The Impact of Education on the London Property Market

In my ten years as a property finder, most of my clients this year have bought in London for purely educational purposes. The parents of a Canadian studying at Central St Martins School of Arts bought her a flat in the Barbican, a Lebanese student’s parents bought in South Kensington and two families relocated from Eastern Europe to Hampstead and Richmond.

According to a recent ISC census European pupil numbers have risen despite Brexit. Furthermore, overseas pupils account for 5.4% of overall pupil numbers, almost half of which are from Europe. This percentage is expected to increase next year. Areas that contain some of Londons excellent schools – either fee paying or government funded – like Wimbledon, Richmond, Notting Hill, South Kensington, Westminster, Fulham, and Hampstead experience a higher demand compared to other similarly desirable areas.

Research by Knight Frank shows that properties near the best schools achieve on average an 11% premium. Another selling agent mentioned that buying a property within a good school catchment area will cushion your investment, should there be a softening in the local market.

The international community consider London as one of the best cities that provide an excellent education system. London, in comparison to let’s say, New York, Berlin, or Switzerland, has a few advantages. Geographically its very convenient; Eastern Europeans, Russians, Middle Easterners and Americans can travel directly and easily to London and it’s a gateway into Europe. The time zone is incredibly useful, as you can still speak to your children at a relatively social hour. Most importantly, English is universal and children will find it easy to settle here.

London is an incredible historic city and provides some of the world’s greatest museums, art collections, concerts and theatre. It is safe to say that the student will gain not only an excellent education but a chance to develop other life lessons just by living here. They might also benefit from investing in a place to live during their stay.