Ali Ghannad

06/07/2021

Time is running out on Stamp Duty Savings

Property prices have increased across the country in 2020 despite the Coronavirus pandemic. According to Rightmove, the average house price in Newcastle is £226,023, 8% on the previous year. The average property price in Salford is £202,061, which is 4% up on the previous year.

In England and Northern Ireland, the temporary £500,000 tax-free threshold has been reduced to £250,000 from 30th June until 30 September. This means homebuyers can still save up to £2500 on stamp duty charges. Moneysupermarket suggests that buyers saved on average £5,034 through stamp duty savings when the stamp duty holiday was in full swing.

Although the threshold has been lowered, by targeting properties under £250k, you will still save. Act today!

18/06/2021

Eviction Ban Extended for Businesses that have Remained Closed During Pandemic

The extension applies to all businesses, but the new measures that will be introduced by primary legislation will only cover those impacted by closures. This means that rent debt accumulated before March 2020 and after the date when relevant sector restrictions on trading are lifted, will be actionable by landlords as soon as the tenant protection measures are lifted.

The arbitration process will be delivered by private arbitrators, but in accordance with guidelines, which will be set out in the legislation, and they will have to go through an approval process to prove their impartiality.

18/06/2021

The Bank of England Frets that the House-Price Boom Won’t Cool

It is fair to say that most people did not expect us to be in this position in the summer of 2021.

This was the time when the end of both the stamp duty cut and the furlough scheme was going to bear down on house prices and transactions.

Neither, however, have ended, though the full stamp duty reduction has only days left, June 30 marking the switch to a three-month period in which, in England, the exemption will only apply on the first £250,000.

Now the big question is whether, as stamp duty returns to normal levels, the market will lose steam.

The majority view is that this will indeed be the case and that the roaring market of the first half of the year will give way to a merely purring one later in the year.

That the market is booming is not in doubt.

11/06/2021

House prices reached another record high in May, with the average property adding more than £3,000 (+1.3%) to its value in the last month alone.

A year on from the first easing of national lockdown restrictions, and the gradual reopening of the housing market, annual growth surged to 9.5%, meaning the average UK home has increased in value by more than £22,000 over the past 12 months.

Heading into the traditionally busy summer period, market activity continues to be boosted by the government’s stamp duty holiday, with prospective buyers racing to complete purchases in time to benefit from the maximum tax break ahead of June’s deadline, after which there will be a phased return to full rates.

28/04/2021

Landlords without EICR now facing fines of up to £30,000

The deadline for landlords to obtain an EICR was April 1st. That deadline has now passed, and any landlord who missed it is facing a fine of up to £30,000.

An EICR (which stands for Electrical Installation Condition Report) checks that all electrical installations in the property - such as light fixtures and electrical sockets - are safe before the tenant moves in. Landlords with rental properties in England needed to obtain this certificate before April 1st, and serve it to their tenants within 28 days of the inspection.

If you’re a landlord in England who missed the deadline, or a landlord in Scotland who doesn’t have an EICR at all, you should order a certificate immediately to avoid penalty.

22/04/2021

Nearly 30% of London flat sharers plan to move after lockdown. Half of them say they’ll leave London completely, with the vast majority intending to move to somewhere more rustic.
COVID has changed the way of living. With the demand for remote working, we're less tied up to the big cities, and some of us are thinking to move away for more space.
On the other hand, reduced demand in cities means rents have never been so affordable, with prices dropping as much as 15-25% in some London areas since the start of the pandemic.

15/04/2021

This is Jim Thorpe, a Native American Indian from Oklahoma, discriminated against by his own and strangers.
Look closely at the picture, he wore different shoes and socks.
It was not a fashion statement...

It was the 1912 Olympics and Jim represented his country in athletics, and in the morning competitions, they stole his shoes. Luckily he ended up finding two shoes in a trash can. It's the pair he's wearing in the picture. But one of the shoes was too big, so he had to wear an extra sock. With those shoes, he won two gold medals that day.

This is a sobering reminder: enough to say that life is hard, cruel and unfair. Living is brave, giving up is cowardly.

04/03/2021

Good news for home buyers!

Stamp duty holiday extended, and 95% mortgages announced today. The Government has announced further help for home-buyers by extending the stamp duty holiday and reintroducing 95% mortgages.
The stamp duty holiday – originally announced in July 2020 – will run until 30 June 2021. This means more savings for home-buyers as the holiday could save them thousands.
95% mortgages will be more widely available too, providing more support for buyers.

17/12/2020

Charming 1-bed Apartment To-Let in a Great Central London Location

Westminster, London SW1H 9HE - £360.00pw (Heating and hot water included)

Description

Key features:

Fully furnished with TV
Heating and hot water charges included in the rent
One-bedroom
Reception
Bathroom
Kitchen
Two storages
Huge built-in mirror wardrobe in the bedroom
2nd floor (with lift)
Porter
Council Tax Band = C
This is a charming 1 bedroom apartment in an incredible location with its heating included in the rent.

This 1 bedroom apartment is within 0.1 miles of St. James's Park station, a couple of minutes walking distance.

The property comprises a bright reception, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. Located in the heart of Westminster, the parks, restaurants, and all of central London in reach of an easy walking distance.

Charges for heating and hot water are included within the rent.

Great location with easy access to St. James Park station, fantastic for a city commute.

Local information
Petty France is a highly desirable residential street in the heart of Westminster. Located to the south of St James Park and to the East of Victoria, the property is within reach of the many amenities, restaurants, and shops of Victoria, St James, Mayfair, and Westminster. Local parklands include St James Park (approx) 0.2 miles.
Transport Links include: Circle & District Lines (St James's Park): approx 0.1 miles
Victoria and mainline rail services (Victoria): approx 0.3 miles Jubilee Line (Westminster): approx 0.6 miles

There is a video of the property and can be sent to you via WhatsApp - please leave your WhatsApp number if you would like to see it?

EPC Rating = C

13/08/2020

Stamp Duty Temporary Reduced Rate Explained...

10/07/2020

A good news for home buyers...

Stamp Duty Holiday Announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, has today announced a stamp duty holiday for homebuyers, meaning any purchase up to £500,000 will be exempt from paying any tax.

05/06/2020

Hope you guys enjoying your weekend.

I have few rooms available to let in Putney, please feel free to get in touch if its something that falls into the area of your interest.

East Putney : £580-£730 pcm (inc bills). Hello property searchers, hope you all are fine and keeping safe in this trouble times. I have 3 rooms...