On paper, a rental property might not appear the best investment. A crackdown on stamp duty on investment properties, an income tax raid on rent and a stall in house prices has made property investment a less attractive prospect than in previous years.
We all need a holiday from time to time. Holidays are the perfect way to escape from the norm, enjoy a change of scenery and spend time with friends and family. They let you do as little or as much as possible. Whether you’re relaxing on a beach or trying out the latest high-octane adventure sport, travelling is good for the mind, body and soul.
When planning for a holiday, getting travel insurance is often the last thing on your mind. Why spend your time thinking about insurance when you could be making other more exciting holiday decisions, such as where to go while you’re away and what to pack?
Do you long for blue skies, breath-taking views and a simpler way of life? Well, who doesn’t? Brits have been besotted with the idea of owning a holiday home overseas for some time. Why stay in the UK with its unpredictable weather, high cost of living and political uncertainty? Looking for a holiday home abroad has become a popular pastime for many Brits. So where are the most in-demand locations for property hunters?
Subsidence is a pretty common phenomenon around the UK, due to its climate, with variable rainfall and a mix of warm and cool weather. Many homeowners face severe financial consequences if their properties are affected by subsidence or heave.
We all need a holiday sometimes. Whether it’s to relax completely by a sunny poolside, explore new surroundings, or just spend precious time with loved ones, holidays have an amazing ability to make us feel refreshed and energized. In fact, studies have proven that experiences like holidays have a much longer-lasting effect on our happiness than buying material things.
It may come as a surprise to some homeowners that some standard home insurance does not cover a house if it is left unoccupied for more than 30 days. It may also come as a surprise how many empty properties there are in the UK. According to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the number of empty properties in England is more than 216,000 – the highest level since 2012. It’s a similar situation across the UK – researchers from the University College London (UCL) revealed that nearly 340,000 of homes in Britain are rarely used. But with all these homes standing empty across the UK, how many are properly insured?
It’s easy to see the attraction of buying a second home overseas. It gives you a place to enjoy summer in the sunshine, bask in a better work-life balance and invest your hard-earned cash. With a host of low-cost airlines to choose from and more routes on offer than ever before, giving into temptation is now a financially attractive option, too.
From sunny summer holidays lying under palm trees to embracing the chilly depths of a gorgeously glacial landscape, one person's idea of the best holiday destination in the world can differ hugely from another’s. Ask yourself this? Do you like relaxing by the beach, lounging in a poolside villa, exploring the cultural sights on a city break or feeling the chill on a sporty, ski holiday? Or do you want to experience all of the above?
There’s strong demand for rental property here in the UK, meaning now could be a great time to take your first steps into the buy-to-let market and become a landlord or landlady.
We’ve all seen TV programmes and stories in the media about unusual buildings – places which stand out from the ordinary because of their design, location, age or construction materials. Usually, these stories dwell on appearance and idiosyncratic features but they don’t always drill down into the details of what constitutes a ‘non-standard’ construction for the purposes of insurance.
If you can afford to buy a holiday home, should you take the plunge? That’s not a question you should take lightly, with a number of pros and cons to weigh up first before you make your decision.