August 2025 – Nest in Essex

August 2025

A Buyer’s Guide to Green Homes

It’s good to be green. But here are some things to bear in mind if you’re considering buying a green home.   What exactly is a green home?   A green home is usually thought of as being a property that is very energy efficient, eco-friendly and sustainable.   A green home will have high levels of insulation, thermal efficiency and water efficiency. It is likely to have solar...

The Clock’s Ticking: Why Landlords Should Prepare for Making Tax Digital Now

Some landlords will have to change the way they file their tax returns from April next year. Read on to find out if you will be affected.   Here’s a friendly reminder that changes in the way HMRC expects the self-employed, including landlords, to manage their tax returns are coming.   The initiative, called Making Tax Digital (MTD), is about digitising the tax...

Should You Fit an EV Charger in Your Buy-to-Let?

There are now 1.3 million electric vehicles on UK roads, with numbers rising 38% over the last year alone.* Here’s what landlords need to know about the demand for electric vehicle charging.   Do you need to fit an EV charger in your property?   There is currently no legal requirement for rental properties to offer EV charging.   However, all new build homes with private parking...

What to Consider Before You Invest in a Garden Room

If you’re desperate for more space at home, could a room in the garden be the solution? Here’s what you need to consider first. With children increasingly living with their parents well into their twenties and thirties, many homeowners are yearning for more living space. The obvious answer to this quandary is to build an extension. But when this isn’t feasible (due to limited finances or...

Make Handling Tenant Complaints a Breeze With Our Simple, Stress-Free Tips

Even good landlords with good tenants sometimes receive complaints. Here are some top tips for handling any complaints you might receive quickly and easily.   What do tenants complain about most?   According to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)*, most complaints aren’t actually about major disasters. They’re about small everyday issues. (Things that are pretty...

Don’t Fall for It! Why Overvaluing a Property Can Spell Disaster

Here are some home truths about property overvaluations that you must read if you're thinking about listing your property. If it's too good to be true…well, you know how the rest of the saying goes. In fact, you've probably used it when a friend or family member has asked you for financial or business advice. But even if you're usually the first to spot when something's not quite right, that...

How to Avoid a Last-Minute Back-to-School Scramble

To avoid a last-ditch panic, it’s worth making back-to-school preparations sooner rather than later. All good things must come to an end, even the summer holidays. While this may not be something you want to contemplate just yet, it pays to think ahead and avoid leaving everything to the last minute. The return to drop-offs, pick-ups and homework can be a shock to the system, for the whole...

The New Mortgage Guarantee Scheme Explained

The Government has recently announced a new mortgage guarantee scheme. Here we’ll explain how it works and what it might mean for the property market.   What is the new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme?   The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is an official scheme where the government backs mortgages that are larger than a bank or building society may be willing to offer.   In practical terms,...

Survey Reveals the Truth Behind ‘Landlord Exodus’ Claims

A new survey pours cold water on the claim that landlords are abandoning the private rental sector in droves. The press loves a dramatic headline, don’t they? Back in December, one national newspaper ran this thundering warning: ‘The devastating landlord exodus about to hit Britain.’ Other mainstream and specialist property news outlets followed suit, claiming that the private rental sector...

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