Property Maintenance: Who’s Responsibility Is It?

September 18th, 2019 by admin

You wake up one morning to discover a burst pipe in your flat’s bathroom. The first thing you may think to yourself is ‘how am I going to pay for this?’ The question should really be, ‘do I need to pay for this?’ You may be surprised at what comes under the list of landlord responsibilities. It’s not always easy to figure out which maintenance problems are down to the tenant to fix or are part of the landlord obligations. Whether you’re new to rental properties or just want to brush up on your knowledge, we’ve put it all here, in plain English. So, what exactly are the tenant and landlord responsibilities? The short answer is that it’s a shared responsibility. Helpfully, the law provides some clarity in regard to situations in which the landlord must solve a problem and... [Read More]

Does Energy Efficiency Always Increase A Home’s Value?

September 13th, 2019 by admin

If you’re in the process of building or renovating a house, the topic on whether to incorporate energy-efficient aspects will surely come up. The added expense, however, will lead you to question whether the investment is worth it. There are numerous benefits in doing so but one of the most attractive reasons builders tell homeowners is that energy efficiency can increase the value of your home. Of course, who wouldn’t want that? However, many people still question whether this is always the case, so here are some reasons that will explain why implementing energy-efficient methods can increase a home’s value. The added value of green building features When you’re faced with a quotation of how much will it cost to add energy-efficient features like solar panels or cavity wall insulation, it may give you pause before deciding to go for... [Read More]

How to Make a Good Off-Plan Property Investment

September 6th, 2019 by admin

Investing in property during the planning stages, before the building process has been completed, or in some cases, before it has even started, can be extremely lucrative for investors. For investors who are new to the sector, it may seem like a daunting prospect to hand over cash before seeing the finished product, and like any investment it is not without its risks. However, the benefits are numerous, including often securing a better price, and seeing greater capital appreciation on completion of the project as a result, being able to select the best unit in a development, and having the chance to personalise the property’s fixtures and fittings. Furthermore, many large new projects bring with them added investment into the surrounding area, which can add to the appeal of the property once it is complete. Where to invest City centres... [Read More]

Property Investor’s FactFile – September 2019

September 2nd, 2019 by Ruban Selvanayagam

According to the latest UK House Price Index, average house prices saw an annual price rise of 0.9% (to June2019); The latest Hometrack UK Cities House Price Index reported that London had the highest house price to earnings ratios (at 13.1x), followed by Cambridge (12.2x), Oxford (11.9x), Bournemouth (9.7x) and Bristol (9.2x); The most recent Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) report stated near term expectations for the property market have turned slightly negative again; buyer enquiries increased marginally for the second consecutive month although sales fail to pick-up and landlord instructions continue to fall across the lettings market. [Read More]