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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…