Esher Property & Architecture Guide

Esher’s spacious and secluded detached homes have helped establish the commuter town as a retreat for high-net-worth individuals, but buyers may be surprised by the town’s architectural range.

It’s true that detached houses dominate, selling for over £1.5 million as per Rightmove data. You are just as likely to find a Victorian property in the heart of town as a suburban inter-war detached house, with new build homes and apartments to be found if you know where to look.

London buyers will also find that the cost of a Putney terrace or Chelsea flat, you can obtain a four-bedroom detached house in Esher. If you relocating from London or overseas, or simply moving from elsewhere in Surrey, this guide introduces you to Esher’s architecture and the homes you will find on the local property market.

Esher Property Types

Space is a common theme in Esher, typified by the detached houses on quarter-acre-plus plots to the south of the High Street and around Esher Green. Largely Victorian and Edwardian in origin, many were rebuilt or substantially extended during the inter-war years and afterwards. Buyers seeking an additional level of security can find newer detached houses semi-detached homes and apartments within Esher’s exclusive gated communities.

But look close to the station and you will see the bay windows of Edwardian semi-detached houses. Some are preserved as family homes, while other Victorian and Edwardian properties have been converted into flats. Terraced houses can be few and far between, but the neighbouring villages of Thames Ditton or Claygate can offer more.

Conservation Areas & Listed Buildings in Esher

Esher has a designated conservation area centred on Esher Green and the historic heart of the village, administered by Elmbridge Borough Council. This has helped to preserve the area’s Georgian and early Victorian buildings, though buyers should expect their permitted development rights to be more limited in return for living within this historic setting. As an example, you will usually need approval for external alterations that can be seen from a public highway.

Several buildings in and around the conservation area are listed, such as the Grade II listed Christ Church and the former Embassy Cinema building, now Everyman. To the south of Esher, Claremont Landscape Garden is home to Grade II and Grade II* listed cottages, temples and grottos. Buyers should note, though, that some Esher homes are also listed buildings and you should take professional advice on the implications before before exchanging contracts.

Esher’s Period Property Features

Victorian Homes

Many of Esher’s largest early Victorian homes have been converted into flats. While these were designed with wealthier owners in mind, the later examples tend to be more compact workers’ cottages. These are some of the period features to look out for in your property search.

• Two-storey London stock brick homes
• Bay windows
• Sash windows
• Slate roofs
• Clay ridge tiles
• Decorative bargeboards
• Gable detailing on larger villas
• Original fireplaces
• Cast-iron ranges in older kitchens

Edwardian

Edwardian houses in Esher are typically well maintained, but as always, inspect the individual property carefully. The period’s generous room proportions and natural light have kept demand consistent, and these properties rarely sit on the market long.

• Red brick or roughcast render
• Catslide or hipped roofs
• Clay tiles
• Wide frontages
• Prominent gabled dormers
• Generous entrance halls
• Dado rails and picture rails
• Leaded-light casement windows
• Sash windows
• Larger plots than many Victorian homes

Inter-war

Buyers will find practical inter-war semi-detached homes and detached houses between the station and the outer roads. Many boast rear extensions and loft conversions, which adds valuable space, but establish what has planning consent before you buy.

• Pebbledash or roughcast render
• Mock-Tudor timbering
• Hipped roofs
• Concrete interlocking tiles
• Metal windows on earlier houses
• Timber casements on later homes
• Garages

Want to know more? Find out what it’s like living in Esher and discover the best streets in Esher.

Recent Developments in Esher

The potential redevelopment of Elmbridge Civic Centre in the town centre could represent a major project, with Elmbridge Borough Council considering options to redevelop the site for up to 400 homes. If the proposal moves forwards, it could bring a large number of new build homes to the High Street area.

As well as new build developments at Portsmouth Road and Littleworth Road, buyers may find new conversions of larger Victorian and Edwardian houses coming onto the market. For a current picture of the local property market and new planning applications across Elmbridge, contact Davies Property Partners or consult out Land & New Homes page for updates as new schemes come to market.

Gardens in Esher

It’s not unusual for Esher’s larger detached houses to sit on plots of up to half an acre, often with mature planting in their deep gardens. Local Victorian and Edwardian semi-detached homes often benefit from a little more space and a handy side return. The back gardens of Esher’s Victorian terraces can be narrower, and the front gardens more compact and often re-utilited for off-street parking.

When it comes to purpose-built flat blocks, those built in the 1970s and 1980s are more likely to have communal grounds rather than private gardens. Converted flats in period houses may have shared or allocated garden space, but the arrangement varies widely and should be checked in the lease. Off-street parking is standard for detached and semi-detached houses; it is less consistent for flats and terraces close to the station.

However, private gardens are just the beginning in leafy Esher. The heathland of Esher Common, and playgrounds, tennis courts and football pitches of the West End Recreation Ground, are close by. Keen gardeners (and garden admirers) can just as easily take inspiration from the National Trust’s 18th Century Claremont Landscape Garden. Set out by Sir John Vanbrugh and ‘Capability’ Brown, it offers stunning vistas and features to explore.

Buying in Esher: What to Check

When buying a period property at Esher’s price points, it’s not worth leaving anything to chance. A full structural survey by a RICS-accredited surveyor with experience of Surrey period homes may not be legally required, but it should be considered essential.

Issues worth specific attention include:

• Solid brick walls. Most Victorian and Edwardian houses have solid brick walls with no cavity. Rising and penetrating damp are more common than in cavity-wall post-war houses, and remediation is expensive. Check for signs at ground-floor level and around chimney breasts.
• Roof structure and coverings. Check the condition of the roof. Original slate roofs on Victorian houses are often nearing the end of their serviceable life, while the concrete interlocking tiles on inter-war houses can become porous over time.
• Chimney stacks. Many Esher houses have multiple chimney stacks but not all of the original fireplaces may be in use. Establish which are live and which have been capped to prevent water ingress.
• Drainage and pipework. Older properties may retain cast-iron or clay drainage runs. A CCTV drain survey is advisable, particularly where extensions have been added.
• Electrical systems: Older wiring may not meet current standards, so ask for an Electrical Installation Condition Report if one isn’t provided.
• Leasehold and lease length: Flat buyers should check the property’s service charges and planned major works. Review the remaining lease length, as leases below 80 years can be costly to extend.
• Conservation area consents. If the property is within or adjacent to Esher Conservation Area, establish whether past alterations had formal consent as you could be subject to retrospective enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keen to find the right home in Esher?

How does your property’s condition and the period it dates from affect its value? Whether you are planning to sell your home in Esher or buying in the area, Davies Property Partners can assist. Contact us or search our properties to find out about properties currently on the market – or arrange a valuation with the team.If you’re looking to buy or rent in Esher, then register today, and get property updates as soon as any new homes come to market.