Surprisingly Useful Blog...

Ah, summer holidays: long, lazy days spent reading books, sipping Piña Coladas and switching off.  Yes they may cost an arm and a leg, but what if we told you that your home could help pay for your trip - or at least clock up a nice bit of spending m...

Last week we looked at Labour’s manifesto, which revealed Jeremy Corbyn’s bold plans ‘for the many not the few.’ Today we’ll be digesting the Conservative manifesto and Theresa May’s “plans for a stronger, fairer, more prosperous Britain”.

Here ar...

Londoners in their thousands are turning to Airbnb as a way to generate extra income. And despite the 90 day limit, even seasoned landlords are coming round to the fact that a combination of Airbnb and traditional tenancy will maximise their return o...

With just three weeks to go until the General Election, we’ll be taking an objective look at each party’s manifesto and their plans for the country, economy and the London housing market.

Our series starts with Labour, who were first to release th...

We’re excited to announce we’ve rebranded Spencers to Portico!

As of today, Spencers (who also trade as Phillip Leigh) will exist under the Portico name, logo and website, bringing our network of branches to 18 across north, south, east and west L...

Your property has been on the market for a few weeks and you’ve had zero viewings and zero offers…

So why isn’t your home selling?

A lot of properties we view are often vacant with no furniture. We also see properties that are cluttered, or ren...

Thanks to Crossrail and improving transport links, investors and savvy homebuyers are now looking beyond central London in favour of the capital’s outer Zones.

Our resident property expert, Mark Lawrinson, highlights the latest hotspots in Zones 3...

Britain will be once again be returning to the polls. Theresa May has called for a snap General Election in a couple of months’ time, in an effort to secure support for Brexit.

So what will the election mean for the London property market? We’ve l...

Portico Host: a fantastic way to free up your time and earn money until you find a tenant, sell your property or while you're on holiday!

Here's everything you need to know about our Airbnb management service...

How does Portico Host work?

Looking for a new pad in the capital? We’ve picked out some fantastic properties currently available to rent - scroll down to view the list! If you’re interested in arranging a viewing, give us a call on 0207 099 4000.

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom | Cr...

New powers for Local Authorities were introduced last week (Thursday 6 April 2017), which allow councils to now issue a fine up to £30,000 for landlords who:

• Do not have the appropriate licensing for their HMO property
• Fail to comply with a h...

A one-bed near a future Crossrail station priced at £190,000? A first buyer pad in Battersea for under £350,000? A Grade II listed family home in Stockwell?

We’ve picked out some fantastic properties for sale in London - scroll down to view the li...

London’s newly crowned Elizabeth line is now less than two years away from fully opening, with the first new trains between Liverpool Street Main Line and Shenfield being introduced next month.

Recent forecasts have stated that houses prices along...

Portico Handymen are now operating in your area! Plus we’re offering a tempting £250 + VAT* day rate (8 hours) day rate, or a £1,100 + VAT* weekly rate (40 hours).

In other words, you can get all your big, small and niggly DIY jobs done by a Londo...

As of today, the 6th April 2017, landlords will no longer be able to deduct all of their finance costs from their property income to arrive at their profits. Instead, they will receive a basic rate reduction from their income tax liability for their ...

Despite us Brits having a love of DIY, our latest survey results show that tradesmen are increasingly being called out to perform basic jobs.

Have we become a capital of DIY dodgers? Or is hiring a pro simply easier than ever?

Read on for the f...

Today is a day that will go down in the history books. Prime Minister Theresa May has triggered Article 50, the president of the European council has been notified of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, and the Brexit process has officially begun.

He...

The sun is shining and spring is officially here, making it the ideal time to have a good old clear out in your home or rental property. But how can you get rid of your clutter in an ethical way?

Gone for Good is the free app that makes it easier ...

If you're tempted by the lucrative business of Airbnb, there are certain things to bear in mind.

Will your property be insured? What rules and regulations must you comply with? Is there a minimum time you can put your property up for rent? How doe...

If you’re planning on investing in London property, it pays to know about upcoming transport plans and improvements. As despite the fact that house price growth in London is likely to slow over the remainder of the year, London locations set to get a...

Flooring in a property can make a considerable impact on first impressions, so it pays to get it right. Here’s our top tips on choosing the right flooring for your rental property…

Consider the property’s use

The first step in choosing the ri...

The Budget has been set and the Chancellor will not be reversing the mortgage interest tax relief changes expected to come into effect next month, with many reacting to this by saying that the heady easy money days of buy-to-let property investment a...

Property is a long-term game, but you can certainly help speed up the profit process through buying at a bargain price.

If you’re looking for a new home or a great investment, check out the following properties, all of which are either below marke...

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, has delivered his first and last Spring Budget. Here’s our summary of the key points relevant to the property industry…

I’m a landlord - how am I affected?

Landlords across the country will be...

Renovating property can be extremely profitable - particularly if you buy in an up-and-coming area and stick to a budget!

If you’re looking to make money from property, check out our top renovation projects. We’ve included the potential sale and r...

A large number of landlords will be considering forming a limited company to negate the tax hit coming into effect in April - but is it the best move?

We’ve asked London Accountants, Accounts & Legal, and seasoned landlord, Richard Blanco, for som...

When it comes to property, for today’s young Londoners, price is the most important factor. An affordable price tag is closely followed by transport links - as after all, who wouldn’t want a quick and easy commute?

With that in mind, we’ve asked o...

The government has issued the 106-page housing white paper, but what does it really mean for first-time buyers, landlords, renters and homeowners in London?

We’ve digested the long-awaited document and picked out the five key points to be aware of...

Lenders have slashed mortgages to record lows, making it a great time to grab a deal and get on the housing ladder or invest in buy-to-let.

To help you discover the right deal for you, we’ve asked mortgage experts, Capricorn Financial for their ad...

The average house price in London may have tipped the half million pound mark, but first-time buyers shouldn’t give up hope! We’ve scoured our books and found 10 flats for £350,000 or under - most of which would also make excellent buy-to-let investm...

Thinking about moving this year? Maybe it’s time to think about buying new!

There’s a huge range of benefits to buying a new build property, from incentivised purchase schemes and energy efficiency, to the fact that you don’t need to wait for the ...

Airbnb’s popularity is on an inexorable rise. Currently there are a staggering 48,017 London hosts cashing in on Airbnb - and over 100 million users worldwide looking for accommodation that offers home comforts and favourable rates - two things large...

After a new rental pad? We’ve got you covered!

We’ve just taken on 15 loft style apartments, (studios, 1 beds and 2 beds), in an exclusive development in NW1. The building itself is steeped in history, cleverly renovated to make the most of the li...

What will 2017 hold for the London housing market?

We put some key questions to our resident property guru, Mark Lawrinson, plus reveal our key predictions and potential property hotspots that buyers, sellers and investors should be aware of this ...

Most landlords will know about standard buy-to-let mortgages, but you might not be aware of the other types of finance that can help grow or enhance a portfolio.

Karl Griggs, Director of CPC Finance, shares his property finance 101…

Buy-to-let ...

Get a glimpse into London living with our top property picks! Each listing has recently been reduced - some by £100,000 or more - so you’re guaranteed to get a great deal.

Give us a ring on 0207 099 4000 to arrange a viewing - or view all our prop...

Where’s the next property hotspot in the capital?

Mark Lawrinson, Regional Director of Portico London estate agents, reveals the 10 key areas tipped for house price growth next year...

1. East Croydon

Killer reason to buy or invest here:

We’re nearly at the end of 2016 and this year we’ve instructed and sold some truly beautiful properties. From old Victorian schools and converted-church mansions, to eco-homes and cottages in the City - we’ve had properties to suit a huge range of ta...

Our latest data shows that sale transaction levels across London have fallen dramatically. Mark Lawrinson discusses what this means for rental yields - plus gives his tips on investing in this market.

The London borough heat map

Let’s begin by ...

What impact has Brexit had on the private rental sector?

Richard Blanco, London Representative for the NLA, recently discussed the panorama landlords and investors are facing now the UK has decided to leave the European Union - here's what we took...