Mortgage statements – as clear as mud?
A mortgage is the most significant financial commitment that many of us will ever take on. So why is it we don’t know the ‘ins and outs’ of our mortgages – is the solitary annual statement to blame?...
View ArticleScotland slams the door on ‘rip-off’ letting agent fees
The Scottish government has ruled that letting agents and landlords shouldn’t charge upfront fees to tenants outside of their deposit. With rents rising and evidence of high fees, should the rest of...
View ArticleExtending your lease – let’s all be civil, shall we?
From the minute I put an offer in for my flat, I knew that the 73-year lease was too short. But what I didn’t realise was that purchasing a lease can easily be done informally. Here’s why I think it’s...
View ArticleAre reduced mortgage rates reaching those who need them?
The news that mortgage providers are reducing the rate of borrowing should be welcomed by first-time buyers. But be warned, unless you’ve a hefty deposit, you’re unlikely to be best placed to take...
View ArticleWere you born to have a big pension pot?
People buying an income for retirement today may be 30% worse off than those who retired five years ago. So, is the size of your pension pot too reliant on your birth date or can you beat the odds? The...
View ArticleRenting roulette: the great letting agents gamble
Our new research into the lettings market reveals bad practice, unexpected fees and a lack of protection that fails both landlords and tenants. Is renting through a letting agent too much of a gamble?...
View ArticleProperty pessimism – are Brits scared of getting on the ladder?
The recession has had a detrimental effect on the housing market over a number of years. But as mortgage lending has risen by 34% this year, have you finally started to get your property confidence...
View ArticleShould it take ten years to hop on the property ladder?
A survey has found that first-time buyers need to save up for an average of eight years before they can afford a deposit, compared to just one year in 1995. So what’s behind the drastic increase?...
View ArticleCan the Help to Buy scheme really help me to buy?
Not many people can say they’ve swooned at the Chancellor, but that’s the feeling I had when he announced the two new measures under the Help to Buy mortgage scheme in his Budget speech last month. As...
View ArticleIs stamping out stamp duty really the answer?
Would reducing stamp duty, or stamping it out altogether, help you to buy your first home? Or is stamp duty just the price we have to pay to get a foot on the property ladder? Anyone buying a property...
View ArticleThink carefully when considering the Help to Buy scheme
The government has announced plans to extend the Help to Buy Scheme to help house-hunters get on the property ladder. Will the initiative help you make the move from renting to owning your own home?...
View ArticleAre Home Reports in Scotland working for you?
Buying a home is the biggest purchase most of us ever make, yet people in Scotland often purchased with less information than they’d look for if they were buying a new TV. Were Home Reports the answer?...
View ArticleYour view: are estate agent fees fair?
Our estate agents debate was the big talking point this week, with comments from both house buyers and sellers, as well as estate agents themselves. Here’s a round up of what went down. Anise thinks...
View ArticleBuying a house or having a child – what’s most stressful?
Our latest research has found that people regard buying a house the most stressful major milestone in their life (91%), trumping even having a child (81%). Where would you rank it? You don’t have to be...
View ArticleHow easy is it to be a young person these days?
Many young people are struggling to find employment and for those who have jobs, they face falling wages, rising prices and a struggle to get on to the property ladder. How easy is it to be a young...
View ArticleHit by a change to your mortgage terms? Have your say today
Hidden in the small print of your mortgage contract could be a clause that gives your lender the right to change certain aspects of your loan, including how much interest you pay. Do you think that’s...
View ArticleAre older people getting a harsh deal from lenders?
Some lenders have adopted new rules that make it harder for older people to get a mortgage. Many are also struggling to get credit cards and loans too, even when their finances are in order. What about...
View ArticleComputer says no to the home owning dream
They say that an Englishman’s home is his castle, but with mortgage lending hitting a 14 month low in September 2014, it would seem that the idea of owning a home is fast becoming a pipe dream. Some...
View ArticleHelp to Buy is no silver bullet
Around 40,000 first-time buyers now own their own home, thanks to the government’s Help to Buy scheme. But it alone isn’t the answer to Britain’s housing problems. Getting a first step on to the...
View ArticleDid you face any unexpected hitches when buying your home?
It’s no secret that moving house is a stressful process. I’d bet the sheer amount of things that could go wrong with home ownership can still come as a surprise to first-time buyers. It was only while...
View ArticleSarah Beeny: would you sell your house online?
Would you ditch a high street estate agent in favour of selling your house online yourself? Here’s Sarah Beeny, presenter of Channel 4’s ‘How to Sell Your Home’, asking whether online estate agents are...
View ArticleJohn Ward: the ups & downs of buying a new build house
Which? Convo regular John Ward is here to share his experiences of buying a new-build house. It’s furnished him with some great tips if you’re looking to buy a new-build, so without further ado, here’s...
View ArticleWhy registering to vote could be good for your credit rating
With the general election fast approaching on 7 May, here’s the Electoral Commission on why it’s important to register to vote. Did you know, for example, that not registering could damage your credit...
View ArticleTurning up the heat on district heating
Many of us don’t trust energy suppliers, but what if you were stuck with one supplier for as long as you lived in a property, with no control over the price you pay? This is the reality for many...
View ArticleWhat’s the best way to beat the stress of moving home?
Getting on the property ladder has always been a bit scary. We asked first-time buyers what they wish they’d known and heard of mistakes, late revelations and last-minute hitches that cost them a dream...
View ArticleHouse hunting – how much will you compromise?
Whether you’re a first time buyer or already on the property ladder, most of us have to make compromises when searching for our dream home. But how far should we go – and what aspects are we happy to...
View ArticleShould young home buyers withdraw from the bank of mum and dad?
Is the best way for parents to help their children onto the housing ladder not to help at all? Lynda Clark of First Time Buyer magazine explores the options for first-time buyers and their parents....
View ArticleIs moving house stressful?
Our latest research has found that moving house is second only to divorce when it comes to stressful life events. So how can you make the process easier? Everyone from first-time buyers to long-time...
View ArticleRental scams: a tale too good to be true
Could the flatshare or rental advertisement you’re looking at be a scam? How can you tell? I’ve been on the hunt for a new place to live in London. After spotting my old room on the SpareRoom website I...
View ArticleShould older people be able to take out a mortgage?
I am 70 and retired, can I get a mortgage? That’s a very good question… Of course, any mortgage lending is based on your individual circumstances such as income, expenditure, credit score etc, but to...
View ArticleHomebuying: a process far from easy
Last summer my husband and I decided we‘d like to move house. After having a relatively smooth experience as first-time buyers we hadn’t anticipated what was in store for us this time around… We...
View ArticleBrexit: what are your financial concerns?
Last week the UK voted to leave the EU. Whatever your views on Brexit, it’s clear that we’re set for a period of uncertainty when it comes to our personal finances. We’ve set out the main ways that the...
View ArticleQueen’s Speech: what’s in store for 2016-17
As the Queen takes off her crown, exits Parliament and heads back to Buckingham Palace, we’ve taken a look at the Government’s legislative agenda for 2016-17, following this year’s Queen’s Speech. So...
View ArticleBeing a landlord can feel like a constant battle
Having just won a legal case against West Brom Mortgage Company, landlord Emma Hughes explains how the buy-to-let property market isn’t all roses. Landlords in the UK have a certain reputation and face...
View ArticleHave you ever had a bizarre property viewing?
Our annual moving house survey revealed some buyers face some real surprises when they turn up to view a house. You never know what you’re going to face when you turn up to view a property. When I was...
View ArticleBuying a home – has your experience been as bad as mine?
Everyone knows that moving home is one of the most stressful things you can do. This anonymous author reached breaking point when she was ‘gazundered’ by her buyer and then the removal firm failed to...
View ArticleWill shoddy letting agents be stopped by these new government plans?
The government has announced plans to bring about greater regulation of letting and managing agents, but we still have a way to go on detail. Have you had problems with a letting agent? Last year, the...
View ArticleWould you live in a 3D-printed house?
The Netherlands will soon be home to the world’s first concrete 3D-printed properties. But would you live in one? We’ve discussed possible answers to the UK’s housing crisis on Convo before, but could...
View ArticleIs the private rental sector working for consumers?
Private rented accommodation is no longer a transitional stepping off point – it’s become an inescapable destination for many households in England. Is the sector working well enough? The demographic...
View ArticleLeasehold housing scandal: have you been affected?
There are a series of issues around leasehold new-build houses – including clauses that make ground rents rise to thousands of pounds a year. Isn’t it about time this system was fixed? Update...
View ArticleScam watch: £1,400 lost to property deposit fraud
This month’s scam watch saw the loss of £1,400 to a property deposit fraudster. Here’s how it was done, and what you need to watch out for. While living overseas, the victim of this scam was offered a...
View ArticleIs national and regional property price info misleading?
Are media headlines based on ‘average data’ influencing our decisions to buy, sell, invest or re-mortgage? Our guest explains why she thinks that’s the case. This is a guest post by Kate Faulkner. All...
View ArticleHave you had mortgage issues due to an EWS1 form?
A survey designed to ensure high-rise blocks of flats adhere to fire safety rules is causing mortgages to be declined. Have you been affected? 26/08/2020: Scammers take advantage of EWS1 confusion...
View ArticleMy EWS1 Olympic Park nightmare
As many as 65 residential apartment blocks built for the 2012 Olympic Games are now valued at £0. Our guest, a resident of Stratford’s East Village, explains why. This is a guest post by Sam Williams....
View ArticleWe’ve been told our cladding bill could be £13,000,000
Residents of Royal Artillery Quays in Woolwich have been told they may have to pay £13m to make their homes safe. Our guest, a leaseholder, explains the impact. Photo credit: Oli Cooper This is a guest...
View ArticleMy entire life has been changed by combustible cladding
30 year-old Abi from Leeds is trapped in an unsafe property. She can’t start a family and is facing potential bankruptcy. Here, she tells us her story. This is a guest post by Abi Tubis. All views...
View ArticleWhy aren’t our homes suitable for older or disabled people?
The Centre for Ageing Better believes it’s time to take action for better homes. Our guest explains why it wants to see changes. This is a guest post by Louise Ansari. All views expressed are Louise’s...
View ArticleWe can’t afford £100,000 each to make our buildings safe
Leaseholders at Manchester’s Salford Quays could be hit with £100,000 bills each to remediate their buildings. Facing bankruptcy, the residents tell us their story. This is a guest post by Jake...
View ArticleCladding scandal: experiences from the Leaseholders Together protest
As the building safety crisis intensifies, we went along to the Leaseholders Together rally in Parliament Square to hear directly from affected homeowners. Here are their stories. Since we asked if...
View ArticleMy daughter is living a cladding nightmare, but I’m so proud of her
Linda Pike’s daughter could be facing bankruptcy due to the cladding scandal. Here she explains the impact it’s had on them both in her own words. This is a guest article by Linda Pike. All views...
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