Recent Articles

Kate's full property price update for August 2015 (in: Buying and Selling Property Checklists)
Aug 24, 2015

We take an in depth look each month at what the property price reports are telling us. They tend to measure the market at different times and also in different ways – which is why some indices give average prices of under £200,000 and other’s over £200,000! It’s not the number that is so important, it’s really what the trend is – whether that’s up or down and what’s impacting the market.

No one wants to move home anymore! (in: Buying and Selling Property Checklists)
Aug 20, 2015

The property market has seen a huge shift in how and when people are buying property in the 21st century, and the latest data shows people are staying put for much longer. Today, the ‘average’ home changes hands every 23 years, a staggering difference from the 1980’s figures; which show people moving, on average, every 8 years (source: http://www.imla.org.uk/)

Student Safety Campaign Supports Registered Electricians (in: Student property checklists)
Aug 20, 2015

With appearances on BBC Breakfast and items in most of the national press and radio, Electrical Safety First’s new campaign, which highlights the perils of student rental accommodation, has hit the headlines – along with the need for landlords and lettings agents to ensure properly registered electricians are used to check rentals’ electrical safety.

Kate's top 3 stories - Should rural house prices be capped? (in: Buying and Selling Property Checklists)
Aug 20, 2015

Campaigners this week have said that radical action may be needed to help house prices in rural areas. The Telegraph writes that said campaigners warned that the lack of affordable housing in such areas will only continue to be a “prominent issue”. They also warn that city dwellers are buying up second homes in the countryside at inflated prices, thus leaving locals out in the cold.

Changes in the Summer Budget affecting residential landlords (in: Buy to Let)
Aug 17, 2015

There were a few surprising tax change proposed in the Summer Budget in July 2015 which could impact upon residential landlords. These will have a mixed impact, depending on your circumstances, but will generally be detrimental when they have all come in to force. It remains to be seen whether or not this will dampen down the upward pressure on house prices, to allow more first-time buyers into the property market, which was the Chancellors stated aim!