2025

If you’re preparing a property for sale or to let, or simply want to smarten up your own home, here are some helpful cleaning tips. They’ll leave your kitchen and bathroom looking and smelling fresh without the use of harsh chemicals. Microwave Place a bowl containing water and a few slices of lemon in your microwave. Turn it on to cook for five minutes. Once it’s done, remove the bowl of...

It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night. Here is some advice on what you can do if you suspect your house or flat is haunted and you’re thinking of moving on.   Firstly, how to tell if your house is haunted   According to a report by The Guild of Property Professionals*, there are a few telltale signs:  ...

A new study* reveals that 54% of people in cities say their environment has become louder over the last five years, while 45% report that noise disrupts their lives on a weekly basis. With that in mind, let’s look at what landlords need to know about noise and noise complaints.   What Landlords Need to Know About Noise   Some types of noise are considered part of everyday life, and little...

If you’re looking to list your home this autumn, here’s a seasonal selling strategy to help you attract and impress buyers. When it comes to selling a home, there are a few fundamentals that apply year-round. It’s critical that you get the price right, have a clear-out and clean up and use a great agent. But along with nailing these essentials, it’s also worth making a few seasonal...

The number of households taking lodgers has risen by 89% in just three years.* Here are some points landlords should consider if their tenant has a lodger or asks for permission to have one.   A lodger is someone who lives with a homeowner or tenant in their main home as a paying guest. They share amenities in the home, such as a kitchen and bathroom, and may have meals and laundry provided. The...

Think you can’t afford to get on the property ladder? Well, think again. Thanks to changes in the mortgage market, the reality may be very different. Many aspiring first-time buyers (FTBs) have the wrong idea when it comes to mortgages, new research has found. A study by mortgage brokers Alexander Hall says many would-be FTBs don’t realise just how much the mortgage landscape has improved in the...

If you have a house or flat to let (or relet), then chances are you’ll have many applicants to choose from. Here are some thoughts on managing the process and selecting the very best tenant.   Have a great ‘to let’ advert   Have a detailed and accurate description of your rental, along with good photographs.   This helps by ensuring that only those tenants for whom the...

Whether it's pruning, planting or general maintenance, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the garden this month. Here’s a list of tasks to do in your garden now to prepare for the upcoming winter and next spring. Sweep, clear and tidy When the gorgeous red, yellow and orange autumn leaves start hitting the ground, it's time to get raking. Collect up dead leaves (ideally put them in a...

World Financial Planning Day takes place next week, on 8 October. It’s a day that’s designed to promote awareness of financial planning for your future. Here’s a simple action plan.   Review your spending   Go through your bank statements. Look at what outgoings you could cut or reduce.   One way to trim back on your spending is to cancel subscriptions for things you don’t...

First-time buyers have always been key drivers of the housing market. Their choices don’t just shape the property landscape today – they also hint at where things might head tomorrow. New research from Barclays has shed light on what’s driving the decisions of different generations as they become homeowners for the first time. And the results show that while affordability remains a universal...