Map of Pimlico
.jpg "Map of Pimlico (Detailed)")
Map of Pimlico (Detailed)
Walk London – Guided Walk from Pimlico
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Tomorrow, Saturday 30th January, Walk London provide a free guided walk passing two bridges, two palaces and two secret services, the walk will reveal many other fascinating facts. Discover Thomas Cubitt’s development of Pimlico; MI6 and Doultons Ceramics on the Albert Embankment; the Tate Gallery and what was Milbank Prison; the Flood of 1928; MI5; three Lambeth Bridges; the Horseferry and Lambeth Palace; St Thomas’s Hospital; the Palace of Westminster, the ‘Great Stink’ and Westminster Bridge – finishing outside Portcullis House with the view to St Paul’s.
Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Pimlico Tube Station. Note that there are 2 entrances either side of Lupus Street and the walk organisers haven’t specified at which one they are meeting. The walk finish is at Westminster Tube, it is 2.5 miles, and will take approx 2 1/2 hours
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Rent from the Biggest Letting Agent of all
A couple of days ago the Government published Supporting people into work: the next stage of Housing Benefit reform a consultation which seeks views to inform reforms of Housing Benefit intended to ensure that Housing Benefit is better able to help people into work, is fairer, more efficiently delivered and represents good value for money for the taxpayer.
Section 6.12 declares:
The private rented sector has a key role in providing affordable housing to those on lowincomes. Many local authorities make full use of the private rented sector to givehousing options for those in housing need. The Government is recommending that localauthorities set up local letting agencies to develop a more coordinated approach tosecuring private rented sector tenancies for low-income households. We would also liketo see whether Housing Benefit could have a role to play in the operation of theseagencies.
The private rented sector has a key role in providing affordable housing to those on low incomes. Many local authorities make full use of the private rented sector to give housing options for those in housing need. The Government is recommending that local authorities set up local letting agencies to develop a more coordinated approach to securing private rented sector tenancies for low-income households.
Housing Benefit
- At a time when Lettings Agents find themselves squeezed out of the market by websites offering to “cut out the middleman” – is the Government proposing a State subsidised competitor?
- Is this fair on Estate Agents already struggling to survive the credit crunch?
- Would this lead to the death of the Letting Agent?
- Is the Government sleep-walking into a role condemned to die by new technology?
- Would you want to have your property managed and rented out by your Local Authority?
- Do you have more faith in being able to find a Flat to live in through a Local Authority letting Agent than a private one?
Please let me know what you think ………
7 Responses to “Rent from the Biggest Letting Agent of all”
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Free Access to Internet Subscription Websites
Pimlico Library
If you live in Pimlico, or other parts of Westminster, the Libraries have set up a great portal to the internet for you to use called “ The Gateway“, with links to great websites and tips on using them. They also tell you if they have a specialist library or service for your chosen subject. Of course there are plenty of other portals, but this library one has several features to make it different and more useful.
- It doesn’t carry advertising.
- The sites with [24/7] logos indicate Westminster Libraries subscription-based sites, they have paid the subscription so that you don’t have to, just use your Westminster Libraries membership number in order to gain access.
- The Gateway is kept manageably small. The number of topics is limited while comprehensive, and provides key links and links to subject gateways rather than linking to a large number of sites on any single topic.
- The resources have been selected and presented by the Library information specialists:
- Authority and reliability: They are sites that come from a known and authoritative source.
- Accessibility and usability: Sites that require registration or subscription are excluded unless the subscription is paid for by Westminster Libraries for the use of their members, as are sites whose information content is obscured or compromised by advertising or ‘pop-up’ boxes
- Authority and reliability: They are sites that come from a known and authoritative source.
- Accuracy and currency:the sites included are accurate and regularly maintained.
- Relevance: Good quality sites with a local focus (Westminster / London) are emphasised.
Complete list of electronic reference resources available to members of Westminster Libraries.
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Kids Homework Problem in Westminster?
All Westminster's Homework Clubs
If your child is having homework problems, and you can’t afford a tutor, why not join a free homework club run by your local library in Westminster? More than 3,200 children attended one of Westminster Council’s clubs in 2008/09
They run 15:45 – 17:30 one day a week in term time, and there are 2 in Pimlico – Pimlico Library (Tuesday) and Victoria Library (Monday), and a total of 9 within the City of Westminster.
The pictures link to Library and Homework Club details.
Each club has:
- Expert Staff and Volunteers to provide help and assistance
- A wide range of books
- Photocopiers
- Several computers with Internet access, CD ROMs and printers
and thus is an excellent free resource to help your child keep up with their school work.
Victoria Library
Pimlico Library
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London Studio Flats for Rent – Building Work Progress
Bradley Construction’s Contract had started it’s 17th week when we finally received a decision from the Planning Inspectorate to overturn Westminster City Council’s refusal of Planning Permission for the roof terraces. The demolition at the back has been completed this week finishing all the dirty and noisy work, and next week the Scaffolding can finally start to be removed, in stages as the terraces are made watertight.
As the scaffolding is being removed Bradley Construction will finish the decorating at the rear, and at the front on the upper levels so that when the scaffold starts to come down you will all see the new addition at the top of these properties.
George is welcomed back after his knee replacement and is looking forward to using the putting green that we are planning for on top of the Mansard roof (subject to Planning Permission). We will also be making Planning Applications for a new entrance to the property, security surveillance, and solar panels to reduce the property’s carbon footprint.
Two new Studio Flats on the second floor have already been completed, passed over, and successfully rented out. The final 7 flats are hoped to be completed by October.
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New London Flats – Affordable Housing Approved
London Flats Mansard Project
In 2005 Pimlico Flats sought Planning Permission to build affordable housing in Westminster, SW1. The Planning Permission was a hard fought battle requiring the employment of a Planning Consultant to challenge Westminster City Council’s refusal and finally gain an approval on appeal. In spite of London’s dire need of more affordable housing, the planning process seems to expect the need to be met in the neighbouring boroughs, and the convoluted approval added costs to what was supposed to be cheap affordable renting stock. Nevertheless an approval was gained and work began.
By skillful reduction in the circulation space the architects were able to redesign the proposal, and make internal layout changes which greatly enhanced the quality of the accommodation. Unfortunately the Planning Department wouldn’t allow internal layout changes without a new submission to Planning and so at their request we prepared and submitted a completely new scheme, including roof terraces for 5 of the properties.
Ex Minister and Conservative Party leader Michael Howard led the objections of neighbours, with the argument that the roof terraces represented an unacceptable increase in overlooking and noise and disturbance of the existing roof terraces of the neighbouring owner-occupiers. The key issue is whether tenants represent a greater threat to peace and quiet than owners, and thus whether they should be deprived of the use of outdoor amenities that their richer neighbours are allowed.
Unfortunately Westminster City Council agreed with the objections, however on appeal to the Inspectorate we were able to gain permission and win the argument against discrimination. We are proceeding with our development and hope to be finished in October.
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Budget Eating in Victoria, London, SW1
As a local I know all the best places to eat in the local area of Pimlico, Victoria, SW1 and we are richly blessed with a wide range of places to eat which are either take out, or eat in at take out prices.
City Harvest Restaurant in Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road view
If you are near Victoria Station at lunchtime then City HarvestRestaurant in Victoria
is a must. With a wide range of take out food, rolls sandwiches, and several freshly cooked meals every day this is the areas best stop for food. Further – if you mention “Pimlico Flats” you will be able to get a second helping for free!
City Harvest Restaurant in Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road, Internal view
At the junction where Wilton Rd. meets Warwick Way is Spicy Food Plus - here you can eat a fabulous meal for £3.50p, either to eat in, or take out. Thay have a Tandoori Oven and will cook a Chicken Tandoori, or Kebab, or Naan, for you while you watch.
Kazan – the Turkish Restaurant opposite – does an excellent value menu for those eating before 18:00.
I’m afraid Seafresh, the Wilton Rd. Fish and Chip shop - whilst offering excellent quality, is severely overpriced. The best Fish and Chips to be had in the area are at Lupus Street .
For Kebabs I have always gone to Marmaris for Kebabs, and they were the best I have ever eaten. Sadly the restaurant has passed into new hands, and is now known as Cyprus Mangal - I can’t guarantee that the food is of the same standard, but I think it’s worth finding out.
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Only in London Could you Squeeze a Million Pound House into a Ten Foot Gap
House in a Gap
It’s difficult to think of anything to say really – the pictures say it all! The Westminster property is marketed for £1.25M by The Modern House a unique estate agency dedicated to architect-designed property in both urban and rural locations across the UK, offering a sales and lettings service specialising in houses and apartments of outstanding design dating from the 1920s to the present day.
Rear of House in a Gap
The house has been built on the site of what was a single-storey wine vault, squeezed in between two Victorian buildings, and set back slightly from the street. Sliver House (also known as the Glass House) was designed by Nicholas Boyarsky and Nicola Murphy of Boyarsky Murphy Architects who have worked in the fields of housing, urban design, renovations, interiors and prefabrication, and have also designed smaller cultural and educational buildings.
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Pimlico gets MP backing for Affordable Flats in London
SCARBOROUGH’S Conservative MP Robert Goodwill has backed his party leader’s tough stance over MPs’ expenses claims. He said: “Some of the revelations have dragged parliament through the mud. Some people have claimed things that beggar belief. For myself as a London base I have a modest flat in Pimlico, on which I claim the mortgage interest, and when I bought a TV I got a secondhand one, not a new plasma.
“On travel I am very careful to purchase competitively priced rail tickets to London. My travel allowance for last year was £9,372 – compare that to my Labour predecessor who spent £20,565 in 2004-05.
Any of my constituents who want to inspect my flat in London is welcome to do so by appointment. There’s no moat around it and no swimming pool.”
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Blogs that I Follow
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Wouldn’t it be simpler to have this handled by established lettings agents who are contracted to provide the service to local authorities.
Services like Supply2.gov.uk could easily be used to tender this work out to local agents where there is a need for it.
It’s a good point, but then the system will resemble the current system, with the difference being that the Letting Agents are paid by the Local Authority instead of the Landlord. I don’t think the Government means to increase their costs!
I think we have to consider the skills a Letting Agent brings to the table:
Marketing, Valuation, Legal, Administration, Property Management.
Which of those are applicable to Social Housing?
An agent should be able to call on all of those skills (not to mention infrastructure) to add value to the process as and when required.
Who pays who and how is a matter for negotiation in the tendering process, but it shouldn’t be a massive conflict of interest for an agent to act on behalf of the L.A to find properties for which the landlord would appreciate the security and consistency of a contracted L.A tenancy, even if the rates aren’t necessarily top drawer.
My point was that of those skills (I may have missed some) only Management & Admin are relevant, & existing Letting Agents probably lead with their Sales and Marketing skills.
I wasn’t thinking of a conflict of interest, just that LA would be taking on a cost currently shouldered by the LL.
Your point about a new LA Letting Agent being a property sourcing agent is well made, and I hadn’t considered that. Goodness only knows why not – I get enough phone calls from agents asking me to place our flats with them!
Considering I have been involved in letting out properties for 20 years by myself and with the use of agents,I think its about time the local authorities took more of a hold in providing tenants and managing the situation. Tenant and landlord would be considerably better off and neighbourhoods would have more of the real people of London that have struggled and deserve to live in an area by birth and right. But the main point is that personally,the letting agent has become a known crook that has only themselves to blame for their eventual demise by greedily flogging the market to death. No longer will it continue.
Jack,
that’s quite a sweeping statement about Letting Agents, but an interesting thought that if the Government steps in to exclude Letting Agents from the rental process they only have themselves to blame ……..
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