Property News: The Happiest Borough in London 2022

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Happy at Home Index crowns Richmond the happiest borough in London

For the eighth year in a row, Richmond upon Thames has been crowned London's happiest neighbourhood.

The borough of south-west London is well-known for its parks and gardens, including the 2,500-acre Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, riverside bars, and the 82,000-seat Twickenham Stadium.

It has long been regarded as one of London's most desirable neighbourhoods to live in, topping Rightmove's annual Happy at Home Index for the past eight years. Fans include celebrities like Holly Willoughby, Sir David Attenborough, and Tom Hardy.

The yearly Happy at Home Index examines how elements like a sense of community and access to open space affect overall happiness.

Green homes could earn landlords a 13% rental premium

Property investors are increasingly finding that ‘green homes’ and new-builds are worth the initial outlay as tenants are willing to pay more to live in them.

Green homes, including both renovated or retrofitted properties and energy efficient new-builds, are increasing in popularity among not just buyers, but for private rented sector tenants looking for more from their homes.

The majority of new-build properties being constructed are of a superior standard when it comes to their energy efficiency and energy performance certificate (EPC) ratings. While this can come with a greater price tag for the buyer, it seems the cost pays off in the long run.

According to new Legal & General study, renters are willing to pay an extra 13% on average for the privilege of residing in a low-carbon, environmentally friendly property. Meanwhile, potential purchasers stated that they would be content to pay an extra 10.5% to guarantee they were making an investment in a property that was energy efficient.

Michael Gove to reduce his promise of 300,000 homes

Following a Tory rebellion, housing secretary Michael Gove plans to scale back the government's objective of building 300,000 new houses annually.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which would have made the target of 300,000 mandatory, was up for a vote in the House of Commons on November 22, but it was put on hold when nearly 60 MPs signed an amendment opposing it.

According to a report by The Telegraph, Gove claimed the target will instead become "advisory" and that it will be "a starting point, a guide that is not mandatory." Gove wrote to a number of rebel Tory MPs yesterday saying he has now offered councils more flexibility in the number of homes they build.

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