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With concern that coronavirus could be easily spread in the busy environment of a construction site, an increasing number of construction firms are stopping work. Government guidelines state that construction work can continue if workers are two metres apart. However, some construction companies feel that this is too difficult to enforce. Currently, the majority of […]

Many asset managers have suspended trading of their open-ended property funds due to material uncertainty about asset prices during the coronavirus lockdown. Hopefully, this is a short-term measure. But let’s look at why it’s happened and the impact on investors. WHY HAS TRADING BEEN SUSPENDED IN THESE FUNDS? The reason given by asset managers for

HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) are always popular with property investors. But if you don’t have the upfront capital to invest, there is another way of taking advantage of HMOs. WHAT IS A RENT TO RENT HMO? A Rent to Rent HMO is when you rent a HMO property from the existing landlord. The landlord

Just as we were seeing a bounce back in the property market following last year’s general election, things have come grinding to a halt. Zoopla Cities House Price Index Report revealed that demand from buyers over the seven days to 22 March was down 40% on the previous week. It predicts housing transactions will fall

New legislation was announced this week to protect private and social renters affected by coronavirus from eviction. This emergency legislation is a result of the escalating economic situation and will ensure landlords can’t start eviction proceedings against tenants who struggle to pay rent for three months. Robert Jenrick MP, Housing Secretary, said: “The government is

The solicitor you use will be dependent on the type of property investment you’re making. It’s essential to look for someone who can support you through all the legal aspects of your transaction and offer expert advice. DO YOU NEED A SOLICITOR OR CONVEYANCER? Conveyancing is the legal term for transferring ownership of a property.

First of all, you need to be clear about the type of property investment you’re making. Mortgage lenders will want to know what you are going to be using the property for. Is it a buy-to-let for students or regular tenants, a buy-to-let for tenants on benefits, or a house of multiple occupation? How to

If you’re looking to upgrade a property by adding on an extension, there’s now more flexibility than ever over what you can do. Temporary rules introduced by the government in 2013 that allowed owners more leeway in the type of extensions they could build without planning permission became permanent last year. CHANGES TO RESTRICTIVE PLANNING

Climate change and our response to it is a subject that’s constantly in the news. As a consequence, the ecological impact of how we build and renovate properties is the subject of much debate. As a property investor, you may be keen to invest in more ecologically sound projects; however, there’s still much confusion over

THE GREEN HOMES GRANT SCHEME In October 2020, we covered the introduction of the Green Homes Grant Scheme. At that time, the scheme was set to run until the end of March 2021. However, the government has now announced plans to extend the scheme until 31 March 2022. Under the initiative to make homes more