Flats to Rent or Houses For Sale in Elephant and Castle London & SE17

The tradition of naming entire areas of London after significant junctions reaches its greatest level in Elephant and Castle. The junction is confusing, but the housing around it has definitely turned a corner in the last few years.

For years plans have been afoot to develop the area but at long last, these have been approved and are now under way. This regeneration, long overdue in the mind of many, will see the Elephant and Castle's residential and commercial property get a serious shot in the arm.

Access (it's easy to get almost anywhere in London, north, south, east or west from the tube and bus networks), nightlife, eating and drinking and a real buzz are the watchwords of Elephant and Castle right now. There are great bars and local pubs, as well as a huge range of restaurants close at hand. Just a little way off the main roads are good cafes and local shops, including the great East Street Market only a couple of minutes walk from the stations. True, there are few big green spaces - but there are lovely churchyards and little squares dotting the dense network of streets to the southeast of the Elephant and Castle itself; with the plans for regeneration are included the creation of four more open spaces in the district.

In terms of places to live the Elephant is principally a mix of Victorian terraces and apartment blocks. This is mainly a place for great apartments as with the regeneration, there are stunning new developments coming in, some replacing the older blocks of flats. But if you're after a house in this area there are still plenty available a little further away from the vibe of the central Elephant and Castle area, both in the Victorian areas and the occasional square of Georgian properties. All are still at good, competitive prices, perhaps because of the press of the area and its downbeat reputation. But this reputation is getting a massive facelift with the £1.5 billion regeneration, so moving fast is advisable to get a great hold of properties that are still a fantastic investment.

Elephant and Castle is in the Borough of Southwark which holds the responsibility for delivering services in your area.
For specific information on this borough, or to contact individual departments please click here to visit their website.

Borough of Southwark website: Borough of Southwark

In General:
The London boroughs are administrative centres responsible for collecting local taxes (Council Tax and Business Rates) and then spending the funds received on local services. They are run by Borough Councils who are elected by borough residents on a four year cycle. The totals that they spend will depend on the rates of tax that they levy plus funds allocated from central government and other sources.

While many of the services (schools, roads, planning, rubbish collection and social services) are standard, levels of provision will vary according to the overall political will as expressed by the voters.

Your tax liability (as a resident) will be based on the council tax band of your home. These bands are set by Valuation Officers and there is scope for appeal. The rate bands are then used to determine the amounts of tax levied. So, while the bands will remain largely constant the levels of tax can go up and, in theory, down.

You may claim discounts or exemptions based on your circumstances. For example, as the only adult in a property you can get a 25% reduction on your bill. Other reductions are available for qualifying second adults and Council Tax Benefit claimants.

There is more information available at the HM Customs & Excise website.

Borough of Southwark Council Tax