Property Blog

Why a Short-Term Rental is a Better Alternative to a Hotel
Michael Holliday Michael Holliday

Why a Short-Term Rental is a Better Alternative to a Hotel

When booking accommodation for a week, a few weeks or even a few months, the default choice for many business travellers is a hotel. While hotels offer convenience and service, they can also be expensive, restrictive, and lacking in the comforts of home.

A longer short-term rental—essentially an apartment with a fully equipped kitchen, a separate bedroom, a living space, and modern amenities—offers a far superior experience in terms of price, convenience, and facilities.

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The Impact of Stamp Duty Changes on the UK Property Market From April 1st (This is no April Fool)
Michael Holliday Michael Holliday

The Impact of Stamp Duty Changes on the UK Property Market From April 1st (This is no April Fool)

The 2025 Stamp Duty changes are set to potentially reshape the UK property market. The initial rush to buy before the new rates take effect has temporarily pushed up demand and prices. While house prices are still expected to rise, the pace of growth is likely to be more measured than in previous years, creating in itself more affordability and investor opportunity.

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Doncaster: A Thriving Hub for Living, Investing, and Landlording. A Short-Term Let Hotspot.
Michael Holliday Michael Holliday

Doncaster: A Thriving Hub for Living, Investing, and Landlording. A Short-Term Let Hotspot.

Doncaster is rapidly emerging as one of the most attractive places to live, work, and invest in the UK. With a unique blend of history, modern infrastructure, and forward-thinking developments, this vibrant town offers an appealing quality of life for residents, investors, and short-term let operators alike. 

Here’s why Doncaster should be at the top of your list whether you're looking to buy property, invest in a business, or capitalise on short-term rental opportunities.

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The UK Housing Market and Why Short-Term Lets Work
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

The UK Housing Market and Why Short-Term Lets Work

In our recent podcast, we’ve been talking about Short Term Lets and capturing our expert views at Residential Estates. Andrew Brassey, our resident economist and regional member of the Bank of England committee, joined Michael to assess current opportunities for investors….

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A Deep Dive: Hotel Rooms vs. Holiday Apartments
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

A Deep Dive: Hotel Rooms vs. Holiday Apartments

The allure of owning a piece of paradise or a slice of the bustling travel industry is undeniable. But when it comes to property investment, should you focus on hotel rooms or holiday apartments? Both offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on your risk tolerance, investment goals, and desired level of involvement. Let's delve into the nitty-gritty of each option…

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Why the Oasis Reunion is Good News for Short-Term Let Landlords
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Why the Oasis Reunion is Good News for Short-Term Let Landlords

The Oasis reunion is set to be one of the most highly anticipated events of the decade, drawing thousands of fans from across the globe to celebrate one of Manchester’s most iconic bands. But beyond the excitement of seeing Liam and Noel Gallagher back on stage, the reunion presents a golden opportunity for short-term let landlords in and around Manchester.

Here’s why the Oasis reunion is set to be a big win for short-term property investors and landlords:

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Clear Signs of a Property Market Revival
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Clear Signs of a Property Market Revival

Broad social and economic trends now seem to be working in favour of rising capital values, stronger demand for housing and better rental returns. Most price indices show a return to price growth, particularly in the country’s less expensive regions, and rental indices continue to show average gross returns that are well above the rate of inflation.

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The North West: A Record of Growth
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

The North West: A Record of Growth

In recent months, and for much of the last two years, the North West has featured prominently in the national league tables for capital growth, rental growth and gross yields.

Given the scale of inward investment that is now taking place here, parts of the North West should remain very appealing to investors. The region won’t always be the UK’s lead performer on all measures, but recent history suggests that it’s going to remain in the upper ranks.

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Why Property Could Be a Smart Investment in 2024: A Deep Dive
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Why Property Could Be a Smart Investment in 2024: A Deep Dive

In 2024, the landscape of investment opportunities continues to evolve, with property investment standing out as a smart and resilient choice for investors seeking long-term growth and stability. The allure of property investment lies in its ability to offer a tangible asset that not only appreciates over time but also generates regular income through rental yields.

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Recession and the Property Market
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Recession and the Property Market

Despite the news of a technical recession, many landlords and lenders are reportedly upbeat about the improving conditions within the property market.

A recent press release from the specialist lender Paragon Bank notes that 37% of portfolio landlords, (i.e. investors with four or more properties) plan to increase the size of their portfolios in 2024.

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Housing Supply In 2024
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Housing Supply In 2024

In a recent blog, we looked at how demand for housing could change in 2024, and at key issues that could potentially affect affordability, price-growth and investment yields across the different regions. In this article, we continue that analysis by considering a closely related question – namely, how those changing patterns of demand might actually be met.

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Housing Demand In 2024
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Housing Demand In 2024

In 2024, staying (or moving into) Britain’s secondary cities will make sound financial sense for tenants and homebuyers alike. Property prices and rental values will be lower, and ordinary goods and services will be cheaper. In many cases, these smaller cities and towns will also be benefiting from ambitious economic development plans that are creating a growing need for skilled workers.

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Property Market Optimism for 2024
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Property Market Optimism for 2024

If 2024 can deliver this – a return to more historical norms – then investors could expect a simpler and more intuitive interaction between supply and demand. Given the strength of demand in the UK and the continuing shortfalls in supply, average values – capital and rental – should then rise at a steady and sustainable rate.

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2023: Property Market Review
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

2023: Property Market Review

In the final months of 2023, we’ve been seeing some encouraging signs from the UK economy and from the residential property market in particular. Now is therefore an obvious time to review how the housing market has fared over the last 12 months, and to consider what might lie ahead in 2024.

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Growing Confidence Among Investors
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Growing Confidence Among Investors

A recent survey of a thousand UK landlords has indicated growing confidence within the buy-to-let market, particularly amongst landlords who maintain portfolios of five or more properties.

The results suggest that despite the gloomy headlines in a number of tabloids, those who are most seriously committed to the sector recognise that prospects for investors are improving steadily. In this article, we’ll examine why that’s the case….

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Spotlight On: Rotherham
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Spotlight On: Rotherham

Rotherham makes an attractive target for forward-looking property investors. Most obviously, prices are very affordable by national standards, Most indices estimate the average local asking price at somewhere between £170,000 and £180,000, whereas they offer a UK average of between £350,000 and £365,000. The figures vary by source but they all tend to suggest that prices in Rotherham are around half of the national mean….

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Spotlight On: Loughborough
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Spotlight On: Loughborough

Loughborough is a town of modest size. The 2021 Census estimated that the population of the local urban area was around 109,100, but the town itself has considerably fewer residents. Nevertheless, it boasts many features that make it an excellent choice for property investors. In 2021, for example, the Loughborough Town Deal Board wrote that the town was experiencing rapid growth, noting that “the population is expected to increase from 67,000 at present to more than 80,000 during the 2030s; a pace over double the national average.”

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Interest Rates and Investment in 2024
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

Interest Rates and Investment in 2024

Investors welcomed the news, essentially because of what it might signal. In itself, 5.25% still represents a 15-year high, and the Bank of England has said that it expects the rate to remain elevated for some considerable time yet. In other words, the present conditions remain challenging, but the mere fact that the MPC chose not to raise the Bank Rate last month gave investors grounds for optimism.

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HS2 Cancellation: How It Affects Investors
Ian Barlow Ian Barlow

HS2 Cancellation: How It Affects Investors

Now, in the wake of the Prime Minister’s announcement, investors are faced with a different but more familiar prospect: many small infrastructure schemes creating a wider variety of opportunities in more tightly defined local markets. It’s a situation that might look considerably less dramatic but it could generate more widespread benefits than HS2, with fewer risks and in a shorter timeframe.

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