2023

Tenants can enjoy a carefree summer at home or abroad by bearing in mind a few issues relating to their rental property. This week’s lettings article looks at the issues that tenants need to be aware of in the summer months. At last summer is here, so what are your plans? Have you booked an exciting getaway in an exotic location? Or is the aim to kick back and relax on home turf? Whatever...

Why a local estate agent is a seller’s best choice In this week’s sales article, we explore how agents with local knowledge could help sellers get the most for their property. If you’re selling a property, you’ve got a big decision to make. Which estate agent do you pick? Should you go with an independent local agency or choose a big-name brand?  Should you use an agent based on the...

Is renting the best option for you? In this week’s lettings article, we look at the advantages of renting a property over buying. The pitfalls of renting are always shouted about too expensive, dodgy landlords, broken appliances and so on and so on. But what about the positives? With rental reforms on the horizon and changes to eviction rules in full swing, let’s explore why being a tenant is...

In this week’s article, we look at plant species that affect house sales and why buyers should be made aware of them.  Post pandemic, having outside space has taken on a whole new level of importance and can add significant value to a property. But what happens when your garden oasis threatens the chance of selling your home? Some lush green plants might look nice but could signal trouble for...

If you’re a landlord about to settle a new tenant into a property, there’s one phrase that should be your guiding mantra: “Start as you mean to go on”. Because what you do in the early stages of a tenancy will help define what unfolds over the next weeks, months and possibly years. Get things right, and you’ll build the foundations of a long and successful tenant-landlord relationship (the...

Picture this: After a long and exhausting property search you finally find the home that’s just right for you. But then the estate agent mentions that it’s a ‘probate property’ and you’re left scratching your head. While it’s a term that you’ve heard before, you’re not entirely sure what it means and if it could scupper your homebuying plans. Well, let us explain. What is...

In this lettings article, we examine who should do what in the garden of a rental property. Garden maintenance can be a thorny issue between tenants and landlords, so here’s a useful guide to help avoid confusion. Now that spring is here, there are lots of tasks to be done in the garden, such as watering, weeding and mowing. But if the garden is part of a rental property, who is responsible for...

Why do you need a mortgage broker? In this week’s sales article, we look at how mortgage brokers can save buyers time, money and hassle. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to remortgage your property, getting a good mortgage deal is probably top on your list of priorities. You could lose hours scrolling through comparison sites, frantically searching for high street lenders’...

After a four-year wait and lots of speculation, a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the rental sector was finally presented to Parliament this week. The Renters’ Reform Bill includes changes to eviction laws, the creation of a Private Rental Ombudsman to resolve disputes and measures to speed up the existing court process. The bill will now be scrutinised by MPs and members of the House of Lords, so...

What’s your bedroom like? In this week’s community interest article, we look at ways to make your bedroom feel like a luxury hotel. It’s estimated that the average person spends 26 years of their life asleep and nearly seven years trying to get to sleep, so your bedroom needs to be somewhere you really want to spend your time. Your bed and its surroundings should be comfortable and...