Property Sparrow enjoys a day out

Last week, as a change from fluttering around in the garden, Property Sparrow enjoyed a day out in London.

She took with her: a packed lunch
a small plastic trowel for light weeding
an old carrier bag for litter
her notebook

Journey time from her garden in a small market town in the Home Counties to her Lettings Agents’ office in SE25 – 2 hrs 10 mins. As the crow flies, 51 miles.

Property Sparrow:-

1. Chatted to her Lettings Agent in person for the first time in over a year.
2. Went inside one of her flats with her Lettings Agent (this flat will be void at the end of the month and the tenant had kindly allowed access).
3. Saw the water leaks on the ceilings caused by a hole in the roof of the flat above, an ongoing saga.
4. Spotted that the kitchen window was smashed and that no one has reported it or done anything about it
5. Thought that, after a continuous tenancy of five years, that the flat is not half bad and that it has been well looked after.

6. Asked her Lettings Agent to give her best wishes to her tenant.
7. Was dismayed at the state of the hedge at the front of the building and the scruffy and smelly entrance hall.
8. Drafted a stern letter to the freeholders’ agent about a permanent solution to the roof and the state of the management of the building.
9. Wrote a brief spec for void works and took it back to the Lettings Agents’ office.
10. Flew on for about half a mile to the outside of one of her other flats.
11. Weeded the allocated parking space and a communal brick planter that no one else ever touches.
12. Pecked at and picked up three crisp packets, an ice cream wrapper and a discarded Bic lighter.
13. Looked round the whole complex at the main car park and a communal garden and jotted down some repairs.
14. Went on to the head office of the freeholders’ managing agent for this complex in time for the AGM at 5.30PM.
15. Met the freeholders' Estate Manager there for the first time and some of the neighbours. With them, sorted out the repairs and fussed over litter and weeds.
16. Made soothing noises to two of the residents who were bickering about the car park.
17. Got a blister on her little toe.

Property Sparrow spent:
Travelcard £13.80
Small cappuccino and a KitKat £2.50
Caesar salad and orange juice £5.75
Total £22.05

On the train on the way home, Property Sparrow thought she had enjoyed her day out. Was it worth it? DEFINITELY. She thinks that there is no substitute for seeing your properties with your own beady eyes, even if it’s only once in a while.