Straight from East London.

Calling all foodies, property enthusiasts and urban adventurers! We’ve got such a treat in store for you with this weeks’ episode of the Insider. So get ready to tantalise those taste buds and prep for those property viewings, as we take you on an exciting journey through the ever-thriving Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs area. It’s not just about the skyline here; there’s a lot more bubbling beneath the surface, so let’s go and explore!

A Flourishing Housing Market

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the property scene in Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, you might have noticed a positive trend. Over the past 2 years, the area has seen significant growth, thanks to factors such as new developments and a thriving local community.

This growth has not only attracted investors but also those seeking to make this dynamic area their home. With easy access to shopping, dining, and entertainment, it’s no wonder the residential market is abuzz.

The Cross-Rail Effect

Can we talk about convenience without mentioning the new Cross Rail tube line? Connecting Canary Wharf to the city has never been easier! This new addition has made commutes a breeze and guess what? It has had a positive impact on property values in the area too.

A Culinary Excursion

Who knew that a business district could be a gastronomic paradise? Canary Wharf is not just a hub for bankers and businesses; it has blossomed into a culinary haven with exciting new eateries that deserve a visit (or even two!). Whether you’re a sushi aficionado, an all-out meat feaster or have a penchant for Peruvian cuisine, the abundance of swanky new restaurants has something to suit every palate.

For a fusion of flavours that’ll make your taste buds dance, a must-visit restaurant is the incredible Blacklock on Frobisher Passage, E14. Serving up meaty treats such as lamb cutlets, sirloin steaks and smoked bacon chops, this magnificent venue offers a range of meaty delights that are guaranteed to make your heart sing.

Farmer J on Jubillee Place brings the countryside to the city. With “forkin’ good dishes”  such as Harissa Habibi, Tahini Cauli and Charred Flank Steak, you can guarantee mouth-watering, farm-to-table freshness. Looking for something a bit more laid back? Check out the new street food trucks in Canary Wharfs parks and squares. Haggis toasties (trust us, it’s a banger!) zingy tortilla wraps and Jamaican jerk chicken make casual dining an exotic experience.

Wood Wharf: The Future Is Here

Now, if you haven’t heard about the Wood Wharf development, you’re in for a treat. Under construction, as we speak, Wood Wharf is set to be a mixed-use development comprising offices, residential homes, and retail space. This development is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s about creating a vibrant community and adding a new dimension to Canary Wharf’s rich tapestry.

Let’s Talk About Your Next Move!

Whether you’re planning to indulge in culinary delights, invest in property, or simply want more info on the Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs area, the team at Keatons is here to guide you. We’ve got the inside scoop on everything from new restaurant openings to upcoming property opportunities, so stay tuned and contact the Keatons team today!

Discover the latest blog discussing the soaring rental prices in London, as tenants face record high costs for accommodations. Learn about the factors driving this trend and the intense competition among tenants. Find out why increasing the supply of rental properties is crucial to addressing the situation and creating a fairer rental market. Explore long-term strategies to tackle the housing shortage and promote affordable housing options. If you’re looking for a rental property or need assistance as a landlord, contact the Keatons team today at 020 8981 7788.

If you’re looking for a vibrant and diverse neighbourhood to call home, look no further than Forest Gate. Located in the East London borough of Newham, Forest Gate has quickly become a popular destination for young professionals commuting into the City, families looking for placement within “outstanding” OFSTED-rated schools and creatives seeking a lively, convenient […]

If you’re looking for an up-and-coming place to live in London, look no further than thebustling, vibrant streets of Deptford. Located in southeast London, Deptford has been quietly transforming into a modern and trendy neighbourhood that offers an exciting mix of culture, cuisine, and community. In this blog, we’ll explore why Deptford is becominga top […]

There’s no getting around it, times are tough. There’s so much going on in the world at the moment and an increasing number of people across London are finding themselves in financial difficulties. Purse strings are tightening, which is having a huge impact on our Capitals’ children. For some kids, something as small as having […]

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the predicted trend of people heading to the suburbs once working from home became the ‘new normal, indeed, London is still the place to be. Office Occupancy As the UK’s capital city, London remains the centre of economic activity for the country. In May 2021, office occupancy surpassed 50% […]

If you’re moving out of a property that you have been renting, it’s likely you’ve got a lengthy to-do list of tasks to complete before you hand the keys back.  If a deep clean isn’t on that list, it should be.  In this post we look at end of tenancy, how clean is clean? Why […]

It will normally be required where the HMO is at least three storeys high, where there are at least two distinct households living there, and in total there are five or more unrelated people living in the HMO building. In this post, we look at different types of HMO licenses.

The acquisition – Keatons acquire Royal Docks Estate Agents. The acquisition means that we now have a stronger presence in the Docklands area, a unique waterfront, and a growing home for business and culture in East London. This vast Royal Docks area in the borough of Newham is re-emerging as a commercial and cultural hub of […]

East London is a bustling area with plenty of things to see and do, making it no surprise that it’s a hugely popular place to live, particularly amongst young professionals.  It’s certainly a bustling area with plenty to see and do, and it is one of the most diverse, welcoming, and multicultural parts of London.  […]

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on 29th December 2020 implementing a third national lockdown from the beginning of last month, we wanted to let you know that we continue to remain open.  Here, we discuss how Keatons are adapting to COVID-19 and remaining open during these turbulent times.

2020 is a year that no one will forget in a hurry.  But how has a year that will definitely make the history books impacted the housing industry? In this post, we look at the London property market review 2020 and 2021 forecast. 2020 and the London Property Market ‘When the county initially went into […]

Under new legislation being brought forward, leaseholders will now have a new right to extend their lease for 990 years at zero ground rent. The government has described these measures as part of the biggest reforms to English property law for 40 years. In the post we examine, is it the end for the leasehold scandal? […]

‘Communication between landlord and tenant is key to sustaining tenancies where tenants are facing financial difficulties’ stated the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) in it’s newly published ‘Golden Rules’ on managing arrears and avoiding possession claims.  Such rules, the NRLA state, form a central part of measures announced by the Government to ensure courts can […]

As the clock counts down towards the end of the Brexit transition period, the property market is still adjusting to the impact of and the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Both hugely significant events in their own right, what will the impact of both be upon house prices?  In this post, we look at London house price forecast beyond coronavirus and Brexit.

The NRLA believes it’s time for Landlords to have their say on plans to introduce licensing schemes in a number of regions across the country.

Following Mr Sunak’s announcement on July 8 of the stamp duty ‘holiday’ for buyers in England and Northern Ireland, no stamp duty is payable on the first £500,000 of a property purchase.

So, the first-time buyer paying £450,000 for a London property will now pay no stamp duty at all.

On 8 July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the immediate introduction of a nine-month Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday for all property purchases under £500,000. An announcement that was warmly welcomed by the property industry.

As a result, buyers will pay no stamp duty on the first £500,000 when they move home. In England and Northern Ireland, nearly nine out of 10 people getting on or moving up the property ladder will pay no stamp duty at all. In this post, we answer the question many are asking, how will the stamp duty land tax holiday affect the prime Central London Market?

Wondering if Canary Wharf is right fit for you? A picturesque landmark on the London skyline, Canary Wharf is also one of the world’s leading financial centres. But aside from its nine-to-five business hustle and bustle, it’s also a great place to call home. Here are some reasons why.

Buying and selling property can take many twists and turns along the way. With both vendors and buyers constantly reinventing the game, one sharp move can cause a domino effect. While buyers and sellets have a wealth of strategies at their disposal, some recurring terms you may hear used by property specialists are gazumping and gazundering. While gazumping is detrimental to the buyer, gazundering leaves the seller in a less than desirable position.

If what you crave is the freedom of the great outdoors, these East London cycle routes offer a great way to spend the day, get some fresh air and see some of East London’s signature sights. Whether what you seek is a casual ride with a flask of tea and some sandwiches in your bag, or a pedal-to-the-metal cycle, we’ve researched the four best cycle routes in East London for your convenience.

Moving house is something virtually everyone will have done in their lifetime, with recent figures showing more than 850,000 residential property sales in England and Wales last year. It’s also possibly one of the most significant financial transactions you will ever make, so making sure you get – or pay – the right price for your property is key. Here are some useful tips on how to negotiate when buying or selling a house.

In spite of several significant tax changes in recent years, buying property to rent remains a popular investment, with the latest research indicating that there are now over 2.5 million buy-to-let landlords across the UK. Whether you’ve just made your first investment into buy-to-let property or are a experienced landlord, staying abreast of the changes every April can prove somewhat perilous. Here we take a look at the most up-to-date buy-to-let tax rules and how they may affect you.

Looking for the the best swimming pools in East London? Whether you’re a pro intent on honing your skills or a parent who wants to dip their toddlers’ toes in the world of swimming – there are plenty locations to choose from. Fortunately, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to compile a roster of the five finest swimming pools in East London – so you can save your energy for your front crawl instead.

Eager to find fun outdoor activities in London this August? You’re in the right place. Whether you want to do something by yourself, with your friends or the kids, we’ve made the research easy for you and boiled it down to a list of the top outdoor things to do in London this summer.

While the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 came into effect on 20th March 2019 for all new tenancies, landlords of any pre-existing periodic tenancies have been given twelve months’ notice from this date to comply with the new legislation. As time is of the essence, we’ve compiled a guide with everything about the Act and its regulations you need to aware of before March 2020.

Instagram can serve as a great source of inspiration for the home and garden – but sometimes finding the best Instagram accounts to follow can be a bit daunting. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you. Whether you want to see are artful shots by seasoned gardeners or more down-to-earth posts by passionate hobbyists, we’re confident you’ll find something to whet your appetite for gardening here. Here are the 10 best Instagram accounts to follow for gardeners.

Want to improve your EPC rating and wondering how? In 2018 EPC regulations have changed, requiring that rental properties meet a certain standard of energy efficiency. More on the changes and how to improve your EPC rating below.

Landlords are currently able to regain a property without specifying a reason on grounds of a Section 21 eviction notice. In April the Government announced plans for this to change.

DIY garden landscaping is a superb way to make the garden of your dreams at a fraction of the cost of a professionally-landscaped space. Apart from providing a tranquil outdoor hideaway for you to enjoy, landscaping your garden can increase the value of home. Here are our top five DIY garden landscaping tips to assist you in creating your perfect outdoor space.

Wondering where the best student areas in London are? London is a great city to study in, with 40 universities and a student population of about 400,000. However, its massive size can also make deciding where to live quite a challenge. Luckily for you, we’ve already done the hard work in your stead. Here’s our choice of the three best student areas in London.

With the days getting longer and the weather growing warmer, summer has finally come! It’s time to get your sunscreen and walking shoes and set out to explore East London’s hidden gems. We’ve put together a list of the best summer walks that bring to light some of East London’s beautiful vistas and historical landmarks.

Wondering how to do your bit for the environment? You can start by making your home more eco-friendly. Nowadays when global warming, air pollution and rising sea levels are headline news, being environmentally conscious is more crucial than ever before. So we’ve put together some tips to make your home eco-friendly. And should the moral benefits of saving the environment not be enough motivation, several of these tips will actually save you money – every little bit helps!

Letting tenants keep pets has become a point of contention for landlords who’d rather avoid the additional wear and tear, as well as upsetting the neighbours. But since an estimated 78% of pet owners report having difficulty finding properties that allow their fluffy friends, there are several benefits to permitting pets. This includes more satisfied tenants, longer leases, and higher revenue due to fewer renting gaps and being able to charge higher rent. So with 46% of UK renters owning pets, can one afford to simply exclude nearly half the market? Here’s a list of things to consider before saying yes to pets.

A question we often get is what the best place for first-time buyers in London is and what immediately springs to mind is one up-and-coming area in East London. It’s not surprising that young professionals and families alike have been drawn in droves to the exciting and diverse postcode of E17. So what are the advantages of buying in Walthamstow?

It’s common knowledge that student tenants get a bad rap. Loud parties, destroyed furniture, week-old pizza boxes… complaints abound. So much so that reportedly seven out of 10 landlords won’t rent to students fearing property damage. But by shunning student rentals most landlords are losing out on a lucrative market. Buy-to-let properties in academic towns are said to have some of the highest yields in the country, making for a reliable revenue year in and year out. Moreover, students will often agree on a tenancy up to six months in advance, thus reducing the risk of void periods. Ready to get to grips with the student rental market? Here are some tips to get you started…

If you’re considering selling your property, you will certainly be looking for ways to increase the asking price. But before embarking on costly and time consuming renovation projects, here are some simple steps that can increase the value of your home.

Imagine walking into your home after a long day of work. You greet your house like an old friend, remove your shoes, place them on the rack and empty your belongings onto a perfectly-sized tray in the hall. You glide into the kitchen with nothing on the worktop but a kettle and make yourself a nice cup of herbal tea. Sounds like a dream? Not if you’ve followed the instructions of Marie Kondo, the tidying guru!

It would be nice if we all had Mastechef-sized kitchens but in actuality we often have to make do with more cramped quarters when preparing, cooking and eat our food. No worries though, you don’t actually need a lot of space to cook up a feast. Small kitchens can still rank high on style and practicality. All that’s really required is some smart small kitchen ideas to maximize the usefulness of the space you have. Here are our top tiny kitchen tips to make your small kitchen look and feel bigger.

Just weeks until Britain officially exits the European Union, landlords all across England will be considering how Brexit will impact the right to rent. Since being implemented in 2016, right to rent legislation has meant that landlords in England are now legally required to make sure that prospective tenants have the legal right to live in their property – and they face hefty penalties should they fail to carry out their due dilligence. Due to the uncertainty over Brexit, its impact on right to rent regulations remains unclear, but we’ve compiled a list of what we know so far.

After a busy weekend, there’s no better way to relax on a lazy Sunday afternoon than a delicious roast dinner in one of the many Kentish Town pubs. With numerous eateries to choose from, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed, so we’ve put together a list detailing some among the most popular watering holes in the area to assist you in finding the best Sunday roast in Kentish Town.

For a homeowner, choosing the right type of flooring is a major investment. When replacing an old floor or considering a revamp, should you go for carpet or hardwood flooring?More often than not, the purpose of a room can help dictate the choice of flooring. For instance, kitchens will benefit from an easier to clean hard surface, while one has more options when it comes to the living or bedroom. In case you’re not sure whether to pick carpet or hardwood flooring, we’ve put together some pointers that should help you make your decision.

With the London property market being a tough one to predict even at the best of times, anticipating what the 2019 will look like is particularly difficult in this continuing period of political and economic turmoil. Brexit will certainly have a significant impact, but we don’t know how that will pan out until the UK officially leaves the EU. In spite of the political uncertainty, however, there are some forecasts to be made for the 2019 London property market.

There is nothing quite like decorating your house for the holidays. But this year, rather than reaching for the tinsel and glitter once again, why not choose some eco-friendly Christmas decorations instead? Although the shiny decorations and lavish shop displays are hard to ignore, there’s a lot that can be done to make one’s house beautiful, all the while doing your bit for the environment. We’ve pulled together a selection of our favourite reusable Christmas decoration ideas so you can feel good about the festivities.

Located right in the heart of East London, Bethnal Green has long kept its reputation as an affordable and exciting part of the city for first-time buyers. Macpherson Apartments, a new development of 14 luxury apartments in E2’s Heritage Quarter, is set to continue this trend. The new apartment building aims to carry on the work started by Annie Macpherson as far back as the 1860s. Read on to learn what makes this building so special.

The weather may be cold outside, but don’t let that put you off gardening. If you’re not sure what to plant in November, we’ve compiled a list to assist you with just that!

Decorating a rented property is likely to cause tensions between a landlord and tenant. Whereas some tenants desire to personalise their homes without losing their deposit, landlords are wary of any permanent changes to their property. Hence, it is very important, for landlords and tenants alike, to know what can and can’t be done when decorating a rented property.

Adding mirrors as decorations can not only make your home feel bigger and brighter but also constitutes a great way of transforming a space that needs a bit of a refresh. Keep reading to find out our five favourite ways for decorating using mirrors and add a stylish flourish to your home today!

Reducing the amount of power drawn is not only eco-friendly but can also lead to some significant savings. A few simple tweaks can add up to a lot, so we’ve put together some energy saving tips to get you started.

London has a reputation for its wonderful array of museums. There is no better place to get your culture fix. But away from the tourist hotspots, you can find some fascinating and lesser known East London museums. If you’re bored with visiting the same old tourist hotspots, heading east to discover some real hidden gems is worth considering. We’ve compiled a list of the best East London museums for you to enjoy this autumn.

Trying to paint a room without making a total mess of it? Where should one start? What tools are needed? Which colours are a good choice? It can be pretty arduous for first-timers. But getting a nice, professional look is simple once you know what you’re doing. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to paint a room like a pro and get ready for your own home renovation.

So you plan on selling up and moving, but have you calculated how much selling a house really costs? There are fees related to selling your home, which may be a rude surprise for some. You need to make sure to include them in your moving budget. To avoid any shocks, read our handy guide so you know the fees involved.

The school holidays are in full swing which means parents are eager to find ways to keep the kids entertained. To lend a helping hand, we’ve compiled a list of family things to do in Hackney. The borough offers loads of superb family activities – read on to find out more!

If you’re looking for restaurants in King’s Cross to try out, then we can definitely recommend Ekachai. Having opened in January this year, it’s the fifth branch from a team made up of Thai, Malay and Cantonese chefs backed by Hong Kong-born restaurateurs. The team specialises in South East Asian ‘comfort food’, with a particular focus on wok cooking.

A property chain is a sequence of linked house purchases, in which transactions are dependent on one another. Should an issue arise within the sequence, it can cause troubles for everyone involved. So you will want to avoid it to make your house buying experience as smooth as possible. Fortunately, there are options. Let’s take a closer look at some.

Have you ever tried to put up a new piece of art and wondered how to hang a picture frame the right way?

Getting it right will help inject some personality into your house.

But getting it wrong could ruin the look of a room or, even worse, damage your art and walls.

So before you start hammering or drilling, read through this quick guide for how to put up a picture frame…

You’re moving on – a new home, a new start! But whether you’re just moving to another rental property down the road or stepping onto the property ladder somewhere new, remember that moving house is still cited as one of the top three most stressful life events.

To help take the trauma out of moving, it’s important to ensure that arrangements with your landlord or agents won’t scupper your plans for a smooth transition from old home to new. In order to achieve this, there are a few steps you need to follow once you’ve given notice of your intention to leave to your landlord.

Ever wondered how to build a pond in your garden? Whether you want to improve your outside space with an attractive water feature or relive childhood memories of pond dipping, building a pond is a great way to bring your garden to life.

Adding a pond is an easy way to bring a bit of peace and tranquillity to your garden. But it’s not just us humans that enjoy ponds – they’re brilliant for wildlife too. Ponds are havens for all sorts of birds, animals, insects and plants. So everyone’s a winner!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to how to build a pond in your garden.

Lifetime ISA vs Help to Buy ISA – what’s the difference, and which one is right for you? Both ISAs are attractive prospects for those looking to save for a house, but it’s important to know the pros and cons of each before opening an account.

Our guide explains the ins and outs of the two schemes, and what you should consider when deciding which is the best option for you.

Adapting your home to create the perfect space for your family can seem a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be a difficult process. Lots of building work can be carried out under permitted development (PD) rights, meaning you don’t need to go through the process of obtaining planning permission for extensions.

However, although rules have recently been relaxed, there are still a range of criteria your work must meet for this to be the case. Our guide should help you understand whether you need planning permission for extensions.

Summer seems to have finally arrived, and what better way to spend a hot day than at a lido in London? The capital is home to some spectacular locations ideal for cooling down in the sun, and we’ve been doing our research to bring you the best open swimming pools and lidos this year.

Looking for garden landscaping ideas?

Gardens can be difficult to get right – lots of us are faced with uninspiring lawns or courtyard gardens, devoid of any personality, colour or fun.

Whether you have a small terrace, balcony or sprawling lawn, we’ve put together some of our best garden landscaping ideas to help you create your perfect outdoor space all year round.

Underfloor heating installation is an effective alternative to traditional heating systems. It warms rooms efficiently, frees up space used by radiators and feels lovely to walk on – but it can be costly.

We’ve put together the following guide to help you decide whether it’s right for your home.

Wondering how to remortgage your home?

Lots of homeowners choose to remortgage to get a better deal. By remortgaging you could decrease your monthly repayments, release equity in your home or move from a variable rate to a fixed rate.

However, there can be drawbacks, so it’s important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages. Our guide explains when, why and how to remortgage.

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to London fitness classes. The capital is home to a plethora of gyms, sports centres, yoga studios and more offering classes in everything from kickboxing to korfball to kayaking.

Here’s our pick of seven of the most fun and unusual London fitness classes.

Wondering what to look for when buying a house?

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a house viewing and forget to check all the essential details. But the property you buy could end up being your home for many years – so you need to make sure it’s the right one. Luckily, we’ve put together this handy checklist outlining what to look out for.

We love to catch up with London interior designers to find out what makes them tick and where they find inspiration. This month we chatted to Kia Stanford of Kia Designs, whose Spitalfields-based interior design service aims to help people live better through interior architecture.

Choosing where to live in London is no mean feat. If you’re looking to rent or buy somewhere new, spare a thought for Mile End, a vibrant corner of the East End with bundles of character, charm and community spirit.

Here are seven reasons Mile End is a great place to live.

There’s no shortage of Indian restaurants in Shoreditch – Brick Lane has seen to that. What there aren’t so many of, however, are Indian restaurants with something to set them apart.
Cinnamon Kitchen is a welcome antidote to the many identikit Indian restaurants in Shoreditch, combining expertly-blended traditional Indian flavours with innovative contemporary flourishes and high-end ingredients.

Looking for clever storage ideas to maximise space in your home?

If you’re a Londoner, you won’t need us to tell you about the value of space. In the capital, property prices have seen big increases and square footage is at a premium.

Luckily, we’ve come up with these nifty storage ideas to help you squeeze every last usable inch out of your home. 

Investing in buy-to-let property is still an attractive prospect for many people, despite recent changes in the way buy-to-let investments are taxed.

The changes mean that landlords are no longer able to offset all their mortgage interest against their profits – but investing in buy-to-let can still pay off

However, the changes mean that if you do want to enter the buy-to-let market, you need to do things properly if you want to see a return.

Here’s our essential advice for anyone considering investing in buy-to-let property.

We’re always on the lookout for interior design inspiration. This month we caught up with Mark Lewis of Mark Lewis Interior Design, whose starkly beautiful designs have transformed everything from kitchens to toilets to entire homes.

Hidden away at the top of a Novotel, Bōkan is a fairly recent addition to the generous smattering of Canary Wharf restaurants. It promises artisanal dining amongst dockside sophistication, and a menu that will ‘take your taste buds on a journey of European discovery’.
Read our review here .

As we step into the new year and take down the final decorations, our homes can definitely do with a little pick me up so we’ve selected a handful of our favourite London interior design stores which are on hand to help prolong those high spirits.

The frosty weather may give you the urge to hibernate for the next three months, but winter is the perfect time to get out and see some of London’s stunning landscape. Here are four of our favourite London walks to enjoy in winter – and don’t worry, we’ve included a pub stop for each one in case you need to warm up!

The new year is a perfect time to start afresh and think about ways you can improve your life and wellbeing – so why not do the same for your home? Here’s a list of new year’s resolutions to help make your home an even more wonderful place to live in 2018.

Chancellor Phillip Hammond announced the Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017, and one of the most talked-about changes was a cut in stamp duty for first-time buyers. But what do the stamp duty changes mean?

When moving home, you’re faced with a sky-high to-do list with things you may or may not have done before. Sometimes, it can get overwhelming having to consider everything on there and work out exactly what you need to do first.

We’ve compiled a checklist so that you don’t forget anything on your big day!

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned mover, the list of things to do when purchasing a new house can seem endless. One of the many jobs to sort out is the survey – but with so many different options out there, it’s difficult to know what’s best for your needs. Here’s our simple survey advice for home buyers.

Agne Skrodenyte, 25, is a Trainee Lettings Consultant in Shoreditch. Agne enjoys being active with a mixture of attending the gym and wakeboarding, whilst also making time to enjoy London’s food culture with friends.

Remember, remember the 5th of November…. The ever so exciting Bonfire night is fast approaching and where better to celebrate the occasion than in your very own back garden.

Colder weather doesn’t need to mean hibernation which is why this month we’ve put together some easy and impressive ways to warm up your outside space so you can enjoy the celebrations under the stars!

London’s Indian food scene is vibrant, diverse and ever-changing. From cheap and cheerful curry houses to high-end foodie hangouts, there’s something for everyone – but all that choice can be overwhelming!

Don’t worry though – we’ve put together a list of four of the best Indian restaurants in London. Give them a try and see what you think!

Your bedroom is the place where you can escape and relax after a long day, but that doesn’t mean it has to be bland and boring. Here are our top bedroom decorating ideas for a fabulous vintage look.

Moving out of a rental property can be stressful. On top of all the packing, cleaning and heavy lifting, there’s the threat of having money deducted from your deposit if you miss anything.

To help make the process as smooth as possible, we’ve come up with this handy moving out checklist to work through.

It’s that time of year again… yes Autumn is officially upon us and what better way to see in the new season than by making some simple yet exciting changes to your home!

Halloween is almost here – and what better excuse to vamp up your home and show off your creative side? Here are our top Halloween decoration ideas to get you ready for this year.

When looking for a property to buy, aspiring homeowners may be faced with a choice: leasehold vs freehold. But what are the differences?

We’ll explore how they differ in this blog.

Shoreditch is well known for its trendy bars and clubs, creative businesses and vibrant street art. But venture a little further from the buzzing high street and you’ll find Westland London, a temple to architectural history. Westland London is an antiques dealer specialising in prestige antique fireplaces, ranging from Gothic and Renaissance to Victorian and […]

Making your home more energy-efficient is not only good for the environment – it could save you a significant amount of money too.

There are lots of things you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Big changes like installing solar panels, double glazing or loft insulation can save a lot of energy – but there are plenty of simpler steps that can make a noticeable difference too.

Here are seven easy ways of making your home more energy-efficient.

Compact living is becoming more and more common. If you’re one of the many Londoners who lives in a less-than-huge property, you may be wondering how to make a small room look bigger.

TV programmes like George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces show us how tiny living spaces can be transformed into incredible dwellings, with ingenious space-saving solutions and unique decorative twists.

The good news is, there are some steps you can take at home to make your small room seem much bigger.

Here’s how to make a small room look bigger with nine easy tricks.

There are thousands of listed buildings in London, ranging from spectacular churches to rundown phone boxes.

What they all share is special architectural or historical interest. Listing marks and celebrates this, and protects the buildings for future generations.

Historic England maintains an interactive map of all listed buildings in England, but we’ve put together a list of five of the most unusual listed buildings in London.

As a landlord, ensuring the safety of your tenants is vitally important. We’ve put together the following fire safety advice for landlords to help you.

If you want to spruce up your home – or just fancy drooling over beautiful photos – check out our pick of the best interior design accounts on Instagram.

Getting onto the property ladder can be one of the highlights of your life – but rising house prices make it a distant dream for some. To help make that dream a reality, we’ve put together a guide to the best London areas for first-time buyers.

Islington has no shortage of trendy restaurants and cafes, but if you want to try something a bit different, Little Georgia offers a refreshing taste of an underrepresented cuisine.

As the sun starts to make more and more frequent appearances, Londoners in their droves are taking to the waterways in a bid to find London’s best waterside pubs.

Luckily for us, London has countless river and canalside watering holes to choose from. But all that choice can be a little bewildering.

Never fear, though. We’ve done the hard bit for you, and found the top five places to while away a sunny afternoon.

Here’s our pick of London’s best waterside pubs.

Tiles looking tired? Larder a little lacklustre? Fear not – we’ve put together ten top tips for revamping your kitchen.

The good news is you don’t have to overhaul the whole room to give your kitchen a fresh new look. A few well-placed changes could be all you need to completely transform it.

Here are our top ten tips for revamping your kitchen.

Following Theresa May’s announcement of a snap general election in June, those looking to buy or sell houses may be asking themselves the question: how do general elections affect house prices?

It’s a pertinent question, as political uncertainty is often linked to fluctuations in the property market.

Property is arguably more volatile than any other sector, and the status of the market generally represents the overall mindset of the property-owning public.

With the general election upon us, we’ve looked back at how historical elections have affected house prices, and predicted what we can expect this time around.

Whatever the weather, sometimes you just want to dine outside – and we don’t blame you. But too often we find ourselves wandering around London looking for somewhere to eat outside and, reluctantly, settling for an over-crowded tourist attraction.

When looking to buy a home, your agent will more often than not ask whether you’re seeking a new build home or an older home. You may already have an idea in mind of the home you wish to purchase, but if you’re considering buying a new home then we’ve got reasons why purchasing a newly built home could be for you.

There are various benefits of buying a new build home, as there are to buying a second hand home, but if you’re unsure then here are some things you should consider.

It comes as no surprise that being a first time buyer in London is tough. More often than not you’re spending a lot on rent and trying to save for deposit whilst also seeing the rising house costs. It’s no secret that it’s not easy to buy for the first time.

If you’re struggling to find the right option for you, we’ve broken down the different schemes available for first time buyers below.

On 29th March, a monumental day in the UK occurred. After the vote on 24th June last year, Prime Minister Theresa May officially triggered Article 50 and began the process of removing the UK from the EU. Here we run down what this might mean for the London housing market.

Whilst a change of season doesn’t necessarily mean a change of interiors, it’s always nice to make a few subtle variations to your home to welcome the spring and prepare for the lighter months ahead.

Spring is the perfect time to get your home into perfect shape and doing those little things you’ve been putting off for an extended period of time. It’s not an expensive task either – just some simple adjustments to make your home even more season friendly this spring.

Keatons have provided unbeatable coverage across Kentish Town and the surrounding boroughs since 2003 through our Kentish Town Road office, but we’ve relocated to a new and improved site.

The new design fits perfectly within the local community and we’d love to welcome you in to see it, whether it’s to find your new home, or sell or let your existing home.

Our newest office opening in Deptford further cements our reach across London, and is our first SE London office.

Deptford has experienced high levels of regeneration in recent years and has been described as the next Shoreditch; if the transformation is anything like what we’ve seen in E1 then we can expect great things for the area and an increase in sales and rental prices.

Lewisham Council invested over £700,000 into improving Deptford in recent years;  and has now been given a further £1.5 million contribution from the Mayor’s Outer London fund, to modernise Deptford High Street.

Keatons Estate Agents have provided unbeatable coverage across Hackney and the surrounding boroughs for over 17 years’ through 353 Mare Street, but we have relocated to a new site; you will now find us at 336 Mare Street, London, E8 1HR.

Nestled in between Stratford and Wanstead is Forest Gate. A community which has seen masses of regeneration in recent years’; becoming a hotspot for those commuting into the City of London due to the 20 minute swift journey.

As well as the convenient transport links, Forest Gate has a close-knit local community with a host of local pubs, restaurants, cafés and more. One of these local staples is Corner Kitchen, located a moments’ walk from Forest Gate station.

Updating your living space needn’t come with worries of high cost, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to spruce up your living room with little cost and little time. We’ve got 19 ways you can change the look and feel of your living area that won’t break the bank…

Keatons have been market leaders in East London for almost two decades and after the successful opening of our Canary Wharf office, we’ve ventured further South East to Deptford where we’ve acquired leading local agent, Cannon Kallar. As a company we’re excited for this venture to the other side of the river and to bring along our network of offices and dedicated employees.

Ollie Cruikshank is the head of office at the Canary Wharf branch. Growing up with parents that owned an estate agents in Blackheath it was clear that property was something that would form a huge part of his career. Here’s our Q & A with Ollie.

Joanne Lane, 24, joined Keatons in April 2015 as an Assistant Property Manager and has in this time progressed to a Property Manager now dealing with the accounts side of the business also.

Charlotte Riley is an office administrator based in our Wanstead branch.

Charlotte joined the company just over two years ago, having worked in the property industry for the past nine years.

Martyn Durling is Head of Office of our Wanstead branch and oversees everything sales and lettings.

He’s been with Keatons for four years. When he’s not running the office Martyn enjoys spending time with his loved ones and playing football.

One of the most common ways to improve your home is to extend the living accommodation. Whilst the financial outlay for such improvements is of course a primary consideration, many homeowners sensibly weigh up this potential expense against what the extension may bring to the property – as not only an increase in size, but also in value added.

Keeping the community spirit alive during the festive period, we love to shop at a local butchers for great local produce and expertise and heading to your local expert for exactly the right turkey, goose or chicken to enjoy is the best way to do it.

Whilst Christmas is great for many, some prefer to avoid the packed festive locations and the busy Christmas shoppers.

Thankfully in London, whether you love or hate Christmas you’ll never be short of things to do.

Italian food is one of our favourites; nibbling on burrata and parma ham whilst waiting for a hearty, pasta dish is our idea of food heaven.

Nestled behind the busy streets in both Camden Town and Kings Cross, is a family-run Italian driven abode called Casa Tua providing exactly that.

Searching for a property in the London market can be tough; with various London rental property and property for sale in London it’s hard to know exactly what is going to work for you.

Breathing new life into your home is just the ticket to unleash its full potential and increase the asking price. Here are ten steps you can take to do just that.

Buying first time is a whirlwind of emotions; excitement about owning your first place, happiness about stepping onto the property ladder and sometimes it’s a little daunting thinking about exactly what you need to do in order to complete your sale.

We’ve put together a simple guide to help you through the process.

The Chapel salon in Islington is located in a converted pub on the corner of St John Street. Here’s our review!

In recent years Borough market has become a “foodie mecca” with a whole host of restaurants, pop-ups and independent cafés being available to those searching for their next food fix; it’s come a long way from the days of Bridget Jones, and instead has been dubbed a haven for culture, and of course food.

We’re here to keep you informed of your legal obligations as a Landlord. Whether you’re a first-time landlord, or just looking for some clarification that you’re following the legislation, we’ve compiled a list of what you need to know.

In that spirit, we offer this guide to the paperwork you’ll need to bring with you when making your mortgage application

We know that letting your home can sometimes be stressful, and the question arises of “how can I do this quickly?”. With a speedier time scale in mind, it’s often tempting to lower standards on a quick let with tenants.

You needn’t do that – you can both let your home quickly whilst also getting a reliable tenant. There are a few steps as a landlord you can take to speed up the process of letting your home. One, two, let.

Selling your home can be incredibly stressful, and more often than not you’re likely to be looking to sell your home within the quickest possible time. Fortunately there are ways to speed up the sale of your home which are simple and easy to do, in any market.

On the 4th August it was announced by The Bank of England that the base rate – England’s official borrowing rate which influences what borrowers pay and what savers earn – has been cut from 0.5% to 0.25%, after the Monetary Policy Committee unanimously agreed this was the best step forward for the UK economy.

Here we take a look at the implications.

Laura Williams is a London-based personal trainer offering classes and personal training sessions delivered to you at home or work, and today she’s giving us tips on how to keep your fitness routine on track whilst moving home.

Holloway Road has seen a resurgence in recent years with various new openings occurring, and most recently that’s Zia Lucia.

The Italian restaurant serving up predominantly pizzas – but with four different bases to choose from and 12 different types of toppings it’s not just your average pizza experience.

We all know the importance of making the most of your space in your home, and more importantly in your kitchen and bedroom. Perhaps two of the most important rooms in the house, it’s paramount that every inch of space is optimised to avoid over-cluttering – unless that’s your thing!

We’ve teamed up with Crown Imperial to provide you with some of the best tips to optimising your space in these rooms – straight from the experts’ mouth!

For many people, you will often get that urge to want to spruce up your home a little bit – but living in London means sometimes we can’t always afford the luxury of shelling out for a new expensive piece of furniture or a brand new kitchen.

Hoxton Market is perhaps one of the ‘hippest’ places in London – and rightly so. We recently ventured there to visit newly opened, ChrisKitch.

Patron Cave à Manger sits in the heart of Tufnell Park and was founded by Jean-Francois and Tanzi Ellison.

The French-English couple, who live in Kentish Town, chose the famous Fortess Road to set up local Parisian haunt Patron.

A couple of weeks ago, The Insider was invited to attend a Lindy Hop class in London.

Ahead of the class, I decided to do a bit of research to see what I was letting myself in for.

Turns out, swing dancing is one of those phenomena that I think I know a bit about, when, actually, I know nothing.

Read the full review here!

The Insider visit North West London based Plum + Spilt Milk which is headed up by acclaimed chef Mark Sargeant.

Today, Shoreditch has established itself as a cultural hub comprising various cuisines, every type of shop you could imagine and a range of diverse pop-ups.

It is also home to a host of inviting art galleries, including the Nelly Duff art gallery and edition house.

Cat Dal is a Scandinavian interior designer and former model based in northwest London, where she’s been taking the area by storm with her fresh and bespoke designs.

DegreeArt.com, founded by Elinor Olsen and Isobel Beauchamp, is a gallery located in Bethnal Green that hosts a variety of exciting artists. The Insider were invited along to their recent gallery opening.

Here’s our five simple tips to sell your home faster! We’ve got plenty of advice on how to get people through the door and make them stay.

This month for our interiors feature we are lucky enough to have guest contributor Jacqui Joseph teach us how to make the most out of the older things you may have laying around at home. With this particular piece, she teaches us how to create a funky, cool clock out of a vinyl record.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and if you’re renovating you will no doubt want to ensure that it will stand the test of time. This doesn’t just mean investing in quality fixtures and fittings, although of course this is important, but also choosing a style that won’t date too quickly and that you won’t get bored of.
Here’s our top renovation tips.

It was reported last year that London had overtaken New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney as the must-have property location for the world’s wealthy, with 6,250 annual property sales in the $2–$5 million bracket in 2014; Manhattan saw half that and Hong Kong a third.

These dramatic statistics were released amid concern about what the prime property boom might mean for the rest of the city, but sales of prime property have since plummeted thanks (mostly) to George Osborne’s so-called mansion tax. So has London now lost its status as the world’s pre-eminent luxury property hotspot?

Plaistow has become a family-friendly property hotspot for a number of reasons, with great transport links to the city. Here’s why you should consider buying in Plaistow.

Keatons have been looking for the opportunity to open on Chatsworth Road for many years; this up and coming, vibrant area has increased the demand for our services and we wanted to ensure that we were easily accessible for our clients and so we jumped at the chance when at last this vacant and run down shop became available.

We asked our design agency, I-AM, to come up with a unique design that would fit in perfectly with the community and surroundings and they have certainly delivered. The space is creative, comfortable and welcoming and the feedback we have received from clients, passersby and other local businesses has been fantastic.

Read more here!

Roman Road Market has been running for over 150 years and is undoubtedly infamous within East London. It’s a traditional East End street market selling a host of affordable goods – and now it’s had a bit of a regeneration.

Roman Road Yard Market is newly founded and led by a community development trust, champion local traders, community groups and musicians. The new Roman Road Yard Market is an off-shoot from the existing market and located in a car park at the epicentre of Roman Road.

With the market up and running, you will find a refreshing mixture of East End locals from Bow and creatives from neighbouring places like Hackney Wick or Victoria Park.

With this in mind we were keen to catch up with the brains behind it all, Tabitha Stanley.

Back in the 1840s, the grand, mullion-windowed houses of De Beauvoir Square were home to the emerging middle classes. But come the late 1930s, the vibe of De Beauvoir Town was forever changed when the southeast corner was re-designated for industrial use. The result was the creation of a sort of civil north–south divide, with smoky factories and bustling warehouses to the south, the well-to-do residential side to the north, and a business buffer zone in-between.

In the London borough of Camden, just south of Hampstead Heath, sits the urban suburb of Gospel Oak. Although often outshined by its, shall we say, more deluxe neighbours, Hampstead and Kentish Town, there’s more to Gospel Oak than just a pretty name.

As legend has it, Dick Whittington made it all the way to Archway before he heard the Bow Bells ringing and returned to London. This is somewhat apt given Archway’s historical reputation for less staying appeal. Its future, however, is looking enticing as redevelopment plans take shape.

Moving home is one of the most stressful things in life, so we’ve compiled six packing tips to help make the move less stressful…

With its direct access to central London and close proximity to trendy areas such as Brick Lane, Mile End is renowned for its convenient location – but what about the district itself?

In the East London Borough of Hackney we find the district of Homerton with its rich and colourful history. It’s the birthplace of Matchbox cars, has links to the Knights Templar and enjoys a recently thriving indie music scene. Both the quirky and the conventional make it what it is.

If the north-eastern fringes of Greater London are calling your name, there aren’t many places more picturesque than an award-winning village home to the ‘Avenue of Trees’, namely Theydon Bois.

The age old property battle rages on: Do you extend your property or look to use your garden to its full potential?

The time has come to take another look at an urban district that looks set to become the next East End target on the trendy homebuyer’s hit list.

In the East London borough of Newham we find Upton Park, which comprises Forest Gate and Upton, and as the home to West Ham United Football Club from 1904 to 2016, it has been strongly associated with football.

These days, the tidy look of clean lines and uncluttered spaces are more popular than ever, with an increasing number of innovative ideas emerging for how to achieve this – one of which being under-stairs storage.

There’s a very good reason why the East London Borough of Redbridge is known as the ‘leafy suburb’. With around a third of the borough designated as green belt land, Redbridge is an outdoor lover’s playground of award-winning parks, forests, lakes and open spaces.

With the clocks having just gone back we rejoiced the extra hour in bed on that chilly Sunday, somewhat neglecting the fact it meant the days were getting shorter and thus darker. Winter is notoriously known for being dark and gloomy, and it’s often difficult to escape that in your home when you’re getting in from work at 6pm to a pitch-black apartment.

Lighting will become your haven this winter, and The Insider has the perfect selection to keep you free from falling into a gloomy rut. From looking at interior inspiration and taking ideas from the properties that Keatons has on the market, we’ve got to grips with mastering the art of good lighting. Getting the right ambience has never been more important.

Outsiders might think ‘Jesus Green’ sounds like the setting of a far-fetched Christian movie, but nestled in East London, in the centre of the Shoreditch-Hoxton-Hackney triangle, you’ll find this very real and very peaceful neighbourhood.
Jesus Green began its life around 1822 as property of the Jesus Hospital Estate. The charity used the land to create houses for Londoners made homeless by the demolitions underpinning the construction of St Katherine’s Dock. The area has come a long way since then. Within spitting distance of the East End grit, Jesus Green has been obviously and unavoidably influenced by the creativity and style that spill out from nearby Shoreditch.

Take the Piccadilly Line to Holloway Road Tube station, and just 3.8 miles north of Charing Cross you’ll find the bustling, multicultural inner-city district of Holloway.

In the borough of Hackney lies one of London’s most uniquely characterful quarters. Stamford Hill, primarily known for its synagogues, kosher supermarkets and private Jewish schools, is often referred to as the ‘square mile of piety’.

The East London district of Walthamstow began its life as a sleepy rural village. The area is steeped in history; records from as early as 1075 show Walthamstow on the map. At that time it was known as Wilcumestowe, meaning ‘the place of welcome’.

The word ‘Bromley’ comes from the Saxon words for ‘bramble’ and ‘field’, but nowadays you won’t find many of either in Bromley-by-Bow, now an intriguing urban area that has transformed itself from priory to mill town to quirky, modern community hub.

The once marshy land of Rotherhithe is well-known for its rich maritime history. But with interesting royal connections, historic tourist attractions and even rare wildlife and wetlands, Rotherhithe has much more to offer than your average city district.

A long time ago, Tufnell Park in North London played a mothering role to the rest of London, providing the city with its milk supply via an abundance of dairy farms.

Its reputation as the inspiration for the setting of Eastender’s Albert Square is just one of Dalston’s many claims to fame.

Bethnal Green in London’s East End started life as a pretty, rural hamlet providing agricultural provisions to the city.

I frequently get asked what my view is on the difference between internet based agencies and traditional estate agents, and which I think is better. When most people pose the question, they do so from the standpoint that one markets online and the other operates from a high street. So my initial response is that both business models run an online service and both market in many of the same locations, and ask if that is what they mean?

Invariably this is not the question and in actual fact what they are asking is: Why is there a difference in the fee charged? As with most things in life, you generally get what you pay for. Here I have listed the key areas that will always separate the two market places.