THE British athletes may be regular visitors to the medal podium when the 2012 Olympic Games rolls into London, but other big winners are likely to be the homeowners in those parts of Kent closest to the capital.

If London’s property market performs as the other host cities have done in recent times, homeowners can expect a windfall, which will more than make up for the inconvenience and increased community charge.

Each of the last four summer Olympic host cities have seen property value rises of above the national average in the five-year run-up to the Games, the premium period for Olympic related development activity.

In medals terms, Barcelona 1992 takes the gold after house prices soared by a staggering 131 per cent, 48 per cent higher than Spain’s average of 83 per cent in the five-year run-up to the Games.

Athens in 2004 and Sydney 2000 shared silver in the ‘house price jump’ event after prices rose by 63 per cent compared with the Greek average of 55 per cent and in Sydney by 50 per cent, compared with the Australian average of 39 per cent.

"The London Olympics will have a profound and long-lasting effect on local property markets in the Lea Valley, the Thames Gateway and into Kent and Surrey where significant investment in the road and rail network will dramatically reduce travel times," said Trevor Hines of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Prices in the area, especially east London, had already been increasing and a surge was inevitable.

With the regeneration would come jobs, growing economic confidence and further investment.

Commenting on the potential boom in the capital, Mr Hines added: "The win represents an enormous triumph for the UK, and London in particular.

"In relation to property investment it will act as a significant catalyst for regeneration in the Thames Gateway.

"In addition to facilitating redevelopment in the Lower Lea Valley, the relocation of businesses is likely to cause a domino effect in securing the regeneration of areas further to the east.

"This in turn will mean that there will be a big need for the skills of Chartered Surveyors to assist in land assembly, planning and development to realise this vision to allow the UK to capitalise on the success."