Flats to rent in Raynes Park & SW20 and Houses to rent in Raynes Park & SW20

Those wonderful Southwest suburbs just keep in leaping up once you start to look at any decent map; like others of its kind, Raynes Park is a splendid place to live whether you're a professional, a young couple, a longterm resident or a growing family. It's fantastic for access into town, and is right next to one of (perhaps the) most desirable of the outer SW suburbs, Wimbledon, as well as being very close to Kingston or Sutton. As the housing boom made areas around here more desirable, Raynes Park has become definitely a place to be.

Of course being very close to Wimbledon and Kingston means excellent shopping choices whether you're after buying food for the family or a must-have electrical item. It's also helped push up the value of property here to the point where living in Raynes Park is comparable in terms of desirability to living in Wimbledon, or nearby Copse Hill or Coombe.

Raynes Park began serious development in the late 19th Century, and the houses here are a mix of Victorian and Edwardian in the main. The Cottenham Park area is a stronghold of the Victorian property, with excellent houses lining well maintained and very safe streets. Other areas include the lovely detached areas around Grand Drive, where many of the area's most desirable houses are found in excellent grounds. South of the railway which bisects Raynes Park are streets known as the Apostles, featuring large and excellent Edwardian.

The area is stuffed with pretty shops and little cafes, and is busy and bustling. Local amenities make the most of the area's excellent parks and nearby open spaces, with Merton Park and Prince George's Playing field close at hand, hosting not just local football teams but also fairs and festivals. This park has the area's leisure centre nearby which is extremely popular. Drinking and eating are easy with plenty of pubs and eateries nearby, and the wider choice of Wimbledon, Kingston and other areas close as well.

Raynes Park is extremely safe, has excellent houses, and is a fantastic place to live whatever age you are, or aims you have.

Raynes Park is in the Borough of Merton 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 Merton website: Borough of Merton

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 Merton Council Tax