News

The great bungalow shortage Demand for bungalows has increased over 60% in 20221, while supply has flattened, meaning prices for single storey properties has risen at double the market rate in some areas. Popular because of their large gardens and potential to extend, families are now keen to make offers, debunking the myth that only […]

All equity release plans sold to new customers from 28 March 2022 must feature penalty-free partial loan repayments, enabling customers to reduce their loan size and save money on interest. The new standard introduced by the Equity Release Council (ERC) could save customers millions of pounds. While ERC standards aren’t legally binding, almost 700 firms […]

The pandemic was a tumultuous time for us all – and the property market was not immune. As things begin to normalise, some pre-pandemic patterns are returning to property trends. Double speed Q1 2022 was the fifth busiest quarter since 2007, according to HM Revenue and Customs. Likewise, data1 analysis has found that UK properties […]

Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester and Luton have been hailed the best top five cities for landlords to invest in this year, based on analysis of key indicators impacting buy-to-let desirability (including average total rent, the best short-term returns through yield and long-term return through house price growth).1 Investors have been eschewing London, which has slipped […]

Pandemic-related travel restrictions have unleashed huge demand for UK-based rentals among British holidaymakers – with buy-to-let investors scrambling to take advantage. According to figures1, holiday let mortgage availability has trebled since 2020, giving would-be investors ample opportunity to tap into this demand. There are now 231 buy-to let mortgages eligible for holiday lets on the […]

In January this year, a team clearing out the home of a retired antiques dealer and lifelong hoarder found a treasure trove of valuables worth £50,000. Among the piles of bags and boxes stuffed haphazardly into the Victorian town house were eight grandfather clocks worth £1,000, an antique chair worth between £600 and £800, and […]

Looming crisis in older people’s housing With demand for homes for older people four times higher than supply, the government has been urged to investigate1. The UK’s largest retirement housebuilder is requesting the introduction of rules to ensure 10% of new housing is designed for pensioners. A new government initiative ‘The Older People’s Housing Taskforce’ […]

The cost of living has shot up in recent months, with inflation expected to reach a peak of 8.7% in Q41 and many families facing a significant hike on their annual energy bills from April. With finances squeezed, every penny counts – so it’s important to consider all the options for streamlining your outgoings. If […]

The cost-of-living crisis is likely to be felt by most Britons this year, with increases in energy and food costs and the increase in National Insurance Contributions from April. In addition, renters need to add in the rising cost of renting a property, with the average price for a new tenancy up by 8.5% from […]

As we move into spring, aspiring movers will likely find themselves feeling galvanised to proceed with their homeownership goals. Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking to get onto the property ladder, a second stepper seeking the perfect home for a growing family, or a downsizer on the hunt for a smaller property to help build […]