How to fix the UK – it’s all about property

Margins and Mortar episode 18 Few issues loom as large over Britain’s economic and social future as housing. It shapes where people live, how they work, and the opportunities available to them. From high house prices to regional inequality, many of the country’s most persistent challenges appear, at least in part, to trace back to […]

The Renters’ Rights era: lessons from Scotland

Mortar and Margins episode 17 The so-called “renters’ rights era” marks one of the most significant shifts in UK housing policy in decades, reshaping the balance between landlords and tenants and prompting a wider debate about the future of the private rental market. While headlines have often veered towards extremes – from predictions of collapsing […]

How to buy property like an investor

Mortar and Margins episode 16 For most people, buying a home is the biggest financial decision they will ever make. Yet the way many approach it is emotional, reactive and, at times, financially naïve. By contrast, seasoned property investors take a far more structured and strategic approach – one that prioritises long-term value, flexibility and […]

How to avoid a bridging loan to nowhere

Mortar and Margins XV asks how to avoid default interest rates when projects go awry. Property investment often begins with optimism. A derelict auction property appears full of potential, the numbers stack up, and bridging finance unlocks the opportunity. Yet the reality can quickly unravel. Delays to materials, unreliable contractors and stalled permissions can push […]

What happens when property damage exceeds the deposit?

Mortar and Margins 14 After six years, a tenant finally moves out. You open the door and immediately realise something is wrong. Boxes and rubbish are piled in every room. The property is in a terrible state. You have the tenant’s deposit, but it is nowhere near enough to cover the cost of restoring the […]

Are you being played by your tenants?

Mortar and Margins 12 Imagine you are a landlord with a handsome Regency property in Cheltenham. It is a short walk from the centre, all high ceilings and winter draughts. Your tenants are a young couple who have caused no trouble for two years. Then, during Festival week, the boiler fails. You send a trusted […]