Can a First-Time Buyer Rent Out Their Property? (UK Guide)

A first-time buyer can rent out their property, but not automatically. Most first-time buyers purchase using a residential mortgage, and residential mortgages carry a condition that the property must be used as the borrower's main home. Renting it out under those terms without permission breaches the mortgage agreement. There are three legitimate routes to letting out a first-time buyer property: obtaining consent to let, remortgaging onto a buy-to-let deal, or paying off the residential mortgage entirely. Owners who find these routes too restrictive, too slow, or simply not worth the cost sometimes look at a direct sale instead, and searches...

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How to Avoid Paying Council Tax on an Empty Property

Understanding Council Tax Council tax is a local tax set by the council and applies to all residential properties. The amount depends on your property's value, whether it's a house for sale or an occupied residence. Generally, the more valuable your property, the higher the council tax. Even if a property is unoccupied, owners are usually required to pay council tax. Council Tax on Empty Properties If you own an empty property, council tax is still applicable. However, some councils offer discounts or exemptions for certain circumstances. For instance, properties that have been empty for two years or more might...

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