Charlotte Duck

Property News

London's 'most desirable' area where homes sell in just 44 days

The top three boroughs for speedy sales are in the north-east corner of London

17 Apr 2025
Property News

Flats built for sale in Camden may be reallocated to house refugees

Dozens of the flats intended to fund the north London council’s redevelopment schemes could be reallocated to provide more permanent homes to refugees

10 Mar 2023
Buying & Mortgages

‘Can I keep my fixed-rate mortgage if I turn my house into an HMO?’

Jada Woolf wants to know whether registering her home as an HMO will impact her low fixed-rate mortgage

24 Feb 2023
Buying & Mortgages

Meet the couples who put off dream weddings to buy their first homes

With the average wedding now costing £18,000, it’s no wonder many modern couples are putting mortgages before marriage

8 Feb 2023
Buying & Mortgages

New scheme lets buyers crowdfund to purchase a home without a mortgage

A new scheme aims to bypass mortgages and allow buyers to crowdfund their way onto the property ladder

8 Feb 2023
Property News

Meet the Londoners struggling to sell their shared-ownership homes

Shared ownership helps thousands of buyers on to the ladder, but selling on can be a nightmare

1 Feb 2023
Julie Ward
Buying & Mortgages

Mortgage clinic: ‘How much could I borrow to buy a rental property?’

First-time buyer Julie Ford would like to invest in a rental property as a way of safeguarding her future.

27 Jan 2023
Robert and Mariona Bolohan
Buying & Mortgages

‘How does the First Homes scheme compare to shared ownership?’

Robert, 28, and Mariona Bolohan, 26, run a translation business and have been looking to buy a property for two years

26 Jan 2023
Buying & Mortgages

Despite Help to Buy extension many buyers will still miss out on homes

After Homes & Property revealed hundred of Londoners would miss the Help to Buy deadline due to buliding delays, the government announced an extension. But many buyers still stand to miss out

23 Jan 2023
Buying & Mortgages

‘Can I reduce my monthly mortgage payments while I’m trying to sell?’

Helen Hambly is selling her flat but her fixed rate has ended and monthly repayments have increased by £300. What options does she have?

23 Jan 2023
Buying & Mortgages

‘At what interest rate would I no longer be able to pay my mortgage?’

Anabela Pereira Santos Yourell asks the experts how high interest rates could be before she wouldn’t be able to pay the mortgage on her rental home.

20 Jan 2023
Buying & Mortgages

Save deposit while living rent free in new first-time buyer scheme

The new build developer’s scheme enables first-time buyers to pay into savings rather than rent

17 Jan 2023
Buying & Mortgages

‘What mortgage can I get as a self-employed, first-time buyer?’

Self-employed comedian and cartoonist Paul Savage is interested in finding out what mortgage he might be able to get.

12 Dec 2022
Property News

Build delays and Help to Buy deadline dashes first-time buyer dreams

A bureaucratic deadline means hundreds of hopeful buyers stand to miss out on their goal of home ownership as government support slips out of reach.

30 Nov 2022
Emma Moloney
Buying & Mortgages

‘Will my fiancé lose his first-time buyer status when we marry?’

Due to strict affordability criteria, Emma Maloney has had very little interest in her shared-ownership flat — and wants to know the implications for her fiancé

29 Nov 2022
Buying & Mortgages

Mortgage clinic: ‘We want to sell but buyers can’t get a mortgage’

Although my ground rent is only going up by £40 per year, we’ve discovered that lenders are put off by the extra charge and regularity of review. Are we trapped in an unsellable home?

21 Nov 2022
Buying & Mortgages

Mortgage clinic: ‘Should I borrow an extra £15,000 for renovations?’

Can I release some equity from my home? How much will my repayments increase if I do this and come off my low fixed rate next year?’

15 Nov 2022
Buying & Mortgages

‘Do I change to PAYE to get a mortgage deal and risk being worse off?’

Freelance prop maker Ben Crooks wants to stay as a limited company but wonders whether it will prevent him from getting a good mortgage rate next year.

8 Nov 2022
Buying & Mortgages

Mortgages: ‘I can’t afford repayments to triple, what are my options?’

My fixed rate is ending in three years. How can I put myself in the best position to weather interest-rate rises and what are my options if I decide to rent out my flat?

25 Oct 2022
Buying & Mortgages

Cladding help: ‘I can’t sell or change mortgage. What are my options?’

Film-maker Reece Lipman wants to sell his shared-ownership flat in Romford so he can buy a new home with his partner

24 Oct 2022
Buying & Mortgages

Mortgage hell hits: Londoners face up to the rate rises

Finances crippled, weddings postponed, equity wiped out and having the dream of owning a first home snatched away - here’s what the interest rate rises mean for Londoners.

5 Oct 2022