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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New Build Homes in London – Luxury London Developments

For some buyers looking for a new property, only a box-fresh brand-new home will do. Property is very much a matter of taste, and for every person whose dream London property comes with original fireplaces, fancy cornicing, and plenty of patina, there is another who shudders at the thought of what might lie beneath those […]

london penthouse overlooking tower bridge

Life at the Top – Your Guide to Luxury Penthouses in London

They are, in property terms, the ultimate status symbol: rare, beautiful, and very, very expensive. If you want an apartment which sits at the very top of prime central London’s housing market then you are going to want a penthouse. The birth of penthouse living The concept of penthouse living was born in 1920s New […]

The 2024 Guide to Buying Prime Property in London

After years of turbulence and market jitters thanks to Brexit and the pandemic followed by soaring global inflation, played out against a backdrop of political instability, Prime Central London (PCL) is showing signs of a return to health. Prices in PCL – usually defined as the neighbourhoods encircling Hyde Park plus a handful of affluent […]

Most profitable features to improve a Prime Property

Doing work to a property and weighing up the cost of renovation versus the result is a key consideration when investing in prime property in London. While there is great potential in the city’s older housing stock, you need to know how much value the most profitable home improvements will add. In this guide we’ll […]

How Using a Buying Agent Saves Both Time and Money

Buying agent fees are an investment well made. Buying a property is often one of the biggest investments people make in their lives. It therefore makes sense to have your interests represented by a professional buying agent to ensure your purchase is successful and you don’t end up with post purchase regrets. It’s not often […]

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Property

House-buying mistakes can be costly, whether they lead to delays in completion, expensive repair work, or cause the transaction to fall through entirely. If you don’t want to make some of the most common mistakes buying a house, it’s handy to have a mental checklist. In this guide, we’ve compiled eight of the most common […]

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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Your Guide to UK Property Compliance in 2024

UK property compliance rules cover everything from residential to commercial property, new-builds to refurbished and extended properties, and include owner-occupied and landlord-tenant residences. In this Property Management and Compliance Guide, we’ll take a look at some of the key issues affecting UK property compliance in 2024, so that you can avoid incurring penalties when buying, […]

London Property Hotspots for International Buyers and Investors

Foreign ownership of London property drives demand for homes in prime London property hotspots, keeping the city’s housing market in healthy condition and delivering capital gains for London overseas property investors. When buying London property as an overseas investor, your first stop is likely researching which areas offer most value, and to be aware of […]

Maximising your Property Investment in London

Property investment in London can be a lucrative way to generate additional income, by purchasing buy-to-let properties in prime locations, as well as in desirable up-and-coming boroughs across the city. Property investment agents like Black Brick offer a suite of property investment services to help you maximise your yields and capital gains. Here are some […]

model house with coins to represent property investment

Six Timeless Property Investment Rules

Having a well-constructed London property investment strategy in place can help you make the right decisions when buying prime real estate in London. In this Buyer’s Guide, we’ve put together six timeless property investment rules for London prime real estate, to keep your property portfolio headed in the right direction. This isn’t hard and fast […]

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 […]

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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Prime London Living: Village Living in Marvellous Marylebone

Not so long ago, Marylebone was considered a second rate slice of central London, with a lacklustre high street and not much going for it beyond its location within walking distance of Mayfair and Soho. But clever curation of its shops, bars, and restaurants over the past two decade has turned Marylebone High Street into […]

Prime London Living: Belgravia’s Quintessential London Townhouses and Buzzy Vibe

It’s fine garden squares and white stucco homes mean Belgravia has long been one of central London’s most elegantly beautiful places to live. Over the years its roll call of residents has encompassed the arts, popular culture, politics, and the aristocracy: Mozart, Brian Epstein, manager of the Beatles, Lord Mountbatten, Sir Lawrence Olivier and Margaret […]

Prime London Living: Kensington, the London Neighbourhood with Royal Approval

Home to Kings, Queens, and senior royals for more than three centuries, Kensington is also a prestigious shopping destination and the go to address for some of the world’s richest men and women. A brief history of Kensington In 1679 King William III was thoroughly fed up of living in Whitehall Palace, Westminster, and […]

high-rise view of knightsbridge in london

Prime London Living: Knightsbridge, The Luxury Capital of London

Globally famous as London’s most upscale shopping district, Knightsbridge also punches above its weight when it comes to Michelin-starred restaurants, fashionable bars, and some of central London’s most beautiful, diverse, and high-specification homes. A Brief History of Knightsbridge The polished streets of Knightsbridge rose out of a tract of marshy open land where highwaymen preyed […]

Prime London Living: Fashionable London life in Chelsea

Prime Central London can feel very grown up and a bit on the grand, serious side, Chelsea is its slightly naughty little sister – full of on-trend restaurants, art galleries, and hangouts for the capital’s bright young things. It is also a neighbourhood made up of tiny micro-neighbourhoods, which locals say give it a villagey […]

Prime London Living: The Elegant Mayfair Lifestyle

The most expensive location on the Monopoly board, Mayfair is a neighbourhood with a long and storied history and an exciting sense of future optimism. It rose from humble, rural beginnings to become the only address any self-respecting 18th century Duke or Duchess would consider. Over the years its character has diversified beyond private homes […]