Improving the outside of your property as a leaseholder without a share of the freehold

I don't think you actually will find any properties at all in Clapham common for £1m that are a lot bigger than a probate property in East Dulwich.    A lot smaller for the same money maybe. 

What happened to Clapham? You are going to get subsidence in most places.. if you have the money and thinking about resale or letting plus schools, amenities then certain parts of Herne Hill would be fine.. Plenty of people on forum would love to have clearly the budget you have to buy a property.. Your problem is, tbh.. you want a bargain and that is not going to happen in the areas you are looking in.. Most properties, with respect are sold before coming on the market or via word of mouth.. My advice, work with an agent not several as they compare notes, accept the fact that if you go via an agent, owner will be paying a fee to the agent.. Guess you are what is called “time waster”…     Actually, why don’t you buy in the country.. 

@Sephiroth I agree and since most affordable courier companies now expect you to stay in for at least half a day for a delivery and even then have weasel-worded T&Cs that outline that half day 'window' as an aim not a guarantee, making it is moveable delivery 'feast', it is no wonder parcels go missing. 

People don’t go out of their way to leave  their valuables out on the porch  they are most likely at work when a delivery company decides on their behalf to just leave it on the doorstep.  They are the problem not “people being surprised when their items disappear”