January 2016 was an excellent month for the property market in England and Wales, according to the latest figures released by the Land Registry. House prices jumped by 2.5% on average in the period, making it the biggest rise in a single month since June 2002. Continue reading →

Research shows that more and more young people are renting for longer rather than buying their first home. Recent data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the percentage of 24 to 29 year olds in a position to purchase their own property has fallen from 55% in 1996 to 30% in 2015. The percentage of 30 to 34 year olds that own their own place has decreased from 68% to 46%. Continue reading →

With rentals booming in popularity over the past few years, more and more people are investing in rental homes and looking for tenants. If you are a first time landlord, you could have the potential to make excellent returns. However, letting a property can be a stressful experience if the whole process is not managed effectively, and you may end up feeling that the returns you get are not worth the time or effort you are putting in. Continue reading →

The level of demand for residential property is increasing nationwide. Despite many concerted efforts to ensure there is an adequate supply to match the demand, in certain areas of the country this is simply impossible to achieve. London is the area which currently has the highest level of disparity between supply and demand. This situation means London property investors have the potential to gain outstanding long term returns on their investments, particularly through guaranteed rent. Continue reading →

Towards the end of 2014, many property experts predicted a decline in the London market during the year ahead. However, as we reach the end of 2015, it seems that the outcome has been a lot more positive. Continue reading →

Council leasing can be a beneficial way for landlords to find tenants and ensure that their property is being looked after. If you are interested in council leasing in the Croydon area, the local borough council offers the Croylease scheme, which gives landlords the chance to lease their properties through the council for a period of five years. Continue reading →

At the moment, it seems impossible to read anything about the subject of London property without encountering the word regeneration. With the demand for property in London showing no signs of easing off any time soon, there is mounting pressure to meet this demand without building on designated ‘green belt’ areas. This has resulted in the regeneration of many areas of London, which involves repurposing property to meet current requirements. This approach serves to help meet the demand, but also creates a whole new market for those looking for investment properties. Continue reading →

If you have invested in a buy to let property, you will likely be keen to get your new tenant in as soon as possible. With the resurgence of the buy to let market in London and throughout the UK, there is high demand from potential renters and there are many opportunities for buy to let landlords to enjoy lucrative benefits and long term financial solutions. Continue reading →

Managing a block of flats is one of the biggest challenges facing any landlord, as it essentially means you are managing multiple properties and large numbers of tenants, and will have to take care of public areas as well as private homes. A poorly managed block can lose its value due to damage and deterioration, and if tenants are unhappy with the way the property is being managed they are unlikely to want to stay around, leading to the inconvenience of frequently having to find and deal with new tenants. Continue reading →

Dalston, in the London Borough of Hackney, has gained a reputation over the past few years as the location of choice for young creatives and professionals looking for a base in the city. The district has undergone extensive regeneration over the past decade, particularly in the run up to the 2012 Olympics, as Hackney was one of the host boroughs for the Games. Prices have risen, but are still not as high as many other areas of the capital, making it an attractive prospect both for renters and for investors looking for an affordable and productive buy-to-let property to add to their portfolio. Continue reading →