South House, Cranleigh

?Tennis courts are crucial,? says Rupert Bradstock of buying agent, Property Vision. ?Ninety per cent of our clients with a budget of £1million plus will want a country house with a tennis court. What people don?t realise is that if the property doesn?t already have one, it is not simply a case of installing one in the field next to the house. Planning permission will be required to put in a hard tennis court:

If it is in the garden, it is likely that planning consent will be forthcoming, but if it is in an orchard or field, then consent might be trickier to obtain. If a property does not have a tennis court and there is doubt over whether planning permission can be obtained, this would certainly affect saleability.?

South House, Cranleigh. ?It has incredible views and yet is only seven minutes? walk from Cranleigh,? says Brenda Moore, who has enjoyed 22 happy years here. She has worked for the Friends of the Royal Marsden for 42 years. ?The family have loved coming here for weekends of swimming and tennis.?

5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, new bungalow, swimming pool. 24 acres. £2.75m. Cottage by sep neg. Knight Frank (01483 565171)