Understanding care homes – how they work and what to check
Mortar and Margins episode 21 Britain’s social care system is facing a demographic and financial crisis that few politicians appear willing to confront honestly. Demand for elderly residential care is rising rapidly as the population ages, yet the number of care homes is shrinking, smaller operators are disappearing and the economics of the sector are […]
Polanski’s houseboat highlights tension between property and politics
Mortar and Margins ep 19 Zack Polanski’s council tax controversy has reignited a familiar debate about political hypocrisy, wealth taxes and the growing hostility towards landlords and property owners. What began as a dispute over whether the Green Party deputy leader should have been paying council tax on his canal boat residence has quickly evolved […]
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 […]
EPC targets – what it’s worth doing and when it’s not.
Mortar & Margins 14 Imagine buying a charming stone cottage as a rental property. It looks cosy and appealing, the kind of home tenants love. Yet beneath the character and charm lies a growing problem. The house is cold in winter and its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is an E. Under the UK’s minimum […]
Joint tenancy – how to avoid and address the pitfalls
Mortar and Margins 13 You are a busy landlord. Your joint tenants have been a minor irritant for some time due to neglect of the property and unnecessary call-outs. Then one of them leaves. The remaining tenant says she cannot afford the full rent alone. Legally, both are jointly and severally liable – but in […]
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 […]
Beware the perfect tenant
Mortar and Margins episode 11 explores how to deal with a scam tenant. You find what looks like the ideal tenant for your high-end Manchester property. Professional, high income, spotless references. The keys are handed over and everything seems straightforward. Then, after the first month, the rent stops. Phone numbers are disconnected. Emails bounce back. […]
The EPC climbdown and the problem with Making Tax Digital.
Episode 10 By Duncan Hooper and Adam Lawrence The government’s recent announcement on Energy Performance Certificates has been widely welcomed by landlords, but the headline changes mask several important details that will shape investment decisions over the next decade. The most significant shift is the decision to align all privately rented properties to a single […]
There’s more to London and homes as pensions
For more than a decade, headlines have periodically announced the death of London. Each time, the claim is framed as a sudden collapse, a dramatic turning point, or proof that the capital’s dominance is finally over. In reality, what is being described today is not a new phenomenon but the long tail of changes that […]