House hunters

The increasing demand for houses, rather than flats in London is underlined by the quarterly review of Cluttons London Residential. In Fulham house prices have risen 16.3 per cent in the past year as a result of too many buyers chasing too few properties. Prices for flats have only risen by 8.2 per cent, only half as much, but still a very healthy rise after five years of decline. The bigger the house, the bigger the price-rise. While three-bedroom houses have gone up 16.3 per cent, four-bedroom houses have risen 14 per cent and five- to six-bedroom houses have gone up 18.8 per cent.