of answers out of the hat will win a pair 13.Which Knightsbridge mews played the scenic backdrop for the 1980's VW car advertisement starring model Paula Hamilton? of our splendid new brollies. Perfect 14.Which Mayfair mews was known as Street's Mews until 1938, then King's Mews until finally being given its current name in 1951? for those April showers. 15.Which Rolling Stone once lived in Bryanston Mews East in Marylebone in the swinging 60s? The judges’ decision is final. 16. In these days of Tesco and Sainsburys on practically every corner, in which Belgravia cul-de-sac mews would you still find a general store? Email: [email protected] 17.Which postcode would you be in if you found Cleveland Mews? Post: Quiz, Lurot Brand, 37-41 Sussex 18.Which celebrated Georgian architect designed the now demolished Carlton Mews in St. James's as well as numerous mews, notably behind the terraces in Regent's Park? Place, London W2 2TH. 19.From where does the term 'mews' originate? MAIDA VALE MEDLEY Our recent marketing drive in the area has been very successful and on our travels we have snapped some of the local shops, restaurants and sights in this vibrant locality.