Flats to rent in Oval & SW9 and Houses to rent in Oval & SW9

Around the huge cricket ground of Kennington, the Oval area features some quietly magnificent properties.

Oval is a thriving place, busy, multicultural, plugged into the whole South London network of roads and train lines - you can get virtually anywhere from here without much fuss at all. There are excellent restaurants, great bars and pubs, and good parades of little shops spreading towards Clapham to the West, and Elephant and Castle to the East.

In terms of property Oval does sit in the shadow of its eponymous cricket ground. Over the years this and its access has meant a good number of flats, of varying quality - though this quality has of necessity improved as competition in the housing market accelerated. Young professionals are common here in the purpose-built flats as well as the subdivided houses. Houses are harder to come by in the Oval area, but tend to be Victorian and Georgian terraces. These are of varying sizes, and these days almost universally of excellent quality, levels of decor and fitting. They are also very desirable with the locals, and are hard to come by and should be viewed quickly.

Oval is in the Borough of Lambeth 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 Lambeth website: Borough of Lambeth

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 Lambeth Council Tax