2024

If you’re on a budget, DIY is a great way to improve your home without spending a fortune on tradespeople. But it’s not always as easy as home makeover teams make it look. Many well-intentioned homeowners start projects only to discover they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. They end up spending a lot more time and money on the job than they intended. DIY fails can have more severe...

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...

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...

Working from home (WFH) is the norm for many Brits – 26% do it at least some of the time*. But it’s easy to fall into a rut when your domestic and professional lives play out in the same location. When this happens, simple tasks take longer to complete, and your mental health can suffer. So, how can workers stay productive while still enjoying the benefits of WFH? Here are three...

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...

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...

Let’s face it – doing property maintenance isn’t many people’s idea of a good time. However, keeping on top of maintenance can help ensure your property’s value in the long term. Here are our top three tips for maintaining your property’s value over time. Look after your roof (and your roof will look after you) Roofs are often neglected. But they are the most important part of every...

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...

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,...

Unfortunately, when the nights get longer, this time of year can be open season for burglars looking to target your home. Now is the perfect time to review your home security and see what improvements you can make. Here are three tips to improve your home’s security. The simplest measures are the best Some of the most effective security precautions are simple and cost very little – apart...