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About Balham

What’s happening in the Balham property market?

Those searching for cool coffee bars, swanky restaurants, independent butchers, patisseries and delis and a farmers’ market might be surprised to learn that Balham has it all.

This area of south-west London, reaching from the fringes of Clapham South to the edges of Streatham and Tooting, has undergone a transformation in recent years, and now the ‘Gateway to the South’ really is hugely sought after by everyone from young professionals who work in the City and appreciate its excellent transport links, to families who relish the good schools and low crime rate, plus the fact that they live in Wandsworth, London’s leafiest borough with over 1600 acres of green space.

Eileen Neville, sales manager of Douglas & Gordon’s Balham UK office, says that those looking to buy a house or flat in Balham are spoilt for choice with the range of accommodation on offer. “Most of the property for sale is Victorian terraced houses, plus converted and purpose-built maisonettes and mansion flats, some of them art deco – something for everyone. Prices reflect this diversity, from a one-bedroom flat at £280,000 up to a five-bedroom house on Ramsden Road for £1.75 million.”

As in other areas, prices for a house or flat in Balham have rocketed by 20-30% during 2006 and 2007, especially in the more sought-after roads in the Nightingale Triangle, close to Wandsworth Common. Eileen puts this down to the fact that “there hasn’t been a huge increase in the past four years, so it’s been a sudden jump.” Even so, she adds that Balham is “popular with those who can’t afford Between the Commons or Abbeville Village, so they look for a home here.” They are definitely on to a good thing.

Renting a house or flat in Balham

From Du Cane Court, Europe’s largest private apartment block with 676 flats, to large family houses in the Nightingale Triangle near Wandsworth Common, Balham offers a diverse range of accommodation to rent – and it’s becoming more popular, says lettings manager Annabel Hay. “Balham used to be far cheaper than Battersea, but it’s now catching up fast as people realise what a fantastic area it is to live in. Fashionable bars, restaurants, commons and brilliant transport links via train or Tube into the City and West End make this a highly sought-after area in which to rent.”

Another plus point, especially for families looking for larger houses, is that property in the Nightingale Triangle near Wandsworth Common is wider and often boasts a larger garden so it’s popular with those who need more space than they would find between the commons.

Prices for rental range from £260 per week for a one-bedroom flat up to £850 per week for a four-bedroom house, rising to £1500 per week for spacious houses in the premium Gorst Road and Dents Road near the common.

Annabel is at pains to point out, however, that Balham isn’t just for families. “We have a good mix of families and young people. One reason is that the area feels very safe, so we find that many tenants are girls straight out of university. They also like the fact that Balham is still a bit cheaper than Battersea.”

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