2025

If you're sick of staring at a screen, take up stargazing and see the world from a different perspective. Every major civilisation has looked to the night skies for inspiration and information. The Romans believed the stars and planets were the gateway to the Gods. The Mayans used astronomy to determine when to plant and harvest crops. And explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Sir Francis...

For many parents, proximity to an outstanding school tops their property wish list. Here’s what you need to know before relocating for a school place. The desire to live in the catchment area of a good school is nothing new. Ten years ago, one in four families moved or changed their address to get a child into the school of their choice.* However, the issue came under renewed attention last year...

If you're a landlord and you're thinking of selling your rental, then it could potentially lead to a big tax bill. Here's what you need to know.   What tax do you pay when selling a buy-to-let?   Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax charged on the gain you make when you sell certain assets.   CGT is payable when you make a gain on selling an investment property, including a...

Ensure young children are safe and secure in your home by following these simple measures. Young children can be curious and unpredictable, which is why you can never be too careful when it comes to safety around the home. Let’s look at three key areas where you can make simple but potentially life-saving changes at your property. In the kitchen Install child-proof locks and latches on...

What’s happening in the housing market, and what’s on the horizon for the rest of 2025? Let’s look at the latest property news. Base rate decision The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee took a steady-as-she-goes approach to interest rates when it met last month. The committee held the base rate at 4.5%. Bank Governor Andrew Bailey said he still thinks “interest rates are on a...

Redecorating your rental helps protect your investment and keeps your tenants on side. Here, we’ll look at how often you should refresh your buy-to-let.   The law on rental redecoration   There are no specific rules on how often you must redecorate a rental property.   The law says that a rental property must be fit to live in, safe and free from hazards. So it is something that...

Spring is a great time to get outdoors and help your local environment. Here are three ways you could join in.   1.Join (or start) a clean-up group The idea of local clean-up groups is to help the environment by doing all those small jobs that local councils often don’t manage to do. Clean-up groups typically meet once a month. You can give as much or as little time as you like. Jobs done...

AI is technology that enables computers to simulate human intelligence. It can gather information, learn from it and even make decisions. You may already use AI in your daily life. For example, Alexa can tell you what’s in the news today. And if you ask ChatGPT for, say, a Victoria sponge recipe it will find you one instantly.   Can AI take the hard work out of finding a home?  To...

Ensure everything stays rosy with your tenants by following these simple garden maintenance strategies. A garden can be a real drawcard at a rental property, helping to attract and keep good quality tenants. But garden maintenance can be a thorny subject and consistently ranks among the top five causes of end-of-tenancy deposit disputes*. So what triggers garden disagreements, and how can...

As this month is Frugal February, now’s the time to take charge of your finances. Here are three tips to help you save and prosper. 1. If it’s a takeaway – walk away Steer clear of anything that’s a takeaway – whether it’s a coffee, sandwich or full meal. You can usually enjoy the same thing (maybe something even nicer) by making it yourself. February is a good month to...