Category: Purchase
Protecting ownership of your property from fraudsters
Property fraud continues to cause problems for homeowners, with scammers registering homes into their own names before selling them on. Once a property has been sold, the buyer generally obtains good legal title, leaving the original homeowner to make a legal claim for compensation. In a recent case, a vicar working away from home came...
Changes to EPC rules could be expensive for landlords
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, give an energy performance rating for properties, with the most energy efficient properties being awarded an A rating while the least efficient are rated as a G. Current legislation requires landlords to achieve a minimum of an E rating in order to legally rent out a property. A new government...
Should you extend your home or move house?
As your needs change over time, you may find you wish you had more space or a different type of space at home. We take a look at whether it might work best to extend your existing accommodation or whether moving house would be a better option. If you have started working from home or...
Tax tips and information for landlords
Making a profit from being a landlord needs careful management. The income received from renting out property UK property will be subject to tax, meaning landlords will need to complete a self-assessment tax return. As well as income tax on the rental profits, landlords will also be required to pay capital gains tax on any...
Tips for first-time buyers who will be applying for a mortgage
Applying for a mortgage as a first-time buyer can be daunting, particularly when coupled with a fast-moving property market. We take a look at how to successfully deal with the mortgage aspect of taking on your first home. It is always recommended that you start looking at mortgage options before you find somewhere to buy....
Who is responsible for the damage when trees and fences blow down in a storm?
With UK weather becoming more extreme, homeowners are having to deal with an increase in damage caused by trees and fences being blown down. We take a look at who is responsible and how to deal with a storm damage insurance claim. The UK has seen an increase in extreme weather events, with storms and...
NEW Japanese knotweed guidance published
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published new advice for professional valuers and surveyors aimed at helping them understand and evaluate difficulties caused by Japanese knotweed. The guidance note, entitled ‘Japanese knotweed and Residential Property’ sets out how to recognise the presence of the invasive plant, explains the challenges in detecting and identifying...
Sharp increase in properties on market in January
Research conducted by Propertymark has revealed that the number of homes put on the market in January rose dramatically after three months of declining figures. Looking at its own branches, Propertymark said that new instructions per branch were up from 5 to 9. The number of potential buyers registering was double that in December, after...
Average age of first time buyers has risen to 32
A report released by the UK’s biggest lender, Halifax, reveals that the age of first time buyers rose by three years over the past decade. The average age for a first time buyer is now more than 30 in every region of the UK. This is despite the fact that purchases by first time buyers...
