How to get ‘In’ on the ‘Off Market’? 5 Things You Should Know Now.
Investing in real estate is a lucrative opportunity, but with so many properties available on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. One alternative that many savvy investors turn to is the 'off market' property scene. This refers to properties that are not listed for [...]
Letting to Students – And why we need private landlords in this sector
LETTING TO STUDENTS - AND WHY WE NEED PRIVATE LANDLORDS IN THIS SPACE Many people believe that going to University is a right of passage and a chance for young people to venture out from the family home and, to a point, stand on their own two feet. Whilst the [...]
Pre-Budget Update – New Mortgage Guarantee Scheme
On Wednesday, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce this year’s budget and as Budgets go, this one could be quite interesting. The question on the lips of many people is how he plans to repay the astronomical cost of the various government support schemes introduced over the past year to [...]
Its official….landlords are getting younger!
Its official….landlords are getting younger! There comes a time in your life when everyone seems to appear young to you. From the bank manager who looks like he’s just out of school and the accountant fresh out of university to the solicitor who looks as baby faced and youthful as [...]
The Rise of Multigenerational Living
My wife fondly remembers that when she was growing up, her Nan also lived in the same house as her. The extension to her family’s 3 bedroom semi provided another bedroom (which was converted to a small kitchen) and a bedsit room in which her Nan lived for many years. [...]
Another set of house price data…another duvet moment?
Martin gives his spin on the latest property market figures- whatever they are! Whenever house price data comes out, I think the Nation collectively hides under its metaphorical duvet, nervously glancing at the numbers in case they announce the end of the world as we know it (again) and, whether [...]
Breathing Space Law – Why Landlords with Tenants in Arrears need to know this
Earlier this month, the Government set out details of a new Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) - which is to be also known as ‘Breathing Space’ law - that comes into effect in May 2021. This new law is designed to give tenants legal [...]
FINDING & WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS
Top Tips for Finding and Working With Contractors In this video Martin explains what to do if you need to find and then work with a good contractor - that a being a builder or tradesperson that is going to do some work on your property or garden. 1. GO [...]
WHAT’S THE IDEAL PROPERTY FOR 2021?
Despite all the economic uncertainty surrounding Brexit and Covid 19, last year proved to be a stellar year as far as property transactions and prices were concerned. Boosted by pent up demand following the first lockdown and the announcement of the stamp duty holiday, buyers came out in their droves [...]
Martin’s Top 10 Ideas for Using Space Under the Stairs
MARTIN’S 10 IDEAS TO USE SPACE UNDER THE STAIRS In today’s modern homes, space is a premium, so you need to make the most of every last inch. Aside from ‘Harry Potter’ style hideaways, the space under the stairs is often just a dumping ground for the vacuum cleaner and [...]
Martin’s Top Tips for Improving Your Bathroom
Second to kitchens, bathrooms are those rooms that can make your property instantly more appealing and therefore add value. Even if you’re not in the market for selling, having a lovely space to carry out your morning rituals will set you up for the rest of the day. Here’s Martin’s [...]
What Does 2021 Spell for the UK Property Market?
What does 2021 spell for the property market? Despite lockdown#3 being thrust upon us on 4th January, just as most people were returning to their more normal routines after the Christmas / New Year break, it seems that this news will do little to slow the momentum of the UK [...]
Top Tips on Short Term Holiday Lets
Top Tips on Short Term Holiday Lets When you say the words ‘rental property’, most people generally think of a traditional Buy to Let arrangement - but there is an alternative rental strategy for property investors. The market for short term or holiday lets has caused some landlords over the [...]
The Beauty of Mulitple Exit Strategies
A 'Convenient Flat' I visited an interesting property this week which got me thinking about exit strategies. The property I saw is derelict but had previously been a shop with a flat above it. The shop had been a convenience / general store but was standing vacant and in quite [...]
Green Homes Grant Extension
Like many property investors I must confess that I have properties that aren’t as energy efficient as they should be. Yep, hands up I have generally favoured gas boilers to provide heating and hot water – which is also true for 20 million (85% of) UK homes. But, like others [...]
Shared Ownership Under the Spotlight
There’s been a lot of talk in the press recently about Shared Ownership Properties - a topic covered on BBC Panorama programme recently, in an episode called ‘The Home I Can’t Afford’. So what exactly is Shared Ownership and why is it under the spotlight? The idea of Shared Ownership [...]
Pre Winter Checks That Could Save £££s
Its one of my bugbears. The number of people that I speak to that don’t know where the stop cock in their house is. It’s one of those bits of information that you never think you’ll need… that is until you do - and then usually its an emergency. Being [...]
Flipping Properties during Stamp Duty Holiday
The idea of ‘flipping property’ is when a property is bought and sold within 12 months. The buyer is flipping it over so to speak. It's a strategy used often by investors to give them a quick cash return – that they may then use as deposits for further properties. [...]
Mortgage Holiday Extension Announced
A little bit of news announced last Friday, that passed me by was the fact that the Government’s financial services regulator, the FCA announced an extension to the mortgage holiday for those people who have been financially impacted by Coronavirus - which by my reckoning, is everyone. While reiterating customer [...]
Armchair Investors Backing Property
In the past few weeks I’ve had to fork out on a new boiler for one of my rental properties, get a plumber in as an emergency due to a leaky u-bend in a little BTL I own and argue with an electrician over the quality of his work in [...]
City Centre Rents are falling
One of the most significant impacts of the Covid 19 pandemic has been that vast swaths of the working population have had to pack up their desks and shift everything to the home office. During lockdown #1 when it quickly became necessary to work from home, we will all recall [...]
Listen and learn | Martin Roberts Property & Home Magazine Winter 2020
From some angles, the UK property market has never looked busier – but how do you learn to get into it and make a profit? Despite the coronavirus lockdown – or perhaps because of it, if you take into account pent-up demand and the incentive of the Stamp Duty holiday [...]
Head of Childline joins Martin at the Hampshire launch of ‘Sadsville’ book
The striking Southampton Harbour Hotel was the venue for the official launch of the Hampshire edition of Sadsville on Thursday 28th March 2019. The campaign to give a free copy of Sadsville to all Year 4 children across the UK has so far seen 6000 books go into primary schools [...]
Martin Roberts is pleased to unveil the Somerset version of the ‘Sadsville’ book
Martin is very proud to officially launch the Somerset version of his ‘Sadsville’ book, kindly hosted by The Grand Pier in Weston-Super-Mare on Monday 11thJune 2018. According to Martin: “I am truly delighted to launch the Somerset version of my ‘Sadsville’ book in support of the NSPCC at such a [...]