Whether you’ve stumbled upon the rental home of your dreams, or daydreaming about finding one soon, you’re going to have go through the necessary evil that calls itself: tenancy referencing. *distant blood curling scream*. Pop that cushion away, for this needn’t be a nightmare filled rigmarole (that’s one pasta dish from Pappagoni’s we wouldn’t recommend). Read on for our hammer horror-free guide to passing the dreaded tenancy checks, with a little help from our friends at Goodlord. Your haunted castle awaits…

Oh security deposit, you complex creature you. Created to protect both tenant and landlord, the deposit is far from a simple affair. Anyone who has had any experience with retrieving or exercising deductions knows it is a veritable mind exploder. But it needn’t be this difficult. Read on for our guide to keeping things fair in the game of renting and deposits.

Firstly, congratulations! Whether you’re currently housing a melon sized ball of life change in your nether regions, or flirting with the idea of adopting; you’re doing one heck of a wonderful thing. But we know how overwhelming the house buying process can be, let alone with another huge life change on the horizon. That’s why we’ve compiled a nursery room full of tips, tricks and advice when it comes to buying whilst pregnant or adopting. From your finances to your child gates, it’s time to dim the lights and listen to Davies and Davies Story Time.

Hey there Hans Solo, we’re proud of you. Buying a property alone is no mean feat, and we should know. But it will be incredibly rewarding, particularly if you decide to take our sage advice. No, we’re not suggesting you whip out some actual sage and start burning a hole in the curtains. Thanks to our old chum, Covid, the market has been somewhat quashed – but it won’t be held down. For those of you looking to buy in these times, we proudly raise our hats, readjust our masks and say, you got this. Because the UK property market is coming out the other side of the corona tunnel, and you are too. Read on for our tips, tricks and guidelines to getting on that property ladder without a helping hand.

So you’ve secured a property, picket fence and all. Your next step before purchasing said dream abode is to alert your solicitor and instruct an independent surveyor. But there’s no need to be f-f-fwightened oh mighty lion! We’re here to break down the somewhat bewildering array of Surveyor’s Reports for your viewing pleasure, and find out which one is best for you in full technicolour. So skip with us, arm in arm along the North London red brick road towards full surveying report enlightenment (hiding just behind that fetching Dunelm curtain).

You might have been wondering what Rishi Sunak’s 2021 budget means for the property sector and how it affects you. It’s true to say that the financial stability of the UK has historically mirrored the health of the property sector. Last year the market pretty much came to a standstill for a brief period during the early days of the pandemic. However, the introduction of the stamp duty holiday, and other economic measures brought in, have allowed the sector to more or less bounce back. The new 2021 budget continues on this pathway of sustaining the property market. So what does this mean for first-time buyers, homeowners, landlords, tenants and potential investors? Here’s our summary.

It’s true that a lot of homes are snapped up by first timers carefully clambering upon one rung of the ladder, or experts keeping afloat in the deep end of the property pool. But sometimes, whilst you’re having a quiet sit down in the swimming pool canteen, a property can be handed to us on a plate with a side order of inheritance tax. For these exercise avoidant foodies, it can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled a handy guide for those of us who’ve inherited property, when we were simply expecting a mediocre helping of soggy sausage and chips.

So it’s your first time? Do not fear, D&D are here. While finding out how to become a buy to let landlord can be a daunting prospect, we know all too well the value to gain from embarking on such new, uncharted territories. Although recent changes to taxation last year, meaning you can no longer deduct mortgage expenses from rental income, a buy to let property is certainly worth the investment once you’ve grasped the ins and outs of the market. So let us hold your hand through the process, if you’re comfortable with that of course Keith.

Overspent on pizza, can’t afford your repayments or got yourself into debt? Let us answer those awkward mortgage questions you’re too embarrassed to ask. Don’t be shy, welcome to the Annual Awkward Mortgage Q&A with your friendly property experts. Those burning queries you have that might be a bit on the sensitive side? Well, we’ve heard it all before and there’s no judgement here at all!

We’re here to remind you how to make sure you get your deposit back so you can avoid getting into a stressful tug-of-war over your hard earned cash. If you’ve made the decision to move on out, the last thing you need is to see your security deposit withheld as you attempt to conjure up a new one for the next place. So here’s our stress free guide to moving on out in the form of M People’s hit song from 1993, no less. Hit it, Heather.

Sell sell sell! cries your house at night, as your partner murmurs ‘it’s just settling love, go back to sleep’. But you can’t. Move move move! you hear it creak, as you nervously waddle downstairs for a Nigella-esque gulp of cheesecake at midnight. Yes, your property is ready to be taken to market like a pig ready for a hog roast, but is it ready for its close up? Are you ready for your close up? This Winter, you’re most likely champing at the bit (or cheesecake) to get your house up and sold, so that’s where we come in. Here are our top tips for getting your best asset pimped and primped for a swift sale, so you can quit stress eating through the cold winter nights.

Say goodbye to arrested development and long drawn out planning applications. Say hey there to permitted development and automatic ‘yes siree you can build a pretty kitchen extension’. The Government, Dua Lipa style, counted out some new rules earlier in the year, and consequently made a hit song about it with full dance routine choreographed by Rishi Sunak. You might have missed it while you were engrossed in the BoJo baby news and that particularly eye watering episode of Naked Attraction. But what do these new rules mean for you and what exactly are they? Well get your leotard and shades on and let’s get counting.

Reservations about renovations? Purchasing a fixer upper property might not be quite as romantic and fun filled as they make it seem on ‘Escape to the Chateau’, but it can still be a great investment and a rewarding experience. If your concerns are rooted in the idea of purchasing property during a pandemic (say that five times fast), now could be the perfect time to peruse the renovators. Here’s our guide to making a fixer upper work for you and what considerations to take on board first.

Well hello there handsome, how the devil are you? We must say you’re looking particularly attractive right now. Do take a seat and let us bend your ear a while on all things mortgage and land tax related. Although we are admittedly in the depths of a confusing-at-best global pandemic *breathe*, you are also in a pretty good place property market wise. While we do not wish to make light of the current situation, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if you are in the fortunate position to be able to buy a property at the moment.

It’s not that easy being green… Kermit the frog might have to change his tune. Now it’s not only easy being green, but it’s worth actual money too. Up to £10,000 worth of money in fact. The Green Homes Grant has been extended to 2022. But what does it mean for us, our homes and how do we get involved?

“My, my, my Corona!” We don’t know about you, but here at Davies & Davies we’ve found carefully slotting Covid-19 slang into smash hit pop songs really brightens up the (home) office. Barry the plant sure seems happy about it, and has been known to sing along to our puntastic lockdown lyrics of an afternoon. The biggest hit so far? Neil Diamond’s inspired “hands/Washing hands/Reaching out/Don’t touch me/I won’t touch you” Sweet Corona hit. See what he did there? 

In the words of Mark Morrison, “return of the deposit.. oh my god.. return of the deposit.. once again”. Yes, Mark knew just how frustrating the deposit cycle can be. Over and over, from tenant to landlord to tenant to landlord, we’re spinning on the spot like Mark just thinking about it. Whatever your deposit is worth, it’s worth protecting and returning in one piece, right?

Last week, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick announced that there would be an extension to the landlord eviction ban of late, providing some extra support over the winter months. We understand that landlords and tenants have been hit hard during the lockdown period, with uncertainty and confusion over what will happen next. So here we will lay out what the latest government announcement means for both landlords and tenants, together.

In the property realm, HMO does not stand for Hear Me Out or Hit Me Oooop or anything quite so modern, carefree and frivolous. In fact, we’d go so far to say as the real HMO stands for something very much care FULL if you catch our meaning. Houses in Multiple Occupation need specific licensing, lest you fancy doing an illegal and getting a hefty fine writ upon your head.

As we say goodbye to those daily walks to the kitchen, those (god awful) 5k challenges and our Friday night online quiz nights, the UK is slowly but surely working their way to a new normal, N4 included. It’s safe to say it’s been a tough ride for almost everyone during the lockdown period, our beloved restaurants and shops in particular, but with the amazing help from the people of N4 most of us have been able to pull through. As everyone comes out the other side, we’ve decided to learn more about the journey of a few of our favourite stores as they give a very special thanks to the local community.

Oh Marjorie. Stop slowly folding away your bikinis and shorts into sad little Kondo rolls, misery guts! You might not be going on your jollies this summer, but thanks to good ol’ Chancellor Sunak, our stamp duties are! For a whopping, sun filled extended nine month break. But what does that mean exactly? Shades on, for we are here to enlighten you friend. 

You might have come across the term while eyeing up the gorgeous period properties on our books, but in most cases you needn’t let it distract you from that pretty Victorian cornicing. Subsidence crops up when the ground beneath a property shifts due to a combo of dry weather, clay soil and wandering tree roots. It sounds dramatic, and sometimes is (so we’d always advise you seek professional advice) but more often than not, it’s perfectly manageable.

We don’t know about you, but every time we hear someone say they’re moving out, our eyes glaze over momentarily as we perform the full Billy Joel hit track with specialised choreography in our heads – complete with on stage breakdown (seriously, google Billy Joel meltdown and thank us later). We also simultaneously recite a lengthy and chronological to do list for said person who is, in fact, movin’ out.

Whether you’re looking to improve your living quarters to attract potential buyers, or you just fancy sprucing up your abode in time for Summer, we’re all spending a lot more time inside these same four walls. So why not try some home improvement tricks and hacks on a budget for simple ways to upgrade your surroundings?