We’re at the beginning of a brand new year, and January is expected to be an excellent month for rental growth in London’s prime sector, according to a recent report from estate agents Marsh & Parsons. The period is typically the strongest for growth outside of the summer months. In each of the last three years December to January has seen an average 34% increase in rental exchanges. It is expected that 2016 will follow this trend as people look to make changes to their domestic situation at the very start of the New Year. Continue reading →

For many years, the traditional dream was for people to grow up, buy their first home and start a family. This tradition has changed dramatically in the last few years and research shows that today’s major milestones and expectations are extremely different to those experienced by the last few generations, largely due to the effects of social and financial changes. Continue reading →

The residential property market in London could be set for major changes over the next two years. The revision of stamp duty and the announcement of new taxes on buy to let properties and second homes could lead foreign investors to sell the homes they have purchased in new developments taking place across the capital. Many of these will have been reserved when the projects were announced but new changes will see the costs rise, particularly for those homes that won’t be finished before April. The end result could be an influx of new properties arriving on the market over the next two years. Continue reading →

The ideal situation for any investor is for the lowest investment possible to ensure a significant return, but these perfect conditions are not easy to find. Opportunities to make a high return from a low investment are very rare indeed, so when one presents itself, it must be given serious consideration. The London Borough of Newham offers the perfect example of this scenario. Continue reading →

For two weeks of every year, the most well known area of the London Borough of Merton gains a great deal of attention from around the world. The Wimbledon championship is arguably the most loved tennis tournament, and many who would not normally watch the sport make sure they tune in to see the spectacle. While we all love watching the tournament, we focus on this area of London every week of the year with our extensive property services. Continue reading →

In recent years, the rental sector has seen a significant improvement in tenant finances. The measure of arrears has almost halved since its peak at almost 15% at the beginning of 2010. Due to the combined strength of the labour market and earnings on the rise, there is greater affordability in the rental market, and investors are taking the opportunity to purchase additional properties to meet consumer demand. Continue reading →

London Bridge enjoyed a property boom in the 1980s when people started looking for homes within commutable distance to the City. This caused property prices in the area to rise and made it a popular destination for development. Naturally the focus shifted to other parts of London as consumer demands changed but the attention returned in the 00s, particularly when the Shard was announced. Continue reading →

A recent study of the private rental sector by BDRC Continental for Paragon Mortgages has revealed 80% of tenants to be more than happy with the service they receive from their landlords. The study also showed that there are more people renting than ever before. The sector has undoubtedly seen many shifting demographics, and as we approach the end of 2015 it seems that overall satisfaction levels remain high. Continue reading →

Every landlord knows that there is an element of risk involved when letting a property to people that are effectively strangers. No matter how long you have been a landlord or how many properties you own, this factor never changes. The obvious concerns are the upkeep of the property, accidental or deliberate damage, and failure to pay rent on time. Continue reading →

The latest data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows that lending for property purchasing has increased substantially. A detailed breakdown of the figures shows that a total of £4.6 billion was allocated to first time buyers this year. This reflects an increase of 10% on September and October last year and a total of 29,000 loans. Continue reading →