Latest Articles

Property investment tips, insights, interviews, strategies, area research and industry news.

Arched buttresses in colourful lights. Photograph taken at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon in North Yorkshire.

The Best Areas of Ripon to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Feb 27, 2020
Posted in

Ripon is Yorkshire’s smallest city and one of the smallest cities in the entire country. And yet, Ripon is packed full of history and interesting old traditions that you just won’t find in bigger cities. But it’s not just about history, the property market in Ripon is an interesting beast, as well.

A walkway leading to the Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke.

The Best Areas of Basingstoke to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Feb 10, 2020
Posted in

With great transport connection, a thriving economy, high-tech employment and relatively low house prices, Basingstoke is a place that property investors and buy-to-let landlords should pay close attention to.

Icon, design element showing a set of scales and a house. Illustration of property law.

What Does the Housing Act 1988 Mean for Landlords Today?

Feb 4, 2020
Posted in

The passing of the Housing Act of 1988 was a watershed moment for the UK rental market. It handed much more power to landlords than they had enjoyed previously and was a bold leap, perfectly illustrative of the ideals of the Thatcher government, towards greater free-market autonomy in the rented housing sector.

A photograph of a high street in Bracknell town centre.

The Best Areas of Bracknell to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Jan 29, 2020
Posted in

Bracknell punches well above its weight; with loads of big companies and millions being spent on transforming the town. Yet property prices which are much lower than in the surrounding areas – meaning it could be a hit with property investors.

Wooden beams being attacked by wet rot.

How to Sell a House with Wet Rot

Jan 28, 2020
Posted in

Thanks to the wet climate in Britain, wet rot is a problem that threatens many homes. A severe case of wet rot can make your home uncomfortable, uninhabitable, knock thousands of pounds off its value and make it difficult to sell.

The logo for the National Landlords Association.

Should I Join the National Landlords Association (NLA)?

Jan 27, 2020
Posted in ,

The NLA is the UK’s largest membership organisation for private residential landlords with 41,000 members. With over 100 Acts of Parliament and 400 sets of regulations governing the private residential sector, the NLA help their members navigate through what can sometimes feel like a minefield of red tape.

Icon, design element showing a house with five figures representing tenants.

Article 4 Direction: Changing the Use of a Property

Jan 27, 2020
Posted in

Article 4 Directions are the legal means by which a local authority can require property owners to seek permission to convert a single dwelling house into a small HMO. The idea is that by doing this the councils are given more control over housing stock through their ability to control the density of HMOs in a given area.

Wooden panels being attacked by dry rot.

How to Sell a House with Dry Rot

Jan 24, 2020
Posted in

If your house has dry rot it can literally be a rotten problem to have. Dry rot can cost you a lot of money. It can knock thousands of pounds off the value of your house and even make it impossible to sell your property.

A high street in the centre of Slough.

The Best Areas of Slough to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Jan 21, 2020
Posted in

With strong house price growth, upcoming Crossrail links and a £450m regeneration plan, Slough is a very good place to invest in property at the moment. And with a booming economy and the possibility of a 3rd runway at Heathrow, things won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

An aerial view of Cardiff city centre.

The Best Areas of Cardiff to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Jan 8, 2020
Posted in

The economy in Cardiff has grown faster than any other UK capital city making it a very attractive proposition for property investment. But, while capital cities – especially London – are well out of most investors’ budgets. With prices from about £60,000, however, Cardiff is very affordable.

Luton and Bedford on a map.

The Best Areas of Luton to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Dec 20, 2019
Posted in ,

Luton has a lot going for it. There are a thriving economy, a major airport and some of the cheapest property in south-east England. Luton also has a much younger-than-average population hinting a much-increased demand for property in the near future.

The Llangollen Canal on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wrexham.

The Best Areas of Wrexham to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Dec 16, 2019
Posted in ,

Voted the happiest place to live in Wales, Wrexham is the fastest growing hotspot in Wales after Cardiff and a business powerhouse, looking confidently to the future. Property investors should be taking note of the de-facto capital of the North.

Modern apartment blocks.

How to Sell a Property with a Short Lease

Dec 12, 2019
Posted in

Selling a house or a flat ought to be easy. But if you have a house or a flat with a short lease then selling it could be very difficult indeed. f you have short lease problems here’s what you need to know about short leases, and a way to sell your property quickly no matter how short the lease.

An illustration of the Edinburgh Skyline.

The Best Areas of Edinburgh to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Nov 29, 2019
Posted in

Edinburgh is one of the most internationally recognised UK cities and the centre of Scottish political power. While expensive, it’s a fantastic place to invest in property with high yields and excellent prospects for growth but more than that Edinburgh is a city that has that Wow factor.

An icon depicting a derelict house.

18 Reasons Your Property Could Be Unmortgageable

Nov 29, 2019
Posted in

When you are selling a property, you need to consider the possibility that a potential buyer may not be able to get a mortgage for it. Although the policies of different lenders will vary here are 18 reasons that your house may be unmortgageable.

An elevated view over the city of Dundee.

The Best Areas of Dundee to Invest in Buy-to-Let

Nov 27, 2019
Posted in

Dundee is Scotland’s most affordable city where property investors can buy TWO houses, for the price of one, in Edinburgh. But it is also a growing centre for future-facing industries like the biomedical, biotechnology, software and digital.

The Zoopla logo.

An Expert’s Guide to Using Zoopla | Heatmaps & Filters

Aug 25, 2018
Posted in

There are some great properties out there just waiting to be found and the good news is the only tool you need to find them is Zoopla. Today we look at four underutilised filters that investors can use to find below market value property and motivated sellers in their chosen area.

Text in image says, Local Housing Allowance.

What is Local Housing Allowance (LHA)?

Sep 18, 2017
Posted in

The rules and processes around Local Housing Allowance are complicated, variable (depending on the local authority) and constantly changing. Here we look at exactly what LHA is, who is eligible for it, how it is changing and most importantly what it actually means for a landlord to have a tenant in receipt of it.

A circular icon of a magnifying glass.

Property Bee and Property Tracker | Helping You Find BMV Property

Sep 19, 2016
Posted in

In this article, we’re going to be looking at two browser extensions which are going to make looking for property online a lot more efficient. These are Property Tracker for Chrome and Property Bee for Firefox. Both of these plugins help you monitor any changes that have been made to property listings on Rightmove. These […]

A close up photograph of two soap dispensers.

How Many Bathrooms Do I Want In My Next HMO Property?

Aug 8, 2016
Posted in

When it comes to designing the space in your HMO the simplest rule to follow is to put the needs of your tenants first. If your tenants are happy, they will stay in your HMO for longer, which is good for the bottom line.

Red brick houses on a council estate.

What Is The Best Way To Work Out Rental Demand?

Apr 11, 2016
Posted in

Rental demand in a given area is a relatively simple thing to calculate yet most property investors skip this essential step.

Icon, design element showing a house with a percentage symbol above it representing finance and mortgages.

Should I Use My Deposit to Buy One House or Two?

Mar 7, 2016
Posted in

The question we look at today is whether it’s better to invest your entire deposit pot in one property or spread it across two.

A woman looking through a magnifying glass.

How to Use Rightmove to Find Houses in Need of Renovation

May 25, 2015
Posted in

Being able to spot property where value can be added is all about knowing how to spot the right renovation projects in your area. It’s easy to spend hours getting lost, trying to find investment opportunities, wading through listings and not getting anywhere. In today’s video, we show you a two-step strategy to easily find […]

A GPS icon hovers over an upturned hand. Icon, graphical concept.

How to Find Properties Below Market Value Hiding In Plain Sight

Sep 4, 2014
Posted in

How to Find Properties Below Market Value Hiding In Plain Sight Finding BMV property deals can seem like hunting for a needle in a haystack. But when you know what to look for, you’ll come to realise that they are often hiding in plain sight, available for everyone to see and easily available on popular […]

Icon, design element showing a house.

Early 20th Century Housing | The Interwar Period

Mar 16, 2014
Posted in

Early 20th Century Housing: Council Housing From The Interwar Period by Trevor Yorke Trevor Yorke is an experienced author and artist who specialises in period architecture. For more information and to see a selection of his books you can visit his website, here. There are very few positives which can be written about the First […]

The front of a typical Victorian Gothic house.

Victorian Gothic Houses: A Guide for Property Developers

Mar 1, 2014
Posted in

Have you ever noticed that most horror films use Victorian houses as a backdrop? There is something about the jagged roofline, ivy-clad walls and foreboding arched windows set behind high walled gardens which evoke mystery and fear.