The Race is On to Beat Stamp Duty Changes

Changes to Stamp Duty come into force next year. Read on to learn how much they’ll cost you and how to deal with them effectively.

December is traditionally a quiet month in the property market – but that’s not proving to be the case this year.

Buyer demand is up with the property portal Rightmove suggesting first-time buyers (FTBs) are leading the charge*.

So why is there so much momentum when buyers and sellers typically ease off in the run-up to Christmas?

As many … Continue Reading…

Changes to Leasehold Laws, What You Need to Know

If you own or are buying or selling a leasehold property, there could be some significant changes to think about in 2025.

With a leasehold property, you own the property but don’t own the land it sits on. Instead, you have a lease on it for a set number of years. You also pay ground rent to whoever owns the land – the freeholder.

There are five million leasehold properties in England and Wales. Most flats and some houses are leasehold. (Scotland … Continue Reading…

The Best Day for Sellers is Coming Soon – Act Now

What is the Boxing Day surge, and why should sellers act now to capitalise on it? Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re considering selling your home, a big day for showcasing your property to potential buyers is nearly upon us.

Boxing Day and the days after are often thought of as days for eating Turkey leftovers, watching old films or visiting relatives (including some we’d perhaps rather not).

But there’s something else these days are quickly becoming known for: it’s one … Continue Reading…

Christmas Checklist For Landlords

Want to enjoy a safe and stress-free Christmas without an emergency call from your tenants? Then, run through this helpful checklist.

Christmas is just a few weeks away, but don’t put your feet up yet if you’re a landlord.

While emergencies are rare at a rental property, they can crop up occasionally – even on Christmas Day.

A pipe could burst, the back fence could blow over, or some other unfortunate mishap that requires your urgent attention.

But there are ways you can minimise … Continue Reading…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…