What’s in a street name?

When you're planning on buying a home, you're probably making a list of the key features of its location that are the most important to you. Or perhaps those that have the greatest appeal.

You might be thinking about catchment areas for schools for your kids. Or maybe it's the proximity of good transport links for work. Perhaps it's the location of a good pub or the night life that the location offers. You could be thinking about the quietness of the road and its lack of traffic, or the beauty of the neighbourhood controlled by being in a conservation area. It could be the choice of a rural setting over a bustling town that's important. Or… well, a number of other things that can help you make the right decision when it comes to buying that perfect property.

But would you consider the name of the road in which the property is found to be a primary driver for your move?

Zoopla, the online property website and app, has carried out some analysis on the common street names - and also the far less common names, some of which are quite esoteric and others simply quaint.

It should come as no surprise that the top three names are all related to where, traditionally speaking, the greatest activity for a township occurred when they were named: the high street for the shops, the station and the church. A little lower down the list, we start seeing references to the green (the centre of village life) and the local school.

The top ten road names in Zoopla's analysis are:

Source: Zoopla

At the other end of the scale, Zoopla has identified that there are around 288,000 road names that are unique - which might give them a certain cachet when it comes to buying a home located there. But it depends on the name, particularly some of the more unusual one's that Zoopla has identified.

The quirkiest on that list include the following:

Source: Zoopla

Some of these names might evoke a sense of romanticism, while others appear to be a little close to the knuckle regardless of the origins of the chosen name. Nowadays, these types of names for roads have generally fallen out of the decision-making process with that responsibility falling to the local council. 

Each council will have its own rules, which include the number of syllables within the name, the ease of spelling it, the association with the local area and people (although drawing short of naming it after someone who is still alive), nothing starting with “The” if possible, and usually reflecting the history, geography or the heritage of the local area.

Some of the choices of address have a greater or more important “feel” to them - for example, Number One, The Drive might sound exclusive and therefore more desirable. Others might be a talking point, while others might be off-putting to potential buyers. 

Is it a critical factor in deciding where you are going to live next? It's something you might want to include on your list but it's important will always come down to your preference. Try saying the potential new address out loud and see if it triggers anything in you.

As Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at Zoopla, says: 

“The name of the street you are moving to might not be the first thing you think about when entering into the home buying process, but it's certainly something that should be considered. 

“Some street names might put off future buyers, particularly if it has an unsavoury connotation. 

“That being said, a street name that is unusual might help avoid confusion when having post delivered or directing others to your property. 

“Right, I'm off to Bumble Hole Lane.”

If you're thinking of moving home to a road with a quaint or common name, you'll need to line up one of the best conveyancers, whose quality and focused service provides significant value for money.

That's where you can rely on the experts at Homeward Legal! 

They will start work on your planned purchase as soon as you agree to the quotation and appoint them to represent you. 

Homeward Legal will also provide a quote that will not change - what you are quoted is what you pay for standard conveyancing process.

There are some unforeseen items that might arise during the purchase and/or sale, but the solicitor discusses these and their cost as they come up. 

In addition, to protect the homebuyer further, Homeward Legal operates a ‘no completion, no fee' promise, which ensures that, should the purchase or sale not go through as planned to completion status, no payment is required.

Call  to get your conveyancing quote started, or to discuss your concerns with your plans to move.

Or you can get a quick quote, using Homeward Legal's easy-to-use quote generator.