Real Estate Crowdfunding

Selling a property in the UK can sometimes take longer than expected. Delays can happen because of paperwork, property information, searches, surveys and problems in the chain. This is one reason the government is looking at UK home buying and selling reforms . The aim is to make the process clearer, more organised and less likely to fall through. Why Do Property Sales Take So Long? A property sale can involve several people, including buyers, sellers, estate agents, conveyancers, lenders and surveyors. If important information is missing or arrives late, one delay can affect the whole transaction. The government has said that its proposed reforms are designed to reduce delays and make the buying and selling process work better. What Could Change? The proposed UK home buying and selling reforms include measures aimed at providing important property information earlier in the process. This could mean buyers have a better understanding of a property before spending significant time and...

Few things in property feel as unfair as being gazumped. You have an offer accepted, you spend money on surveys and solicitors, then someone swoops in with a higher bid and you lose the home. So what is gazumping exactly, and why on earth is it still legal in England when Scotland has effectively stopped it? Let me explain. What Gazumping Actually Is Gazumping happens when a seller accepts your offer, then later accepts a higher offer from a different buyer, all before contracts are exchanged. Because nothing is legally binding until that exchange, the seller breaks no law and loses nothing. You, however, can be left thousands of pounds out of pocket. If you want the full breakdown, this guide on what is gazumping explains it clearly. Why It Is Legal in England The root cause is the law itself. Under the Law of Property Act 1989, a property contract does not exist until contracts are formally exchanged. That is why every deal is labelled "subject to contract." Until that mo...

Your landlord has just told you they are selling. Panic sets in, and one question races through your mind: do I have to move out? Here is the reassuring truth. When a landlord is selling tenanted property in 2026, you have far more rights than you might think. Let me explain. The Sale Does Not End Your Tenancy Let us clear up the biggest myth first. Selling the property does not end your tenancy. Lots of renters wrongly believe they must leave the moment a landlord decides to sell. That is simply not true. Your tenancy transfers to the new owner on exactly the same terms. They step into your old landlord's shoes, inheriting all their obligations. If the buyer is an investor keeping it rented, nothing changes for you at all. If you want the full breakdown, this guide on selling tenanted property explains it clearly. The New Rules Protect You Since 1 May 2026, most tenancies are periodic assured tenancies, and no-fault evictions are abolished. This is huge. It means neither your cu...

One of the cruellest parts of inheritance tax on property is the timing. Your family faces a large bill before they can even access the home to pay it, sometimes forcing a rushed sale. But there is a smart way to avoid that. Let me explain. The Problem Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on your estate above the thresholds, and it is usually due within months of death. Yet the family home is illiquid, and probate can take ages. The result? Grieving families sometimes have to sell the very home they hoped to keep, just to settle the tax. If you want the full breakdown, this guide on inheritance tax on property explains it clearly. The Solution Here is the fix. A whole-of-life insurance policy written in trust pays out quickly, outside probate and outside your estate. That cash lets your executors settle the tax bill without touching the house. For couples, a joint-life second-death policy is ideal. It pays out on the second death, which is exactly when the bill falls due, and it is chea...

If you own a leasehold flat, you are probably facing one of 2026's trickiest decisions. Do you pay for a lease extension now, or wait for the promised reforms that could make it cheaper? Get the timing wrong, and it could cost you thousands. So let me help you think it through clearly. What the Reforms Promise The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 sounds like brilliant news. It promises to abolish marriage value, raise the standard extension term to a massive 990 years, and cut ground rent to a peppercorn. Here is the crucial catch, though. These headline changes are law on paper, but not yet in force in practice. If you want the full breakdown, this guide on lease extension explains it clearly. Why Waiting Is Tempting But Risky The government is still consulting on the valuation rates, with the consultation closing in September 2026 and secondary legislation to follow. Most experts expect the big changes will not take effect until 2027 or later, partly due to legal challen...

  Here is a fact that surprises almost every buyer I speak to. You may be owed a Stamp Duty Land Tax refund worth thousands of pounds, and never even realise it. Every year, huge sums go unclaimed simply because people do not know the rules. So let me show you exactly when you can claim it back. The Biggest Refund Route The most common overpayment involves the 5% surcharge on additional properties. If you bought a new main home before selling your old one, you pay that surcharge upfront. But here is the good news. If you sell your previous home within 36 months, you can reclaim the entire surcharge. On higher-value purchases, that can run to tens of thousands of pounds. You must claim within 12 months of selling the old home, or 12 months of the filing deadline, whichever is later. If you want the full breakdown, this guide on Stamp Duty Land Tax explains it clearly. Other Overlooked Claims There are more routes people miss. A property bought in a condition genuinely unsuitable t...