For the huge numbers of people with second homes across the UK, the importance of minimising their capital gains tax is imperative. Many people have purchased second homes to let out the tenants as a traditional holiday rental. Many second homeowners have purchased properties in the countryside to get away from the urban [...]

Savvy investors or would be holiday home purchasers, are wising up to the fact that there is plenty of property around and are thus driving a hard bargain before parting with any money. Advertised prices are simply not being achieved and anyone wishing to sell a property quickly is often having to make some sizeable reductions. Property has basically been overpriced, there is too much of it for sale and a natural correction is occurring. Homeowners are not the only ones with difficulties though….

Its often difficult to justify the purchase of a holiday home abroad, particularly if , realistically , you will only be able to use it for a few weeks of the year. Many people find, (particularly, if they are still in full time employment) that visits to the property occur not as often as anticipated. Recently, there have been increases in air fares and the effects of the credit crunch have also meant that properties are not so easily rented, thus even if your holiday home is not being used by yourself, it may prove harder to rent than a few years ago.

The purpose of the letting agent scheme is to improve the overall standard of letting agents care towards tenants and landlords. Despite the fact that the scheme is entirely voluntary, the move by ARLA goes some way to embarrassing the government’s lack of activity, in introducing formal regulation, to mitigate the impact of cowboy letting agents…..

Owners of holiday homes and second homes have been hit by ‘technical’ tax changes hidden in the budget. The tax changes may mean rents becoming more expensive for tenants and is fewer numbers of property investors entering the second home in holiday home markets. The tax changes relate to deferring capital gains tax [...]

I am wondering if someone can help us, we are renting an appartment in France for a family holiday later in the year.  The rental is for a holiday and only for a short period (three weeks).We have received what i consider a rather strange request from the owner.
He has stated that he maintains insurance [...]

Despite the differences in the severity of the downturn in the property market across the euro zone, one thing is clear - the overseas holiday home investment boom is over. Of course the dream for many UK residents is owning a second home abroad, in a picturesque town or village. The warm climates and relatively low cost of living has attracted millions of UK people away to become expatriates.

Are we seeing the green shoots of recovery in the housing market, have the last few months all been a ghastly dream? Has it just been a brief pull back before the market moves north again? Er, possibly not, most people, apart from short term speculators would probably still agree that the cost of a [...]

Holiday makers are so acutely aware of the impact the credit crunch is having on people’s job security and disposable income, they are changing their holidaying habits accordingly. Basic camping, renting out self catering cottage, or static mobile home in a chalet park, is a much cheaper alternative for many families feeling the credit squeeze. The commuting travel time to reach their holiday destination is less than an overseas visit. The daily cost per person is less. The UK also has many great attractions and places to see and experience….