July Market Update

The Bank of England have held the UK base rate at 3.75% for the fifth consecutive time, but the cost of mortgage borrowing is currently considerably higher. As of today, 30th July the average two-year fixed rate deal is 5.62% and a five-year deal is 5.66%. Earlier this year, mortgage deals were more competitive with lower rates, well under 5%, despite the Bank of England rate remaining unchanged.The conflict in Iran has pushed the cost of oil up, subsequently pushing … Continue Reading…

Andy Burnham and the Housing Market: What Happens Next?

It’s been more than a week since Andy Burnham became Britain’s new Prime Minister.

The political excitement has begun to settle, the media has moved on to the next story, and many people are now asking a more practical question.

Will any of this actually affect the housing market?

It’s a fair question. Housing has been one of the biggest political talking points in recent years, with affordability, planning reform and housebuilding rarely out of the headlines.

The simple answer is yes… but probably … Continue Reading…

A Week On: What Britain’s New Prime Minister Means for Landlords

It’s been more than a week since Andy Burnham became Britain’s new Prime Minister and, after the inevitable political excitement, many landlords are beginning to ask a more practical question.

What does this actually mean for me?

The honest answer is that nobody yet knows every detail.

Governments rarely transform the housing market overnight and, despite the headlines, most changes affecting landlords take months or even years to filter through.

However, enough has now been said to identify some clear themes.

The first is that … Continue Reading…

One Simple Choice Can Make Your House Move Much Less Stressful

Moving day. Two words that can strike fear into even the calmest of homeowners.

Boxes everywhere. Wardrobes that won’t fit through doorways. A van running late while the new owners are already waiting for the keys.

Here’s the good news: choosing the right removals company sorts out most of that stress before it even starts.

Start looking the moment you have a date

Leave it too late, and you’ll have fewer choices and probably a higher bill. Fancy saving some cash? A midweek move … Continue Reading…

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

Selling your home is a big decision, and choosing the right estate agent is one of the most important choices you’ll make.

Most agents work hard, act professionally and genuinely want the best outcome for their clients. But, like any industry, you’ll sometimes hear claims that sound too good to be true.

Now, they might well be true.

The point is not to dismiss them. It’s to ask a few sensible questions before taking them at face value.

Here are five common claims that … Continue Reading…

Beat the Rush: Five Jobs Every Landlord Should Book Now

Right now, your rental property is probably behaving itself. Tenants are happy, the sun’s out, nothing’s leaking. Enjoy it while it lasts, because it usually won’t last long.

The moment the weather turns, so does everyone’s diary.

Come October/November, that changes fast.

Heating engineers get booked solid. Roofers stop taking new jobs until spring. Electricians and decorators start turning things down because they’re already up to their eyes in it.

Sort these five jobs now, and you’ll thank yourself later, plus it’ll keep tenants … Continue Reading…

How Home Buyers Have Changed over 10 Years

Think back to 2016.

Leicester City were Premier League champions, the iPhone 7 had just been launched, and if your home had a conservatory and a decent kitchen, many buyers were impressed.

Fast forward to today. Leicester City’s fortunes are very different, iPhones have evolved beyond recognition, and home buyers expect far more than they did a decade ago.

Back then, floor plans weren’t always included, broadband speed rarely came up in conversation, and few people gave any thought to charging an electric … Continue Reading…

FAO Landlords: Would YOU Rent Your Own Property?

Here’s a question every landlord should ask themselves from time to time.

Would you be happy to rent your own property?

Not as an investor looking at the monthly figures. Not as the owner who already knows every quirk and compromise. But as someone collecting the keys tomorrow and planning to call it home for the next year.

It’s a surprisingly useful exercise because landlords and tenants don’t look at a property in the same way.

As a landlord, you might focus on rental … Continue Reading…

From Air Con to Shade Gardens: How Homes Are Adapting to a Changing Climate

Not so long ago, air conditioning in a British home was considered a bit extravagant. Something for hotels, maybe. Or offices. Not for a three-bed semi in our neck of the woods, perhaps.

Things have changed. Summers are hotter. Winters are wetter. And homeowners across the UK are quietly starting to adapt.

Here are five ways the changing climate is already reshaping how people think about their homes.

Air conditioning is no longer a luxury

Sales of home air conditioning units have risen sharply … Continue Reading…