Live free for a year in Wandsworth town centre (From Your Local Guardian)

Live free for a year in Wandsworth town centre

3:50pm Monday 9th February 2009 in Wandsworth By Katie Wilson

An estate agent is so desperate to shift flats in the stagnant property market it is offering potential buyers £20,000 worth of “lifestyle incentives”.

The one and two bedroom apartments at Hardwick Square, in Wandsworth town centre, cost between £249,950 and £350,000.

However, 10 buyers will also be given the chance to “live free for a year” with up to £20,000 of lifestyle perks should they put in an offer.

The deal includes a £100-per-month mobile phone bill, £80 a week in Waitrose vouchers, a Virgin Active gym membership worth £75 a month and a 12-month travelcard for zones one and two.

Council tax will also paid for the year and buyers will get £10,000 off the asking price as part of the deal.

The only snag is buyers will have to put in their offers on a property by the end of this month.

If buyers are not entirely happy with the £20,000 of incentives, a cash alternative may also be made available at the discretion of the seller.

Nick Vaughan, director of Hamptons International which is marketing the flats, said: “This is a fantastic lifestyle offer and could not come at a better time, with many people worrying from one month to the next about paying their bills.

“This not only covers many of the day-to-day bills, but also allows a little luxury guaranteed to lift the mood.”

Despite the incentive scheme, only a quarter of the 62 apartments have been snapped up since going on sale five months ago.

Rival estate agents are sceptical whether the deal will work.

Richard Le Neve Foster, senior sales negotiator at Winkworth in Southfields, said: “Property developers are trying everything and anything to sell flats, but I doubt this will work at the moment. It certainly wouldn’t be enough to make me commit to buying.”