Refurbishments

The owner of this 2-bed Mapesbury flat was based in the US and had been letting his property through us since 2010. After multiple long-term tenants, it was in need of some work - especially the bathrooms and kitchen.

So just before covid, the owner had the budget to tackle the first bathroom. But we looked at the big picture and advised him to wait. It was better to let out the property out he saved up the budget to do both bathrooms and the kitchen in one go. Why?

With every refurbishment, we look for creative ways to improve the flow and functionality of a space. In this flat, the toilet in the ensuite was tightly tucked into a niche behind the door, blocked in by a wall from the bedroom behind.

When we refurbished the ensuite, we removed this wall and rebuilt it further back, making the area around the toilet more open and comfortable. We added shelving on the other side of the wall in the bedroom behind.

Once this refurbishment was complete, the landlord achieved a 59% rental uplift, with an estimated £50K capital uplift.

The owner purchased this 2-bed Brondesbury flat, which was previously a rental property with Paramount, while abroad in Hong Kong. He was planning to move to London with his partner, and their vision was to move into a home that was perfectly designed to their tastes. It needed to be ready to welcome them when they landed.

So our refurbishments team embarked on a full-scale refurbishment of the flat, including a new kitchen, new bathrooms, new windows, new flooring, appliances, modern storage solutions and a full redecoration.

When we first assessed this 1300 sq ft mansion block flat in Kilburn, it had just become available after a decades-long tenancy.

It hadn't had any significant investment in years - it was tired and outdated. Naturally, the flat needed some work to attract new residents and reach its market potential.

We also created built-in storage in every bedroom, and converted awkward spaces into unique shelving.

To make sure each bedroom had sufficient internet - critical for students or professionals working from home - we installed data points.

This refurbishment project was all about bringing two neighbouring Queens Park flats back to life. Both had been rented out for years, with the basement flat's previous resident living there for over three decades! The raised ground floor flat had also seen its fair share of long-term tenants.

When both flats became vacant at the same time, the owner thought maybe it was time to merge them into one large property. The raised ground floor flat's larger-than-average garden would suit it perfectly!

The basement flat refurbishment was a big transformation. We...

• Installed new heating and water supply pipes
• Fully rewired the flat, adding spotlights and sockets to the most convenient locations for modern living
• Knocked down a stud wall to open up the space
• Fitted a brand new kitchen and bathroom
• Repaired and refreshed the walls throughout the flat
• Replaced all doors and installed new windows
• Laid new flooring
• Built fitted wardrobes for extra storage
• Fully redecorated throughout

The owner has enjoyed the benefits of having these rental assets in his portfolio for decades, both in terms of rental income and capital appreciation. With this refurbishment project he made the decision to invest back into his assets for longevity. The basement flat investment, covering everything from the new central heating system to the windows and rewiring, totalled £50K+VAT. It immediately achieved a 16% uplift in rental income.

Meanwhile, £6.9K+VAT was invested into the raised ground floor flat, after which it achieved a 29% uplift in rent (compared to it's previous tenancy) within 4 days. Finally, £38K+VAT was invested to overhaul the garden, complete extenive ground works (drainage, rendering, etc) and split it into two separate spaces, contributing to the success of both flats in finding great residents quickly.

The landlords originally purchased this 3-bed flat in Kilburn as a rental investment, and had been able to let it out for many years without too much maintenance investment. Eventually though, it grew tired and outdated. Issues started popping up, with repeated problems with the plumbing and boiler, and maintenance costs were on the rise.

So in the autumn of 2023 after the tenants moved out it was time to fix those issues and upgrade the flat for the current rental market. Our refurbishments team went in to replace the kitchen, boiler, radiators, upgrade the bathrooms and complete a full redecoration.

We completed a full redecoration, including walls, ceilings, and woodworks. We replaced the carpets and added underlay. We installed new blinds. Being a lower ground floor flat, lighting could be a concern, so we replaced all of the light fittings with brighter, more energy efficient LEDs.

We also installed more sockets in locations that would make sense for a TV, bed, and desk to go to cater to a modern lifestyle.

The owners' intention from the start has been to hand this property down to their children. Now that's it's had some care and attention, it's ready for the next tenant to call it home!

When this flat hit the market fresh from the refurbishment, it let within 5 days at a 31% rental uplift. It also had an estimated capital uplift of £65K.

The owner of this 1-bed Paddington flat is based in North America and discovered Paramount through a connection. He'd been letting his central London flat through us since 2020, and was thinking about a refurbishment for a while. Finally, as the most recent tenancy came to an end, it was time.

This 1-bed Victorian conversion is located on one of the most desirable streets in West Hampstead; quiet and tree-lined but only a short walk to the bustling West End Lane. Unsurprisingly, the residents had been there for a while - 3 years - before they decided to move.

We stripped the entire bathroom down and created a good foundation for what was to come next - carpentry, new pipes and plumbing, and waterproofing of wet areas. We installed new tiles, new flooring, and of course new fixtures and fittings. We siliconed and grouted, and added timberwork to the windows. Finally, we completed the refurbishment by painting the walls and ceiling.