Affordable Art Fair are giving you the chance to enjoy their Spring Fair in Battersea Park, 19-22 October with an exclusive offer. Discover over 110 top exhibiting galleries and find the perfect new artwork for your home! Get £5 off tickets now.
HOA’s Voice
Read our take on the latest developments of interest to homeowners and aspiring homeowners, with contributions from our staff, supporters and guest contributions.
New advice helps homeowners trapped by Japanese Knotweed
Homeowners left unable to sell or get a mortgage on properties with Japanese Knotweed have been given new hope thanks to updated guidance issued by the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors.
Alternatives to Help to Buy
After eight years, the Help to Buy Scheme is due to end in April 2023. So what are the alternatives to Help to Buy for first time buyers needing a foot up on the housing ladder? We’ve asked Tembo to explain all.
Energy bills help – what’s available and how to access it
If you’re worried about sky high energy bills, you’ll want to know what energy bills help is available. We bring you up to speed on the latest developments with the Energy Price Guarantee. Plus everything you need to know about all the schemes providing energy bills help, how to access them and whether it’s a good idea to switch.
How to get a Stamp Duty Refund
Stamp duty tax is complicated. And there are a number of common reasons that lead to it being miscalculated and overpaid. So we've asked Cornerstone Tax Advisors to explain what can go wrong, how to work out if you have a claim and how to go about getting a stamp duty refund.
Why January is a great time to sell for a speedy sale
If you're thinking of selling, here's why January is one of the best months for a speedy sale. Plus here are our top 5 tips for selling quickly.
How homeowners can beat the cost of living crisis
Homeowners up and down the UK are dreading the inevitable energy price hike expected this April, alongside a wider cost of living crisis. But did you know mortgage payments are at least seven times that of typical annual energy bills? Switching mortgages could save more than £2,000 a year, more than the typical annual energy bill.
Shared ownership changes: what do they mean for homebuyers?
Shared ownership is a popular scheme aimed at homebuyers who are struggling to afford a suitable property on the open market. Last year the government announced a raft of changes to how the scheme works. And things aren’t quite as beneficial as you might first think. Sue Phillips of Shared Ownership Resources sets out what’s changed and what those reforms really mean for you.
5 homeowning must-dos for 2022
With a tough financial year ahead and the cost of living increasing, here are some must-dos to help you save money on running your home.
What to do if builder refuses to fix snags in your new build home
When you buy a new build home, you hope that, aside from the odd delay, everything will be ready for you to move in on your completion day. But this isn’t always the case. Here we look at how to get problems fixed and what to do if the builder refuses to fix snags in your new build home.
Record number of homes bought with Help to Buy equity loan – but costs rise
The number of homes bought through the Help to Buy equity loan scheme reached a record high in the year to June, according to new figures. But the cost of using the scheme increased too. We explain all
2022 Housing Market Predictions
Homemovers and housing professionals had a lot to contend with last year: the pandemic created a “race for space” as people searched for bigger homes, while the stamp duty holiday and record low interest rates fuelled soaring numbers of transactions. Will 2022 be as dramatic? We’ve asked the estate agency Strike to give us their take on what’s to come.
Best London Rental Yields 2021
Are you in the market for an investment property in London? If so, you’ll be interested in what the London estate agency Portico has to say about the best London rental yields from 2021
Energy bills soar and suppliers go bust
Brace yourself for soaring energy bills as gas prices rise and the cheaper energy providers drop like flies. Here's everything you need to know about what to expect from your energy bills, whether you should switch now and why this is happening.
Wood burning stove regulations
Wood burning stoves enhance a room, especially in winter when they can also help keep your home warm. But new wood burning stoves regulations that came into force in 2022 affect what type of log burner you can buy and what fuel you can burn in them. We take a look at how it impacts you.
Budget 2021 at a glance
Everything homeowners need to know from tax changes, cladding funding, spending on new housing, reforms to planning - and what's not included - from the Autumn Budget 2021
Why staying on your mortgage deal could cost £2,500
Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage explained
Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgages (JBSP) can help first-time buyers who are struggling to get on the property ladder. We’ve asked Tembo to tell us how these mortgages work and the pros and cons...
Electric car charging at home
Electric cars are increasingly popular, spurred on by the government's aim to ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. And from 2022, electric car charging points will be legally required in new build homes. Here's everything you need to know about electric car charging at home, the practicalities and costs...
Want to sell by Christmas? Then list your home before this date
Have your say on Help to Buy and Shared Ownership and get a £20 Love2Shop voucher
Researchers at the University of York need help with research into whether using affordable homeownership schemes, such as Help to Buy or Shared Ownership can be a safer way for people to buy a home. So if you've bought your home using one of these schemes, read on to find out how you can help.
Demand for holiday-let mortgages continues to grow
The number of holiday-let mortgages available on the market doubles in a year and is expected to grow, as Brits stay in the UK
Building a granny annex
A granny annex is a great way to create additional space for a growing family or to keep your elderly relatives close. We have asked granny annex providers Norwegian Log to talk us through the benefits.
Fewer over 55’s plan to downsize
How to sell a flat with a short lease
If you own a flat or house with a short lease, you may be wondering if you will be able to sell your property. The short answer is yes, but the experts at Home House Buyers explain what you need to consider and why it's more complex than you might think.
Claim 2 free tickets to Grand Designs Live Birmingham
We have teamed up with Grand Designs Live to offer you two free tickets to this year’s event, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 6-10 October.
The benefits of being chain free – and what to do if you’re not
Being chain free means you’re in a financial position to be able to buy a home without waiting to sell your home, and your seller sell their home, and so on and so on. We’ve asked online estate agents SOLD.co.uk to explain all.
Homeowners and masks: How the new rules affect you
After the relaxation of restrictions on Monday 19th July, what happens now when estate agents or tradespeople visit your home?
Is now a good time to buy a house?
For most of us, our homes are central to our lives as well as our largest financial asset, so we want to know we’re making the right decision when we buy and sell. And there’s a lot to consider at the moment. On the one hand we have a cost of living crisis and increased mortgage costs, while on the other hand we see house prices dropping. So, is now a good time to buy a house?
Midlands market towns benefit from the London exodus
The property market is booming with house prices increasing across the country. But for once, London isn’t at the heart of the action. The Midlands is one of the areas that is booming. So we've asked the online estate agent Strike where the region's hotspots are and what local buyers and sellers need to know.