Monthly Archives: November 2024


271124 What’s in Store for the Property Market in AREA in 2025

What’s in Store for the Property Market in 2025?

With the end of the year drawing closer, housing experts have revealed their predictions for 2025 and beyond – and the news is positive.

According to national property firms Hamptons, Savills and JLL, the future looks bright.

There’s no talk of a boom but rather cautious optimism for a steady-as-she-goes uptick.

But first, a quick report card on 2024

The market has outperformed expectations.

Hamptons predicts that by the end of the year, 1.1 million properties will have changed hands (well up on the 996,000 … Continue Reading…


251124 AREA Landlords – It’s Time to Make a Start on Your Tax Return

Landlords – It’s Time to Make a Start on Your Tax Return

If you’re a landlord, the deadline for filing your 2023-2024 income tax return is fast approaching. Here are some important things you need to know.

When to file your tax return

Self-employed landlords need to file their tax return (and pay any tax owed) each year using the self assessment system. For the 2023-2024 financial year, this must be done by 31 January 2025 (unless HMRC has notified you otherwise).

If you don’t, you will receive an automatic £100 penalty. This will increase … Continue Reading…


Breaking News-How Inflation Influences the Property Market Woman

How Does Inflation Affect the Property Market?

The latest Consumer Prices Index (CPI) released by the Office for National Statistics revealed that inflation increased from 1.7% in September to 2.3% in October.

But how exactly does inflation impact the property market?

There is a link. But it is not quite as simple as it might seem.

When inflation rises or falls, it does not necessarily mean that house prices are rising or falling. The CPI, the main measure of inflation in the UK, does not include house prices or mortgage … Continue Reading…


201124 Lighting Tips to Help Sell Your House in Winter

Lighting Tips to Help Sell Your House in Winter

Grey, cloudy days and darker nights don’t show your property to its best advantage. So, here are a few simple lighting tips that will help turn your home from dull to brilliant. They’re ideal when you’re doing winter viewings.

Make your house shine out

Garden lighting will boost your property’s kerb appeal and showcase what your garden offers even when it’s dark. (As well as helping prospective buyers find their way around.)

Invest in a smart new light fitting for the front door. … Continue Reading…


181124 Tackling Mould in a Rental What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know

Tackling Mould in a Rental: What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know

Despite greater awareness and tougher legislative measures, mould can still be a significant issue for landlords and tenants.

A new survey has found that 43% of tenants have experienced problems with mould and damp in their rental*.

And cases appear to be becoming more – not less – prevalent.

Experts attribute this to changing weather patterns (sadly, we’re getting more rain than ever in the UK)**.

High energy prices don’t help either, as cash-conscious tenants are now more frugal when heating their homes. (Keeping … Continue Reading…


131124 The Impact of the Autumn Budget on the AREA Property Market

How the Budget Will Impact the Property Market

Now that the dust has settled on the Autumn Budget, let’s look at how it will impact the property market.

When the Chancellor unveiled her Budget a fortnight ago, she didn’t do things by halves.

Rachel Reeves went big on tax, spending and borrowing in a Budget that accounting firm PwC described as “a concoction of sweet and sour”.

While the Budget didn’t turn out to be as seismic for the property market as some had predicted, there were a few important changes.

Stamp … Continue Reading…


111124 What the Budget Means for the Lettings Market in AREA Woman

What the Budget Means for the Lettings Market

Now the dust has settled on the Budget, let’s look at what it might mean for landlords and buy-to-let investors.

The overall themes behind the Budget, according to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, were economic stability and growth, investment and putting more money in our pockets. But there were also £40bn of tax rises to fill the infamous £22bn black hole Labour says it’s inherited.

The key changes that might affect landlords were:

Stamp Duty increase for additional properties

The big story here was the increase … Continue Reading…


061124 Interest Rate Cut… Is Tomorrow the Day

Interest Rate Cut… Is Tomorrow the Day?

The Bank of England meets tomorrow (Thursday 7 November) to set the official Bank Rate or base rate as it is also known.

This is the rate that banks and building societies use to set the interest rates they charge borrowers.

The last interest rate reduction was in August, from 5.25% to 5%.

At the end of this summer, some experts were predicting there could be two more rate cuts this year.

So, it was something of a surprise when, at the Bank’s last … Continue Reading…


041124 How the Best Landlords Do the Basics Brilliantly

How the Best Landlords Do the Basics Brilliantly

Have you ever wondered how some landlords seem to run successful portfolios and others don’t seem to crack the rental property puzzle?

In our experience, we’ve seen what the best do that the rest don’t.

And the answer is surprisingly simple; they do the basics brilliantly.

The best landlords have weathered many storms over the years, from interest rate rises and market turmoil to regulatory and tax changes.

And they’ve seen countless Prime Ministers, Chancellors and Housing Secretaries (there’s been a revolving door in … Continue Reading…