Surprisingly Useful Blog...

The lockdowns have been lifted, summer is nearing full swing, and house prices are on the up. Rents have continued to drop somewhat in some London locations, but tenant registrations are up and the return of overseas students coupled with the reopeni...

Are you a first-time buyer? Buying your first property is probably the most expensive purchase you are ever going to make so you should not go into it half-heartedly. To help you, we have put together a list of our top ten tips to get your foot on th...

Whether you're looking to find a new rental property or just fancy a browse, why not scroll through some of our favourite rental properties new to the Portico market! If you’re interested in any of the below properties, click through for further deta...

When restoring, updating, or otherwise renovating a Grade II listed building, there are strict Do’s and Don’ts or rules and limitations on how the process must be handled. These  protectionary laws can make it challenging, so it’s important to know w...

Having your own private garden, roof terrace, balcony, patio or even access to a communal garden has increasingly risen in popularity for many house hunters since the start of the pandemic whether looking to buy or rent.

According to Portico Dulwich...

The vaccine roll-out has finally ushered in the lifting of many lockdowns and restrictions, and with that comes the promise of improved economic conditions. This should have a positive impact on the property market, giving investors a better outlook ...

30th June 2021, first-time buyers purchasing a property under the half a million mark will not have to pay any stamp duty tax on the first £500,000. This translates into a saving of up to £15,000.

Then, from the 30th June to the end of September, the...

Landlord responsibilities go beyond simply keeping the property in good condition; there are also specific regulations that must be followed. Should you be out of compliance, you will face either hefty fines or a loss of your landlord’s rights. That ...

As the country returns to some level of normalcy, the big question is just how the London rental market has withstood the ravages of the pandemic. We know that Covid-19 drove average central London rents down by 13%, and that some areas even saw them...

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are a very common type of rental property throughout the UK. HMOs can be a great investment vehicle to achieve high ROIs, but landlords with HMOs do have some additional legal responsibilities to fulfil in order t...

Why would you want to invest, rent or buy in a regeneration area? If it’s being regenerated, there must be problems to start with. That’s the simple response, but look a little deeper and you’ll find that your purchase or home move could prove valuab...

As a professional landlord, you aim to run your business at a profit. That means maximising rental income and minimising your expenses. But, when it comes to filing your tax return, you need to turn that thinking on its head and maximise the expenses...

Homebuyers with small deposits are set to receive assistance to successfully enter or climb the property ladder, thanks to a government initiative called the mortgage guarantee scheme.

As outlined by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the new scheme is designed ...

The residential sector of the market has recovered remarkably well from Covid, although the rental market is currently somewhat divided. Generally speaking, demand is still strong and rental growth still positive and increasing in outer London. Withi...

It’s no secret by now that the conditions of the pandemic have created massive shifts in the market, including significant changes in trends and preferences. Not surprisingly, in the midst of a seemingly endless lockdown, people all over the country ...

It has been estimated by the Economic Statistics Centre of Excellence (ESCoE) that approximately 700,000 people fled the capital in 2020 and early 2021, as the industries that employed them shut down as a result of the pandemic. Many returned to thei...

Thousands upon thousands of flat owners are currently unable to sell due to an ongoing cladding scandal. However this issue could finally be resolved for some, thanks to a long-anticipated update to the guidelines.

New cladding guidance issued by the ...

To assist anyone wishing to get into the Airbnb market in time for the anticipated summer boom, we have launched a Portico Host special offer!

We are offering people that sign up to our Airbnb Management Services 50% off sign-up costs until Easter. Th...

While your primary motivator when renovating may be to improve the living space for yourself or to create more space, many improvements can also considerably boost the value of your home. That being said, no two home improvements are the same when it...

Before the words regarding the roadmap out of lockdown even finished leaving Boris Johnson’s lips, Brits were online booking up a storm for a much needed getaway. Bookings for holiday lets, Airbnbs and hotels surged as the update was delivered, with ...

The UK’s financial stability has historically mirrored the health of the housing market sector. In the wake of Covid-19 when lockdowns first ensued, the market briefly all but froze. But as a result of the stamp duty holiday and various other economi...

2020 was a difficult year for landlords, but the Government’s recent announcement of the road out of lockdown signals the promise of improved economic conditions. That should have a positive impact on the property market and a better outlook for inve...

According to research, March is the best month to put your property on the market in the UK if you want to sell quickly and for the best price - and this March is no exception. Lockdown conditions and work and lifestyle changes have been inspiring pe...

Millions of homeowners are set to potentially save themselves thousands of pounds by freeing themselves from expensive ground rents, thanks to new leasehold reforms that the government has described as one of the biggest property law changes in 40 ye...

If you’re a first-time buyer or struggling to get a mortgage, there was some good news in January. The number of mortgage products requiring a 10 percent deposit has made a strong return since the low point in summer 2020.

Back then, there were just ...

Are you considering a remortgage? Maybe you hope to reduce your outgoings or raise funds to improve your home. Interest rates have been low for some time now, so is this the time to make your application and save yourself some real money?

Before you ...

The Stamp Duty Holiday deadline is fast approaching, and as it does, sellers, buyers and property professionals are scrambling to get their transactions over the line before 30th June 2021. In order to avoid paying Stamp Duty at a higher rate, transa...

The country’s third lockdown in less than twelve months is set to last until at least the middle of February, although the situation is under regular review. However, unlike the first lockdown in March, which effectively brought the property market t...

After a year that had most rethink their way of life, interior trends are certainly echoing a shift in needs and priorities into 2021. For many in the UK and beyond, this coming year appears to be shaping up to be much like the last - hunkering down ...

We might be in lockdown 3 but the property market is still moving and there are plenty of deals to be had in 2021, find yourself a chain free property and you may even miss paying stamp duty on your first home. Whether you're looking to get on the pr...

2020 was certainly an interesting year. We had the pandemic, national lockdowns, restrictions on property viewings, low interest rates, a stamp duty holiday and the end of Brexit. A year to remember, but for many of the wrong reasons. So, against thi...

At this time of year, landlords and property investors are looking hard at the prospects for 2021. We often get asked about the next property hotspots and where to buy property in London.

Traditionally, this would have been a time for upbeat forecast...

It might be Christmas Eve, but that doesn't change the deadline to complete your tax returns. If you have income from a rental property, you’re liable to pay self-assessment income tax —and on 31st January 2021 you need to have filed your annual tax ...

The pandemic has seen the housing market go through a roller coaster ride, with an initial slowdown as viewings ceased during the March lockdown, followed by a mini-boom triggered in part by the Chancellor’s initiative of a Stamp Duty holiday. By the...

If you’re looking for a home in a neighbourhood that offers a good quality of life, Redbridge on the Eastern fringes of London could be a good choice.

In a recent survey by the Office of National Statistics, Redbridge came top of all London boroughs ...

As the economic effects of the pandemic continue to bite, landlords face uncertainty about the risk of rent arrears. However, our newly packaged Concierge lettings package will reduce this risk with a free 12 month rent guarantee courtesy of Goodlord...

The Green Homes Grant scheme is a £2billion fund to help homeowners pay for improvements that will reduce demand for energy, such as wall, loft and floor insulation, double glazing and low-carbon heating equipment like heat pumps.

However, since the ...

Yes, that's right, we are back! Sadly not coming to you from the Institute of Directors, where we would normally expect to see you all fill the beautiful rooms. But, the show must go on and for 2020 that means in the form of a webinar.

After the NLA ...

As the year draws to a close, we consult our Yield Map to explore the best areas to invest in property in London right now. The map auto-updates with the latest property sold prices and, offering really strong rental yields, these four areas are just...

It was a significant announcement and one that has potentially seismic consequences for prospective first-time home buyers and a broad range of people in the property and financial industries.

Recently, The Telegraph broke an exclusive interview with...