Surprisingly Useful Blog...

It might seem a bit far-fetched to think that a particular scent in your home might help it to sell faster. While it’s true that a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies may make your home smell yummy, surely it couldn’t literally be responsib...

The Government has introduced new regulations on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the social rented sector, and new regulations on carbon monoxide alarms in the private rented sector.

The regulations apply both to houses and flats and also to HMOs....

When buying or selling a home, a key piece of information you need to know is how the property is legally owned, as this can influence your control and costs over the home.

Freehold and...

When choosing an area to live, there is so much to consider. For families, this also involves researching the best spots for educational opportunities.

While budget is inevitably a factor for most, finding a reputable school that your children will b...

Londoners typically love the hustle and bustle of the city, but we’re all human, and sooner or later, we need to escape and recharge.

Living in a capital city doesn’t immediately conjure up daydreams of idyllic woodland walks, but in fact, London has...

We’ve seen plenty of updates that affect the property market this week, with the base interest rate being increased again yesterday, and the mini budget being announced today. The new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Kwasi Kwarteng, led the announcement ...

It feels like we are only a few years away from being able to order something to be delivered to our house by blinking. In an era where all the world’s ‘stuff’ is at our virtual fingertips, it’s no wonder that creative solutions to managing clutter a...

Legionella or Legionnaires’ Disease is a type of bacteria that can lead to serious health problems. It is caused by problems in water systems that allow the bacteria to thrive and spread to residents through spray, mist or vapour.

Although Legionella...

In April 2020, during the first lockdown, many property forecasters were expecting the property market to fall by 5-15% with organisations, such as the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), estimating falls of 13%.

But, the opposite happe...

It’s estimated that 59% of households already have a pet in the UK. Most have dogs, while cat ownership comes in at a close second. In contrast, according to Battersea Dogs Home, the number of households occupied by private renters has doubled in siz...

We’re excited to announce that we have teamed up with AO, so our landlords can access a wider range of products with better availability than ever before.

Founded in 2000, AO supplies over 10 million customers with electricals and kitchen appliances t...

For much of 2020 and 2021, the rules and guidance around travel and social distancing meant those who could do their job from home were required or encouraged to do so. People who already had the luxury of a home office or a spare room they could con...

Since the pandemic, property prices have, on average, risen in England by 22% and by 30% in Wales according to the Government’s Land Registry data. This rise was completely unexpected with most forecasters at the time believing that property prices w...

Back in the good old eighties, working from home was a very rare occurrence. According to the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD), in those days, a mere 1.5% of the employed population of the UK worked from the comfort o...

In response to the devastating fires at Grenfell Tower, the government brought in new fire safety regulations to ensure that buildings with cladding are free of any fire safety defects.

First introduced in 2018, the EWS1 forms (External Wall System F...

It’s no secret that curb appeal is an important but often overlooked aspect of home presentation when it comes to selling up. Still, whether you’re on the move or want to make the most of your property’s aesthetic, one of the features that can signif...

The average age of renters opting to live in shared property is going up, and is currently higher than ever.

According to recent data released by London accommodation supplier, Built Asset Management, the average age of renters living in shared accomm...

Deciding whether to let a property fully furnished or unfurnished is a decision landlords should base not only on their personal circumstances but on the demand from tenants, to ensure minimal void periods.

There is no right or wrong answer and the ty...

Whenever it’s reported that average property prices have risen, there’s some comment about affordability - usually that first-time buyers are being priced out of the market and many people can’t afford to trade up.

Given the double-digit average price...

The Government’s Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, produced by the Office of National Statistics, showed that rents in many areas were static to falling from 2020 and through most of 2021.

Their figures show that in the 12 months to December 202...

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s a place to cook, eat, spend quality time with loved ones, entertain guests, even work from - so much time is often spent in the kitchen. For this reason, it pays to prioritise the kitchen when it co...

Back in the good old eighties, working from home was a very rare occurrence. According to the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD), in those days, a mere 1.5% of the employed population of the UK worked from the comfort o...

Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are becoming increasingly popular for property investors. According to Zoopla, the average gross yield is 5.2%, but when renting rooms individually as opposed to letting the whole property as a single unit, you ca...

There have been lots of predictions over the last few months about the housing market ‘crashing’, ‘falling off a cliff’ and ‘bubbles bursting’, driven by media headlines of double-digit property price growth.

But just because house prices have risen r...

Insurance and tax aren’t the most exciting topics, but they are two of the most important to understand. These are some of the top questions we get asked by landlords.

Do I need landlord insurance?

Insurers consider a tenanted property to be higher ris...

The August Bank Holiday weekend is fast approaching, and while for many it signals adventuring to events and such, for many, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some time at home.

Here are a range of great ideas to help you make the most of the Au...

 If there’s one thing us Brits never talk about, it’s the weather. Ok, that’s in no way true. Still, with this summer’s sweltering temperatures reaching record-breaking heights, it’s only natural for it to be the talk of the country - as much as we l...

Amidst the cacophony of low-inventory concerns, soaring property values, and the cost of living crisis, the London property market is surprisingly robust. The capital is waking up from its Covid slumber and welcoming city dwellers back in their drove...

Probate properties often represent excellent value for money, but the process of buying one is a little unique. As a result, there can be some added risks and delays, and it can help to better understand the nature of probate sales to best handle the...

Figures for the second quarter of 2022 are in, and the results are as expected: the London lettings market is red hot, quite possibly the most competitive market on record. At the same time, mortgage rates continue to track at low rates, property sup...

The Government has signed up the UK to reduce carbon emissions by more than any other similarly developed country by 2050. This target will undoubtedly impact the property market, given that “around 22% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our home...

There are a variety of checks that a landlord or letting agent will work through when assessing your rental application. Some checks are legal requirements, while others may be conducted at the landlord's or agent's discretion, although most follow t...

Can you sell a house with tenants in it? It is certainly possible to sell your property with current tenants in situ; the real question is whether or not it is preferable to do so. There are certainly upsides, but it can also complicate matters; ulti...

The Crossrail opening has finally come, and with it, buyer competition continues to surge around many stops along the line.

With interest rates on the up and the cost of living crisis not yet behind us, many Londonders are taking advantage of the new...

Property prices have done well in most parts of the UK over the last couple of years, with some areas seeing double-digit percentage rises. That’s great news for landlords, especially since the media in 2020 was flooded with predictions that lockdown...

Throughout the pandemic, there were many reports of both homeowners and renters moving out of cities to smaller towns and villages, to take advantage of the extra space and easy access to countryside that comes with more rural locations.

A year ago, a...

In a bid to bring London's iconic docklands site back to life, the government has pledged £233m of infrastructure funding, backing one of the UK's most significant regeneration projects.

Government public body, Homes England, will provide the £233m in...

Once you reach the contract signing stage of the property buying process, you're on the home straight, and that's an exciting time. However, while most of the hard work has been done, there is still a little more to the exchange of contracts process ...

The conditions of the pandemic brought about so many unexpected changes as we contemplated our way of living and resigned ourselves to being at home more.

It was tough, yet being confined to our home environments also created some healthy changes for ...

Properties for sale on short-term lease arrangements are becoming increasingly rare. Consequently, many buyers do not understand the implications of buying a short-lease property, sometimes not even being fully aware of it until far into the purchasi...