This two-minute read will help you learn about conveyancing solicitors and how to find the right one for you. Whether you instruct a conveyancer or a solicitor, they essentially do the same thing when it comes to dealing with a property transaction. The terms are often used interchangeably by people who aren’t working in the industry. This is the person who does the paperwork for you when you are...
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In this three-minute read, we take a look at the most common rules and regulations that landlords need to remember. Being a landlord is a tricky business. There are nearly 200 different pieces of legislation covering the how, why, and when of managing a rental property. Here are just four that landlords are often not getting quite right. Deposit protection In England, Scotland, and Wales, the...
In this three-minute read, we look at a devious dupe that fraudsters use to rip off homeowners. Fraudsters will go to great lengths to make a buck – and that includes trying to steal a home from under the owner’s nose. Now, this may sound far-fetched, but this type of crime – called home hijacking – is real. Last year, the Land Registry beefed up its fraud management systems in...
In this three-minute read, we compare the different types of buy-to-let mortgages. When choosing the right buy-to-let mortgage, landlords face a key decision: go with an interest-only deal or opt for a capital repayment arrangement. Both options have their pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look. Interest-only mortgage Your payments only cover the interest on the loan and have no impact...
In this three-minute read, we look at how homebuyers can get a good mortgage deal. For most people, a mortgage is the biggest loan they’ll take out in their lifetime so, understandably, they want to land the best deal. But with hundreds of mortgage products on the market, it’s easy for homebuyers to feel overwhelmed or confused. There’s a lot to consider, including: Interest...
In this three-minute read, we look at who is responsible for maintaining the garden at a rental property. The most significant property trend to emerge from the pandemic has been the surge in demand – from buyers and renters – for properties with gardens. The race for space is undoubtedly good news for landlords marketing properties with a garden, balcony, or courtyard. And it’s...
This three-minute read gives you a few ideas to consider when choosing your removal firm. Getting the right people to help you move home is so important. This means your estate agent, your conveyancer, and the people that will do the physical heavy lifting. Choosing the right removal firm will make a big difference, not only on moving day itself, but before, and after, your move. Reviews and...
In this three-minute read, we look at what can go wrong if you side-step tenant reference checks and wind up with a bad tenant. New landlords often flirt with the idea of ditching traditional tenant selection processes and taking a DIY approach instead. After all, there are so many ways to source tenants these days – like Gumtree or social media – why bother with anything else? Trust us,...
Three-minute read to help you consider the Help to Buy Scheme from all angles. The Help to Buy scheme is a government-backed equity loan opportunity. It is also referred to as ‘shared equity’. The scheme is currently only available on new build properties. The loan from the government is up to 20% of the purchase price (40% in Greater London). This means that you only need to raise a 5%...
In this three-minute read, we look at why regular inspections should be central to your property management strategy. When you’re a busy landlord juggling a multitude of responsibilities, it’s easy to let a crucial part of managing a property – regular inspections – slide. Landlords usually carry out inspections with clockwork regularity at the start of a tenancy, but things can get a...