Just add water
Now, more than ever, we appreciate the outlook from our homes and a river view is the most desirable of them all
LIVING ON THE THAMES AND HAVING OUTSIDE SPACE THAT OVERLOOKS T THE WATER IS THE ULTIMATE DREAM. Dexters, working in partnership with riverside specialists Waterview, aims to make it a reality for clients seeking to buy or rent property on the river.
DEMAND FOR A RIVER HOME HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER
Soren Ravaux, Director of Waterview, is finding that demand for a riverside home has never been greater. “Post-lockdown, it has been like the rush of new buyers registering after Christmas, x 10! People have been stuck at home, had time for reflection and decided that they are not going to put off moving any longer. They want to get on with it and a lot of that is
about quality of life. With international travel a little tricky, people are wanting to create a good quality of life at home and living on the river is very appealing.”
ROOM WITH A VIEW
“We market houseboats, flats, penthouses, family homes and even islands.” As Soren says, “Waterview by name, water-view by nature. We have offices throughout London, all the way along the Thames from east London through the capital to the south west corridor.”
When it comes to apartments, Soren finds that buyers are looking for a great vista from within the property and, if there is outside space in the form of a balcony, roof terrace or garden, so much the better. Most sought after are houses with fabulous views of the Thames. “We have a mix of homes,” he explains. “Those that have direct access to the water are more desirable, but those which have a
towpath between their outside space and the river are also very popular.”
LIVING THE DREAM
Clients wanting direct access to the river tend to be older. Soren says, “Couples with young children are less likely to buy on the water. The river attracts those whose kids are grown up, so they can finally live their dream. They are not worried about school catchment areas and so are less location sensitive. Their priority is more about how the property connects with the water. Older buyers are not necessarily interested in big plots with big gardens, they want a property set close to the Thames so they can enjoy the view.”
The ultimate riverside property will also include a private mooring. “Moorings are really popular. If people are buying on the river because they love the water, more often than not they have a boat that is their pride and joy.
They may have a rowing boat for pootling around in or a cruiser. And if they have a bigger boat, rather than pay ten to fifteen thousand pounds to lodge it in a marina, they want it at the bottom of their garden so that they can enjoy the boating lifestyle.”
RIVER LIFE
When marketing a property in London with a view of water, Dexters teams up with the specialists, Waterview
A PEERLESS VISTA
If money were no object, where would Soren’s ideal riverside home be situated? “People ask me this all the time and often it’s not the actual property but the view from that property that is the real draw. I have seen a little wooden shack on a plot with a breath-taking view and a penthouse in London with such far-reaching views that you can see a mile up the river in either direction.”
THE BEST THING ABOUT RIVER LIVING IS THE EVER CHANGING VIEW
Whether you like the sight of the working and pleasure boats, the rowers and paddle boarders or the teeming wildlife and the passing of the four seasons, the best thing about river-living is the ever-changing view. If you're thinking of selling or letting a riverside home please visit waterview.co.uk.
BELVEDERE ROAD, WATERLOO, SE1
£2,650 pw Set on the 19 th floor of this exclusive development,
EAST SMITHFIELD, WAPPING, E1W
£3,500,000
A unique 1920’s steel barge which has been converted into a sensational houseboat. Offering over 5,000 sq. ft of living and entertaining space with a 50 ft. fore deck with a retractable glass covering.
• 50 ft. deck
• Five bedrooms
• Four bathrooms
• Winter garden enclosure
Dexters Wapping. 020 7650 5350
CROWN SQUARE, SHAD THAMES, SE1
£4,750,000
Situated in the luxurious One Tower Bridge development, this two double bedroom apartment boasts a large terrace with stunning river and city views, perfect for entertaining friends and family.
• Large terrace
• 24-hour concierge
• Gym, spa & pool facilities
• Fantastic condition
Dexters London Bridge. 020 7650 5100