Here are some top tips to help you sell through the competitive festive season. Get your decorating in order The interior of the house sells it more than anything, so it is important to get the basic decorating inside the house right. If you have any garish colours in any rooms, get rid of them and replace with creams and beiges. Bright and striking rooms will attract attention, but they will be far more likely to turn buyers away. Similarly, get rid of any large pieces of furniture that make th...
Nov 12, 2019•9 min•Ep. 34
Dreaming about moving into your new home only to discover you have noisy neighbours, non-stop traffic whizzing past, or next-to-no wi-fi signal? Here's how to do your research… Whether you are looking for a new home to buy or rent, you’ll want to be sure that it’s a relaxing and enjoyable place to live. But what if you move in only to discover that you’re living next to the neighbours from hell? Or the incessant noise from the road drives you crazy? Or that there’s planning permission for an ind...
Sep 16, 2019•8 min•Ep. 78
Making sure to ask estate agents the right questions before signing up to their services is vital when you’re selling your home. It will mean you’ll avoid any nasty surprises, such as unexpected fees or lengthy tie-in periods, and give you confidence that you’ll be able to sell as quickly as possible and for the best possible price. So here are the questions that every home seller should ask the estate agent: What are your fees? Typically, you’ll find estate agents charge a percentage of the sal...
Sep 09, 2019•15 min•Ep. 77
No matter what we buy, we all want to find the best price and clearly when buying a property this is one of the most important factors. Buying a home is the most expensive purchase you will ever make in your life, not to mention the most important, so it is essential that you find the best value for money deal. Given that there are two (at least) parties involved in a property deal, the buyer and seller, there is an opportunity to negotiate and arrange for a better deal. The seller is also likel...
Sep 02, 2019•12 min•Ep. 76
An accepted offer on a home is cause for celebration. But, in many cases, the journey to completion can be longer than you bargained for. Watch out for these 5 most common delays. 1. Management companies being slow in returning information on leasehold properties If you’re buying a leasehold property (many flats and apartments and even some houses are leasehold), the transaction may be more complicated than buying a freehold property. This is because you are effectively leasing the property from...
Aug 26, 2019•9 min•Ep. 75
If you are named as an executor in someone’s will, you have a lot of duties and responsibilities placed upon you. It will fall to you to gather in and value the assets of the estate, pay off any debts and liabilities, calculate and pay any inheritance tax (IHT) that is due – and distribute the estate in accordance with the will. In addition, unless the beneficiaries named in the will wish to have the deceased’s property transferred into their names, you as the executor will need to sell it. Sell...
Aug 19, 2019•16 min•Ep. 74
Once you’ve decided to sell your home, choosing the right estate agent to help you is a top priority. But one of the big choices you need to make is whether to opt for sole agency, where one firm has the exclusive right to market your home for a fixed period, or multi agency, where you get more than one firm to help you sell. The choice you make will affect the amount you pay in fees and could also potentially have an impact on the amount you receive for your home. Sole agency is the most common...
Aug 12, 2019•20 min•Ep. 73
While investing to go green can work, it may not be possible for everyone immediately. However, there are some habits you can change that will add up to saving both time and energy. Here are the top 11. 1. Switch off the lights One of the most obvious ways to cut your electricity bill is to switch off the lights as you leave a room. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates you can save £15 a year with this one small action, so why not make it a habit? Estimated saving: £15 2. Cover floors and plu...
Aug 05, 2019•15 min•Ep. 72
Buying a home can be a stressful experience – but it doesn't have to be. Here are a few handy tips to make it as smooth-sailing as possible. You need to jump through a few hoops when buying a home and even if both you and the seller are keen to exchange contracts promptly, there can be delays. So here are eight top tips for a smooth property transaction. 1. Understand the jargon First of all, get to know the lingo. Arrangement fee? Standard Variable Rate? Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee? There's a ...
Jul 29, 2019•17 min•Ep. 71
Think you’ve found the solicitor to get you through the trials of the homebuying process? Here are some simple and quick checks you can make before committing. 1. Who exactly will be handling your case? Clarify who’ll be put in charge of your case. And ask whether you will be dealing with just that ‘case-handler’ – or a team of people. If you are assigned just one solicitor, find out what happens if they are sick or on holiday. 2. Does the solicitor pick up the phone? There’s nothing more frustr...
Jul 22, 2019•14 min•Ep. 70
If you're buying a home, you'll want a survey to ensure its bricks and mortar are sturdy and not concealing any nasty defects – but which type should you go for? Buying a new home is a major financial commitment – probably the biggest you’ll ever make. But how can you determine exactly what it is you are paying for? The answer is by commissioning a home buyers survey, also known as a property survey. What is a property survey? In simple terms, a home buyers survey is a health check on a property...
Jul 15, 2019•18 min•Ep. 69
Buying and selling homes in Scotland is slightly different to England and Wales. Here are the main differences and how they work in practice. 1. Gazumping is almost unheard of In Scotland, once a seller has agreed an offer price on a property, it is taken off the market. In fact, solicitors in Scotland must decline to act for the seller if they later accept an offer from another party – that is, unless the original offer has fallen through. This means the practice of ‘gazumping' – where a seller...
Jul 08, 2019•8 min•Ep. 68
With half the nation worried about a lack of money in retirement, we consider whether equity release presents a viable option. With almost half of those set to retire this year worried they’ll run out of money in retirement, it’s no wonder people are looking for more ways to increase their income – and sooner rather than later. It’s a genuine concern. It’s predicted that one in 10 men and one in six women in the UK will be living on less than the recommended minimum income when they retire. Desp...
Jul 01, 2019•9 min•Ep. 67
This guide will help you be a model landlord – and stay on the right side of the law. There’s an ever-growing labyrinth of dos and don’ts in the private rented sector. So if you’re a landlord – or considering becoming one – it’s important to stay on top of your legal obligations. So to help you get started in the right way here are nine top tips for landlords. 1. Find out if you need a landlord licence First things first. Check with your local council to see if you need a landlord licence to ren...
Jun 24, 2019•11 min•Ep. 66
The Tenant Fee Act is now in force from the 1st June 2019. The Tenant Fees Act sets out the Government’s approach to banning letting fees for tenants. The key measures of the Act include: Tenancy Deposits must not exceed the equivalent of five weeks' rent (unless the annual rent exceeds £50,000 in which case deposits are capped at six weeks’ rent). Holding Deposits will be capped at no more than one week’s rent. The amount that can be charged for a change to a tenancy will be capped at £50 unles...
Jun 17, 2019•11 min•Ep. 65
Considering gifting a property to your loved ones? Make sure you understand the financial implications first. Before giving a property to your children, make sure you understand the rules, and any costs involved. Otherwise, what could be a wonderful gesture can leave a bitter financial taste. There may be a number of reasons you want to hand over your property. You may have another home to live in or be moving into care, or you might want to help your children on to the property ladder. It may a...
Jun 10, 2019•6 min•Ep. 64
Landlords are currently responsible for vetting their tenant's legal right to rent in the UK under a Government scheme. Here's how it works. Right to Rent, a government scheme which makes landlords responsible for checking their tenant has a legal right to rent in the UK, is ‘in breach of the Human Rights Act', according to a recent High Court ruling. The Home Office has been granted permission to appeal, which could take several months. As things stand, landlords and lettings agents will need t...
Jun 03, 2019•12 min•Ep. 63
Got a spare room and in need of a little extra income? Using the Rent a Room scheme to get a lodger could be worth considering. What is Rent a Room? Landlords typically get taxed on income they earn from renting property. But under the Government’s Rent a Room scheme, householders could earn an income from letting spare rooms – and receive tax relief on it. Do I have to be a homeowner? No. Rent a Room is available to both homeowners and tenants with furnished accommodation. If you’re a tenant, y...
May 27, 2019•8 min•Ep. 62
Prospective tenants are being warned about a fraud scam that cons people into paying an advance fee to rent a property. The National Landlords Association says it’s been contacted by several individuals who have fallen victim to the scam, where fraudsters have used NLA branding and fake letters from NLA representatives to make their approaches appear authentic. NLA chief executive Richard Lambert says: “Rental fraud is one of the uglier aspects of private renting. Tenants, no matter where they a...
May 20, 2019•11 min•Ep. 61
Searching for a home where you can add value, but not sure what exactly to look for? As a buyer looking for a new place to live, you may well be keen to find property with potential – after all, our homes are an investment. But how do you go about doing this? Here’s our guide to spotting opportunities for adding value to your home. 1. Home extensions Extending property is a great way of adding value in a tried and tested manner, so keep an eye out for a home which can be built out. Many Victoria...
May 13, 2019•16 min•Ep. 60
Selling a property at auction could help you shift your home quickly, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everybody. Should you sell your property at auction, and if you do, will you make more profit than going a more traditional route? These are key questions, but before you consider an auction as an option it’s vital to understand the consequences – once the hammer falls, you can’t change your mind, and the sale is binding. Here’s what you need to know, and how to go about it. Why sell at auc...
May 06, 2019•10 min•Ep. 59
Feeling a bit overwhelmed while trying to choose an estate agent to help sell your home? Here we list the key criteria to look out for. When it comes to selling your home, it’s advisable to appoint an estate agent to help value it, create a marketing strategy for your property to get the results required, provide ‘for sale’ boards, conduct viewings, and generally deal with the sales process from start to finish. There are a variety of services available depending on how much involvement and work...
Apr 29, 2019•17 min•Ep. 58
The new tax year has now kicked in from the 6th of April so here's how it could impact you from a property perspective. 1. Fresh new ISA allowance lands As of today, savers have access to a fresh ISA allowance . Under the terms of the accounts, consumers can save £20,000 into the vehicles each year without having to pay tax on any interest payments, dividends or gains. The money can be split between Cash ISAs, Stocks and Shares ISAs and Innovative ISAs. Alternatively, people aged under 40 can op...
Apr 22, 2019•10 min•Ep. 57
Here is the essential list of documents that you should expect as a tenant from your landlord. A copy of the Government’s rental guide This guide sets out all the information you should be given as a tenant, your legal rights and what to expect from the rental process: How to rent: The checklist for renting in England A gas safety certificate If your rental home has any gas installations (such as an oven), your landlord must arrange an initial gas safety check as conducted by a Gas Safe engineer...
Apr 15, 2019•6 min•Ep. 56
Investing in property has long been considered a smart move and given the demand for rental property in the UK has increased, it is easy to see why people have moved into this market. The change in stamp duty tax, from the 1st of April 2016, has impacted on the way that some people think about the buy to let market. There are still plenty of opportunities to make money and enjoy a good return on an investment. Here are 7 things to consider when buying an investment property. Who will your tenant...
Apr 08, 2019•9 min•Ep. 55
If you are renting a home for the first time, lettings agency fees can come as a nasty surprise. Get prepped on what to expect with this short guide In 2016 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, Philip Hammond announced he would place an outright ban on lettings agent fees charged to tenants. The Government has now confirmed plans to implement the ban on all new tenancies signed after June 1, 2019. One of the Government’s main concerns with letting agent fees is that, while they must be clearly adve...
Apr 01, 2019•16 min•Ep. 54
So here we have compiled some top tips aimed at novice landlords that some experienced buy-to-let landlords may also find useful. Letting your property is a big decision, both for you and the tenants that will be living there, so it’s important you understand what being a landlord means. So here are some top tips to ensure you understand your responsibilities as a landlord, know how to protect your property, and keep your tenants happy. 1. Do your research First thing’s first, get to know your m...
Mar 25, 2019•15 min•Ep. 53
A new Housing Complaints Resolution Service has been announced in January for the entire housing market and for the first time ever, private landlords will be legally required to join a housing redress scheme. Click here to view the MHCLG release: Private landlords including providers of purpose-built student housing and park home sites will be legally required to become members of a redress scheme – with a fine of up to £5,000 if they fail to do so. James Brokenshire, Communities Secretary, has...
Mar 18, 2019•9 min•Ep. 52
From reduced tax breaks to tougher regulations, in this episode we take a look at the changes that will impact landlords in the year ahead. Landlords have endured a difficult time in recent years with a raft of tax changes and new regulations coming into force. Unfortunately, this trend looks set to continue in 2019, although there are some positive developments. We take a look at the changes that landlords need to be aware of. Client money protection In a development that is seen as being good ...
Mar 04, 2019•9 min•Ep. 50
Having the rug pulled when you have agreed a property purchase is a gut-wrenching and expensive experience, so take the right steps to minimise the risk. Gazumping may be less prevalent right now – with the latest figures showing a fall in this happening but you still need to be prepared. While this is good news for those looking to purchase a property, gazumping – where a seller accepts an offer, only to reject it later in favour of a last-minute offer from someone else – has not gone away. Whe...
Feb 25, 2019•9 min•Ep. 49
