Property Guides - Black Brick | Property Buying Agent

Market Guides

London’s property market is one of the busiest and most complex in the world, and Black Brick is expertly placed to help you navigate it. Read our market guides to better understand London’s dynamic property sector.

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How to Protect a Vacant Property

Without taking steps to protect your property during periods of vacancy you could be susceptible to burglary and malicious damage, as well as natural damage due to damp or leaks. In this guide we give tips on how to protect your vacant property from such instances.

ATED Tax Guide

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is a complex area of taxation which can be often overlooked or misunderstood. In this guide we answer the most commonly asked questions on ATED.

Leasehold property explained

The choice between leasehold and freehold property may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes leasehold is the only option. Here’s what you need to know.

Hand holds a model house above paperwork and a calculator

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Capital Gains Tax is a significant concern for anyone who invests in property as an asset, rather than as a primary residence. Read our guide to learn more.

Understanding the London Property Market

The London Property Market is complex and attracts some of the highest valuations in the UK across rental, owner-occupied and commercial property alike.

Inheritance Tax (IHT)

IHT liabilities can be substantial, and it is important to plan estates carefully. Read our guide to Inheritance Tax to learn more.

Buyers’ Guides

Buying a property is likely one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in your life – and it can also be the most frustrating and time-consuming. Master the buying process with top tips, insights and advice from our property specialists.

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Should you rent or buy property in London in 2023?

If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of buying a house or renting in London in 2023, you’re facing one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make – so it’s reasonable to be cautious (and perhaps a little daunted, too). The big question is “Should I rent or buy a house?” but there are […]

property floor plans on desk with estate agent accessories

Estate agents and buying agents – what’s the difference?

A property buying agent can help you to find the property of your dreams at any stage in the househunting process. Whether you’re just starting out and want to know what’s on the market, about to come on the market, and off market, or you’ve chosen a specific area and want the best buying agent […]

7 clever questions to ask your agent when buying a property

There are many things to ask when viewing a house, ranging from looking for signs of subsidence and damp, through to checking the water pressure and whether the windows open and close easily – all indications of the general condition of the property. But there are some questions to ask when looking at a house […]

Buyers’ Guide: Why you should have a building survey before exchanging contracts

For most people, buying a property is one of the single largest investments you’re likely to make. Whether you’re investing in property to rent out, or you’re buying a new home to live in yourself, it’s worth taking reasonable steps to protect your capital. A building survey does this by verifying the condition of the […]

Buyers’ Guides: Buying an Unmodernised Property

Unmodernised property has always been popular with investors, as it offers a way to buy prime real estate at a lower price. For those who are able to put in the work to renovate the property, this can unlock considerable gains on the resale market. The lower selling price of a typical unmodernised property – […]

Buyers’ Guides: Buying a Second Home

Buying a second home to live in or rent out is a fantastic way to give yourself some permanent, private living space elsewhere in the UK, as well as an additional income stream from short-term lets when you’re not using the property. There are lots of reasons to consider buying a second property to rent […]

Investors’ Guides

London’s property market can be an attractive, reliable and highly profitable investment, but it’s also intimidating to even the most seasoned investors. Read our Investors’ Guides for expert insight into when, where and in what to invest.

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Selling a buy-to-let property

Selling a buy-to-let property is similar to selling an owner-occupied property, but there are some key differences, many of which relate to whether or not the property has a sitting tenant. In this guide, we’ll look at how to sell buy-to-let property, including some consideration of selling a buy-to-let property with tenants in situ. Selling […]

How to Invest in Multiple Properties

Owning multiple rental properties is the key to a profitable portfolio, and the old adage says that the first property pays for the next, which pays for the next, and so on. But when it comes to buying multiple investment properties in a short space of time, you’re likely to come up against some barriers […]

Why London is so Attractive to Investors from the UAE

Investing in UK property from UAE emirates such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi is a fantastic way to tap into one of the most desirable prime property markets in the world. By placing funds into UK property investment Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents can acquire a second home in London, accommodation for children attending UK […]

Renovating a Property

In this ultimate guide to renovating a property we cover the pro’s and con’s to property renovation, the risks involved and how best to add value to your investment.

What are your responsibilities as a residential landlord?

Renting out property can be a secure and potentially lucrative investment, but it comes with a number of time-consuming and costly responsibilities.

New build vs period properties: which is a better investment?

If you’re buying an investment property, one of the key decisions to make is whether to choose a new-build home or a ‘period property’.

Area Guides

Choosing the right location is just as important as finding the right property. Our in-depth property area guides walk you through everything from schools and amenities to transport, with expert advice on everything you need to weigh up the perfect move.

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East London’s Property Cinderella Story: The Transformation of Shoreditch, Hackney, and Highbury and Islington

There is no doubt that during the 21st century London’s great property Cinderella story has been all about east London. Creative young Londoners priced out of more established areas began exploring the capital’s cheap and cheerful E postcodes, bringing hip bakeries, artisanal cafes, art galleries, and start-ups with them. As a result, locations like Hackney […]

The Best 3 Family Neighbourhoods in London: Hampstead, Dulwich, and Richmond-upon-Thames

Family homes simply never go out of fashion. Substantial properties with plenty of outside space, in locations which boast the classic triumvirate of good schools, open space, and a thriving high street tend to hold their value far better than other more discretionary sectors of the housing market. They hold strong appeal to domestic buyers, […]

Affordable Areas London: Exploring Bayswater, Marylebone, and Battersea

Fringe benefits: Somewhere between where prime central London ends and mainstream London begins lies the city’s prime fringes, neighbourhoods which are teetering on the edge of greatness. They may not be established global brands like the neighbourhoods of prime central London but these areas enjoy many of the same advantages – access to premiere green […]

The Perfect London Pied-à-Terre: Prime Locations for Second Homes

In the depths of the pandemic buyers were only after one thing: space. But as social distancing measures have melted away, and an increasing number of blue chip companies are demanding their staff be present in the office at least part time, the classic London pied a terre has become a hot property. Whether you […]

Best Ancient Villages to Live in London

London is a city made up of ancient villages which have been knitted together as the city has evolved. And those neighbourhoods which have managed to retain their distinctive village-like character and charm are amongst its most sought after addresses. The sheer scale of the British capital – more than 600 square miles, 283 postcode […]

Exploring Property in Prime Central London: A Dive into the Distinct Areas

The neighbourhoods around Hyde Park have collectively become known as prime central London, prized by buyers for their varied and elegant housing stock, plentiful open space, great amenities, and easy access to the West End. But it would be a mistake to consider PCL a homogenous trophy property zone. Each individual section has a distinct […]