Blog
Welcome to our blog page, we love to keep our customers updated on our company updates, property and industry related articles as well as the work our teams have done within our community. For more information on any of our blogs please feel free to get in touch.
What does a Managing Agent do?
Terms like ‘Managing Agent’ and ‘Leasehold’ are regularly bandied about, but what do they actually mean? To start by explaining what Leasehold is, it applies to virtually all flats across England and Wales, as well as some houses. If you have one, technically you...
How do you spot bad tenants?
Especially if you’re new to letting out property, you may, understandably, be feeling slightly nervous. After all, you’re allowing relative strangers to live in a house or flat you own, knowing that you depend on their rent for at least part of your income. The...
Who has responsibility for what in your building?
If you’re living in a flat as the leaseholder, one thing which can often seem unclear is where responsibilities lie in your building, and who should be taking care of what. Here, we try and clarify some of the key areas, so read on if this situation applies to you....
Two storeys good: fast-tracking of extension approvals under planning law shake-up
A new law is set to allow homeowners to add up to a couple of storeys to their properties without the need to apply for planning permission in the usual way. This ‘fast-track’ system is aimed at allowing families to extend their homes to accommodate growing numbers of...
Cheers! How a great local pub could enhance the value of your home
The reopening of the property market following weeks of lockdown has spurred numerous people on to looking into moving house. Equally, the reopening of pubs has seen many of us heading out in search of a pint or other refreshment, and perhaps the chance to catch up...
Use a zero deposit scheme next time you let out or rent a home
For anyone taking on a new tenancy, deposits have traditionally been the greatest source of headaches. Typically, tenants are asked for four to six weeks’ rent as down payment, while also having to pay for a month’s rent upfront at the same time. Especially if you’re...
Why now could be the perfect time to get into buy-to-let or reassess existing investments
The media may be full of the dire economic effects of Covid-19, but one area where the news is distinctly less gloomy is when it comes to being a buy-to-let (BTL) landlord, i.e. purchasing properties purely for the purpose of letting them out. The sector still offers...
Are you ready to switch on to landlords’ electrical safety checks?
From July 1, the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 come into force. It may sound a bit of a mouthful, but, in a nutshell, it means: All fixed electrical installations in privately rented homes need testing and...
Got a property with a garden? Why you could be in for a huge boost
We’ve written recently about how pleased we were to report that the UK housing market has reopened for business, albeit with strict social distancing rules still in place. So as we move towards midsummer, we’re sure we’re going to be busy helping people move house, as...
Tips for taking professional-quality property photos – without an expensive camera
You may be wondering why we’re writing about taking your own professional property photos without expensive kit (which is clearly more possible than ever these days thanks to smartphone technology) right now. After all, at the time of writing, Britain is of course in...