Three-minute read to help you consider the Help to Buy Scheme from all angles. The Help to Buy scheme is a government-backed equity loan opportunity. It is also referred to as ‘shared equity’. The scheme is currently only available on new build properties. The loan from the government is up to 20% of the purchase price (40% in Greater London). This means that you only need to raise a 5%...
2021
In this three-minute read, we look at why regular inspections should be central to your property management strategy. When you’re a busy landlord juggling a multitude of responsibilities, it’s easy to let a crucial part of managing a property – regular inspections – slide. Landlords usually carry out inspections with clockwork regularity at the start of a tenancy, but things can get a...
In this two-minute read, we look at why it pays to get an experienced estate agent to handle viewings. When it comes to selling a property, many people overlook the important role viewings play in the process. They mistakenly believe that viewings are simply about opening doors and making sure would-be buyers don’t nick any valuables. In fact, buyers share crucial information during...
This two-minute read takes a look at the ICO and what landlords need to do. Back in 2018, the rules around the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and data handling changed. Things like ‘This website uses cookies; do you accept?’ popped up everywhere. The ICO is the Information Commissioner’s Office and covers the whole of the UK. The ICO website explains that they are ‘The UK’s...
This three-minute read will help you maximise the kerb appeal for your property. A HomeOwners Alliance survey showed that 68% of potential buyers felt a property’s kerb appeal influenced their decision. Use these quick and easy tips to help your potential buyers fall in love at first sight. Pathways and driveways If you access your main entrance via a pathway or over a driveway, make sure you...
In this three-minute read, we look at ways landlords can prevent losing money in disputes about cleaning. It’s not just couples who bicker over who did or didn’t scrub the bathroom; landlords and tenants can often find themselves at odds on the thorny issue of cleaning. In fact, it’s the most common cause of landlord/tenant discord – 42% of end-of-tenancy disputes are about...
In this three-minute read, we celebrate the eccentric events that unite and delight. Whether it’s bog swimmers in mankinis or Vikings brandishing burning fence posts, Britain can lay claim to some of the world’s weirdest and most wonderful events. And while each is unique, they all have one thing in common: they’re rooted in the community. In an increasingly globalised, homogenous...
A two-minute read. As if selling your home, packing your belongings, and remembering to take the dog isn’t stressful enough, unfortunately, you can’t escape the paperwork palaver that comes with moving. Notifying companies and authorities of your change of address can be monotonous, but (for some things), it’s mandatory. (Not to mention the risk of being deleted from Aunty Marge’s Christmas...
This three-minute read guides landlords to declaring their rental income in the best way possible. If you rent out a property and receive a rental income from that, you must declare it. You have to pay tax on any profit. It doesn’t change your employment status to ‘self-employed’ though, as it’s considered an investment. Of course, HMRC can be more complicated than a day at Hogwarts. The...
In this three-minute read, we look at how homeowners can protect themselves from unscrupulous builders. We’ve all heard the renovation horror stories. The builder who does a runner halfway through a job, leaving a homeowner out of pocket and living in a construction site. The messy contractual dispute that winds up in court and ends in tears. Or the new roof that leaks at the first drop of...