Flats to Rent or Houses For Sale in Friern Barnet London & N11

A small suburb of Barnet, but a very countrified and lovely one, Friern Barnet is as good an area to look for a splendid family home as any in the region and one that's almost uniformly charming and pleasant.

Until the 19th Century like much of London, Friern Barnet was entirely rural, until the railway, and Colney Hatch Hospital, were opened and flourished. But it retains to a great degree the country feel that it started with, and is filled with excellent green spaces. Friary Park is a nearby hotspot for walks, and there's an excellent nature reserve at Coppetts Wood, where rare plants and animals can be seen. Schools are good in the area by reputation and Ofsted report. This is very much a residential area, but there are plenty of excellent areas within a few minutes - Muswell Hill, North Finchley, and New Southgate - which provide fabulous choices of restaurants, bars and shopping. However there are some shops, good locals and eateries in the immediate vicinity, as well as little beauty parlours and salons.

There are excellent properties of every description in Friern. Excellent roads of Victorian and Edwardian semis vie with some very large, impressive 20th century houses. Many houses are whole, but there are conversions to be found; most have excellent gardens. The area is noted for the upmarket modern development of Princess Park Manor, a lovely Victorian refurbishment where several stars and celebrities are known to have apartments. Next door to this development is the modern village, filled with well constructed and quite desirable houses, of Friern Village.

This is an area of very good housing that is not ridiculously overpriced, but is on the up and generally desirable. It's quiet, unassuming and peaceful; a place to relax, with everything you need on your doorstep.

Friern Barnet is in the Borough of Barnet 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 Barnet website: Borough of Barnet

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 Barnet Council Tax