Downsizing in Kew: What You Would Actually Release
Selling at the £900,000 Kew average and buying at £630,000 releases about £232,300 after costs. Fees, stamp duty and moving take roughly £37,700 of it.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Selling at the £900,000 Kew average and buying at £630,000 releases about £232,300 after costs. Fees, stamp duty and moving take roughly £37,700 of it.
Running the downsizing numbers in Kew
Start with the gap. Selling at £900,000 and buying at 70% of that, £630,000, leaves £270,000 before costs. Costs are the part people underestimate.
Agent fees at 1.5% are £13,500. Stamp duty on the purchase is £21,500. Total £37,700, leaving £232,300 in hand.
Where the sale proceeds go
The commercial page for this town sets out the introduction itself: Equity release in Kew.
Two routes to the same cash, priced
A lifetime mortgage at 65 on the same property would release about £306,000. Downsizing nets £232,300. The difference is that downsizing costs you the house, and equity release costs you the estate.
Over twenty years that £306,000 release grows to roughly £1,078,235. The downsizing figure does not grow at all, because there is no debt.
Bands, stock and timing
Council tax follows the property, not the person. Band D in Kew is £2,486, and a smaller home may sit in a lower band. Check the band before you offer, not after.
Downsizing works best when you are not in a hurry.
Moving within London rather than out of it keeps you near family and known services. The average price across the county towns we cover is £732,469, against £900,000 here.
What a move within Kew looks like
The schools families ask about here are The King's CofE Primary School, Darell Primary and Nursery School, Kew Riverside Primary School, Kew College Prep and Broomfield House School. 3 local schools were rated Good or Outstanding overall at their most recent graded Ofsted inspection. Ratings age between inspections, so read the latest report before you rely on one.
On getting about: Kew Gardens to Richmond takes about 3 to 5 min.
By price, Kew ranks 49 of the 320 London locations we cover, at £900,000 against a county average of £732,469. Band D council tax here is £2,486, against an average of £2,121 across the towns we cover in the county.
Is Kew right to stay in?
Kew is an affluent, leafy riverside village-suburb famous for its gardens.
The full local guide covers schools, transport and the market in detail: Kew property and area guide.
- An affluent, leafy riverside village-suburb
- The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens on the doorstep
- A rare District line & Overground station
- Kew Green, Kew Palace & a village feel
- Good local schools & popular independents
- A premium suburb at London prices and above
- District line is a slower route into town
- Traffic and noise near the South Circular & Kew Bridge
- Flood risk on the riverside & low-lying Kew Green
- Flats/new-builds/Kew Riverside homes need lease checks
| Who it suits | Out of five | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Families | ★★★★★ | Good local schools (The King's CofE, Darell and Kew Riverside are Good primaries, plus the independent Kew College Prep and Broomfield House), the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Green and the river, and a safe village feel, a strong family suburb. |
| Upsizers | ★★★★★ | Handsome Victorian and Edwardian villas, and premium period houses around Kew Green and near the gardens, give real family space and gardens, at a premium, but with schools, world-class green space and a strong commute. |
| Professionals | ★★★★★ | A rare dual District line and Overground station, the world-famous gardens and a leafy riverside village setting suit professionals wanting space, connectivity and character within reach of town. |
| Commuters | ★★★★☆ | Kew Gardens is on the District line (direct to the West End and City) and the Overground (to Richmond and out to Stratford), with Kew Bridge on South Western Railway just over the river, strong connections, though the District line is a slower, stopping route into town. |
| First-time buyers | ★★★☆☆ | Purpose-built and newer flats around Kew Riverside and the retail-park fringe (often around £450,000 to £650,000) offer a way into a highly sought-after riverside suburb, but house prices are firmly at premium London levels. |
Kew is known locally for The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's great botanic gardens, the defining landmark of the suburb.
Practical detail for Kew: the TW9 postcode district and nearest A and E is West Middlesex (Isleworth) or Kingston, a drive; verify with NHS.
Kew has history behind the price. In 18th c., The royal family keep houses and gardens at Kew, from which the Royal Botanic Gardens grow, Kew Palace still stands within them.
Kew at a glance
| Downsizing line | Kew figure |
|---|---|
| Sale price, local average | £900,000 |
| Purchase at 70% of value | £630,000 |
| Estate agent at 1.5% | £13,500 |
| Stamp duty on purchase | £21,500 |
| Legal and moving | £2,700 |
| Total costs | £37,700 |
| Net released | £232,300 |
| Lifetime mortgage alternative at 65 | £306,000 |
Figures are local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own numbers before acting on them.
Ask about Kew
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
Your checklist
- A real valuation of your home, not the £900,000 average
- The council tax band of the property you are buying
- Total moving costs of about £37,700
- The equity release comparison, in writing, before you decide
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to. There is no obligation.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Kew
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Kew, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
How much would I release by downsizing in Kew?
Is downsizing better than equity release?
What are the costs of moving?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Kew?
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