Teen's tip helps family secure £535,000 London home

A 13-year-old boy’s suggestion from a school friend helped his parents secure a three-bedroom flat in New Barnet for £535,000 in April.

Iqbal Ahmed, a writer and hotel industry worker with 25 years of experience, told Metro that his family of three had been living in a one-bedroom flat in East Finchley.

Ahmed said the cramped space became difficult to manage as his son, Adam, grew older. Adam turned 13 in March, and the family needed more room for the teenager to have his own space.

The search began nearby, but Adam’s classmate mentioned new properties available in New Barnet.

Adam and his mother, Asia, viewed the complex while Ahmed was at work. They called him to join the viewing, and he was drawn to the south-facing orientation of the unit on the fourth floor.

Ahmed noted that the flat offered a different view every evening, leading him to photograph the sunset frequently. The light also allows for a clear view of the sky, which Adam used to watch a solar eclipse through a colander.

The couple purchased the property through Fairview, which allowed them to pay a 5% deposit of £26,650 instead of the standard 10%. Their mortgage stands at £1,800 per month at a fixed rate of 4.99% for five years.

Monthly utilities include approximately £120 for electricity, £45 for water, and £80 for phone and internet services. Ahmed anticipates service charges and council tax could add over £200 monthly, though those bills were still pending at the time of the interview.

The family has furnished the home with second-hand items from a local shop run by North London Hospice. Ahmed spent about £1,400 on furniture, a cost he said would be impossible to match with new purchases.

The move provides a dedicated office for Ahmed and a bedroom for Adam. The family plans to host an exchange student from Germany in December, a prospect that was not feasible in their previous one-bedroom home.

Ahmed said the balcony door required a minor repair within the first two weeks to fix a drafty gap, but the issue was resolved quickly. The family expects to finish furnishing the flat over the next six months.