2025

What do tenants really want in a rental? The answer is surprisingly personal. When tenants feel happy in a rental, they’re more likely to stay put and look after the property. For landlords, this can mean a long-running, trouble-free tenancy (and who doesn’t want that?). So what elevates a rental from being a roof over one’s head to a home? A recent survey* of 2,000 tenants gives us an...

When you’re selling your property, material information is one of the many things you need to know about. Here’s an explanation of what material information is and how important new rules will affect you.   What is material information in a property sale?   Material information is basic information about a house or flat that prospective buyers need to know.   Material...

Are you too busy to commit to volunteering every week? Don’t worry, here are three ways you can still give back to good causes. From first aiders and fundraisers to dog walkers and drivers, it’s time to celebrate Britain’s vast army of volunteers. Next week is Volunteers’ Week (June 2 to 8), a chance for us all to recognise the contribution of the nation’s 13 million volunteers. This...

Rentvesting is an arrangement where you rent a home to live in yourself, but buy a property elsewhere and rent it out.   Rentvesting has received a lot of attention in Australia, New Zealand and the USA in recent years. Here we’ll look at whether it might work for you.   The pros of rentvesting   Rentvesting might appeal to people who live and work in one area but don’t want to...

Don't underestimate how much a beautifully presented garden can sway buyers and help you clinch a great price for your home. When it comes to preparing a home for listing, there's a lot to do. But in your effort to get the interior of your home 'just right', don't forget about another key asset – your garden. If you're lucky enough to have outdoor space in the form of a garden, patio or...

Nothing beats the taste of homegrown vegetables. Here are three summer veggies that are easy to grow in your garden, or in planters or pots.   Lettuce   Lettuce is the easiest veg to grow bar none. Although usually thought of as a garden veg, lettuce will grow just as happily in planters and pots (minimum 15cm soil depth). You can grow it indoors, too.   There are dozens...

It’s been a bumpy ride on the stock market this year. In contrast, property has proved to be a stable, resilient investment option. Two issues have dominated the economic news this year: Trump’s tariffs and stock market volatility. But amid all the chaos, one story has gone somewhat under the radar: the solid performance of the property market. As we near the mid-point of 2025 (yes, it’s...

Shared houses or HMOs are often thought of as being a very lucrative type of property investment. Here's what you must know before investing in an HMO or converting your existing property into one. What is an HMO? An HMO (house in multiple occupation) is a property where the rooms are let individually to different people. Tenants have their own bedroom and may share communal amenities like...

Landlords who make any of these common mistakes could find their insurer refuses to pay out on claims. Picture this: you’ve been loyally paying your landlord insurance premiums for years without ever making a claim. Then there’s an unfortunate and unforeseen incident at your buy-to-let. Once you’ve dealt with the immediate crisis, you lodge a claim with your insurer (which is quite a faff...

If you're weighing up whether to extend your home or move to a new property, here are some tips to help you make the right decision. Many homeowners reach a point where they find themselves at a crossroads. After many happy years in their home, they realise it no longer suits their needs. This leaves them with two options: to renovate/extend their property or list it and find something that's a...