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Wharf Life Feb 28, 2019 wharf-life.com
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building the future by David Galman
Years since Lauren started work at Chase Evans Lauren Houlihan says Brexit is having a positive impact on lettings as Londoners opt for temporary living arrangements as they wait for the future to arrive
Creating places to live – Isle Of Dogs development
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lease allow me to begin my regular column in Wharf Life by wishing every success to Jon and Jess in their new print media venture. We at Galliard Homes will be supporting them. A vibrant, informative, regular newspaper for the Wharf community is absolutely vital. There are many myths in the world – the Loch Ness monster, the Greek legends, Pandora’s box, the list is endless. Great reading and a bit of fun. What about one of the wildest myths? That of The Empty Properties – swathes of luxury London homes purchased by overseas investors and supposedly left empty. We at Galliard have, over the last 25 years, built a successful development business selling new properties mainly in London and the South East, to a worldwide audience. Our customer database includes individuals who have purchased as occupiers, part-time occupiers, investors, first-time buyers, downsizers, people who live in the countryside and purchase small London flats for social reasons or business requirements and overseas parents That there are empty buying for their properties all over children studying or working in the UK. London is an absolute I can honestly say I do not know of one myth peddled by those Galliard property (and with no concept of the I have been selling them for 25 years) that property market has been left empty. David Galman, Galliard Homes We have built and sold 50,000. There will always be the odd crazy rich Middle Eastern or oligarch from the former Soviet Union who will buy somewhere very central – Kensington, Belgravia or Knightsbridge, for example – and leave it empty 11 months of the year. But this is not reality and by “discouraging” this practice will have zero impact on the “housing crisis” – only the tiniest fraction can afford to buy in these locations. The rest of us have to look for the next area, the next best thing, the new regeneration project. That there are empty properties all over London is an absolute myth, peddled by those with no concept of the property market and the challenges facing developers.
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David Galman is sales director at Galliard Homes which is delivering developments including Orchard Wharf, Harbour Central and The Stage Go to galliardhomes.com or follow @GalliardHomes and @DavidGalman on Twitter
meet the rental
guide we take the local temperature of the lettings market with expertise from Chase Evans By Jon Massey
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auren Houlihan knows the Docklands rental market. The lettings manager at Chase Evans’ Pan Peninsula branch on the Isle Of Dogs began her career there as a negotiator, going on to roles in Greenwich and on West India Quay with the company, before returning to the office where she first cut her teeth. Coming full circle geographically over seven years has given her a broad insight into what works and what doesn’t. The move back 18 months ago has also provided her with an opportunity to reconnect with some familar faces.
“I’ve been there back at Pan Peninsula for a year and a half now,” said the 31-year-old. “It’s nice going back to speak to landlords I’d previously worked with. They all still recognise me – there are a lot of names that stick in the memory from when I was first here. “I know the Pan Peninsula towers very well – it gets to the point where you know the floorplan and what size an apartment is by its number. It’s getting that way with a lot of the developments in the area” Depth of knowledge is always useful, but becomes essential in a market that, far from being depressed by Brexit, is buoyant with rising rents and healthy levels of activity. “The demand for the area is high,” said Lauren. “Brexit has had an effect but in a positive way in lettings. While people may not be buying, they still need somewhere to live so lettings has been very busy off the back of it. “At the moment it’s definitely having a positive impact on the sector. “As far as South Quay and the top end of the Isle Of Dogs, it’s a popular area. It really depends
on people’s budgets as to what they’re looking for. You have the higher-end developments such as Pan Peninsula, Dollar Bay, Lincoln Plaza and the Arena Tower. “People like the locations, the facilities and the size and finish of these apartments, so they’re willing to part with more rent to get those benefits. “You also have Canary Wharf close by and you have a lot of workers there who are trying to reduce their travel costs and times. We also find many people who work in the City like this location because it’s a very short commute and you tend to get a little bit more for your money near Canary Wharf. “The transport links are perfect – you’ve got the DLR and the Jubilee and you’ll have Crossrail too. It’s a very busy area during the week, very buoyant but at weekends it does slow down a bit and people like that as well. “There’s everything you need – supermarkets, shops and bars.” For investors and landlords keen to tap into that demand, Lauren said smaller properties were turning the heads of tenants. “Studios in general are like hot