Insurance & Protection
Does Home Insurance Cover Cracked Walls and Render?
Buildings insurance pays for cracking caused by an insured event, not by age or damp. Here is how to tell which you have, and why claiming can cost more than the repair.
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Insights
594 straight-talking guides on UK property and personal finance — browse by topic, or jump to a free tool.
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Money & Finance
How Long Does an HMRC Tax Refund Take to Reach Your Bank?
An online HMRC repayment reaches your bank within 5 working days. A cheque takes up to 6 weeks. Here is what happens between HMRC issuing the money and it appearing in your account, and what time it lands.
Mortgages
Mortgage Valuation Lower Than the Offer? How to Challenge It
The lender valued the house below what you offered. Here is what actually happens to your mortgage, how to appeal properly, the evidence lenders accept, and what to do when the seller will not budge.
Money & Finance
What Time Do Wages Go Into Your Bank? Check Yours
Wages are paid by BACS, so the money is available by 7am on payday — but the exact time depends on your bank. Pick yours to see the usual window, and what to do when payday lands on a weekend.
Money & Finance
What Time Does Student Finance Go Into Your Bank?
Student finance is paid by BACS, so it is available by 7am on your payment day. The exact time depends on your bank. Here is the usual window, and why the first instalment is the one that goes wrong.
Money & Finance
How Much Is a Grand in Money? Every Amount Converted
A grand is £1,000. Every amount converted, from half a grand to a hundred grand, plus why it never takes an 's' and what a G and a large are worth.
Mortgages
All Mortgages →Mortgages
Mortgage Valuation Lower Than the Offer? How to Challenge It
The lender valued the house below what you offered. Here is what actually happens to your mortgage, how to appeal properly, the evidence lenders accept, and what to do when the seller will not budge.
Mortgages
Mortgage Overpayment Limits: How Much Can You Pay Off?
The 10% allowance is not what most people assume, and the base it is measured against changes what you can pay. Here is how to check yours properly.
Mortgages
Islamic Mortgages in the UK
How Islamic mortgages work in the UK: Home Purchase Plans, the Ijara, Murabaha and Diminishing Musharaka structures, who still offers them, and what they actually cost.
Buying & Selling
All Buying & Selling →
Buying & Selling
How Long Is an EPC Valid For? And When You Need a New One
Ten years — but an in-date certificate can still stop you letting the property. Here is when the number matters more than the expiry date.
Buying & Selling
Can I Do My Own Conveyancing?
DIY conveyancing is legal in England and Wales, but a mortgage makes it impractical. Here's when it works, what it involves, and where it stops being sensible.
Buying & Selling
Can I Do My Own House Survey?
You can inspect a house yourself and should, but you can't produce a survey. Here's what to check on a viewing, and when a professional survey is worth the money.
Money & Finance
All Money & Finance →Money & Finance
How Long Does an HMRC Tax Refund Take to Reach Your Bank?
An online HMRC repayment reaches your bank within 5 working days. A cheque takes up to 6 weeks. Here is what happens between HMRC issuing the money and it appearing in your account, and what time it lands.
Money & Finance
What Time Do Wages Go Into Your Bank? Check Yours
Wages are paid by BACS, so the money is available by 7am on payday — but the exact time depends on your bank. Pick yours to see the usual window, and what to do when payday lands on a weekend.
Money & Finance
What Time Does Student Finance Go Into Your Bank?
Student finance is paid by BACS, so it is available by 7am on your payment day. The exact time depends on your bank. Here is the usual window, and why the first instalment is the one that goes wrong.
Credit & Borrowing
All Credit & Borrowing →
Credit & Borrowing
Is Car Finance Halal?
Is PCP or HP halal? Why conventional car finance is treated as riba, how Murabaha and Ijara alternatives work, and what to check before signing with a provider that calls itself Sharia-compliant.
Credit & Borrowing
Am I Still Financially Linked to My Ex?
A financial association means their credit history is considered alongside yours. Here's how to check if you're still linked, and how to break it properly.
Credit & Borrowing
Am I on the Electoral Register? How to Check
There's no national lookup — you check with your council, or read it straight off your credit report, which is what lenders see. Here's how, and why it affects your credit.
Insurance & Protection
All Insurance & Protection →Insurance & Protection
Does Home Insurance Cover Cracked Walls and Render?
Buildings insurance pays for cracking caused by an insured event, not by age or damp. Here is how to tell which you have, and why claiming can cost more than the repair.
Insurance & Protection
Should I Put My Life Insurance in Trust?
Should you put life insurance in trust? Usually yes — it keeps the payout outside your estate for inheritance tax, speeds up the claim, and it is normally free. Here's how it works.
Insurance & Protection
Does Home Insurance Cover Mobile Phones?
Does home insurance cover mobile phones? How contents and personal possessions cover work in and out of the home, plus excess, limits and alternatives.
Equity Release & Later Life
All Equity Release & Later Life →
Equity Release & Later Life
Can I Avoid Care Home Fees? The 7-Year Rule Myth
There is no seven-year rule for care fees, and councils can look back with no time limit at all. Here is what actually counts as deprivation of assets.
Equity Release & Later Life
Equity Release Calculator Without Giving Your Details
Almost every equity release calculator is a lead form with a number attached. Here is how to work out the figure yourself before anyone phones you.
Equity Release & Later Life
Can I Do My Own Estate Planning?
Some estate planning you can genuinely do yourself — a will, a pension nomination, using your allowances. Here's what's DIY and what needs advice.
Investing
All Investing →
Investing
Can I Buy Shares in Aldi?
No — Aldi is privately held by the founding Albrecht family's foundations and isn't listed. Here's who owns it, and which UK supermarkets you can buy shares in.
Investing
Can I Buy Shares in BrewDog?
No — BrewDog entered administration in 2026 and its brand was sold to Tilray. Equity for Punks shareholders are expected to get nothing. Here's what happened, and what shareholders can do now.
Investing
Can I Buy Shares in Cadbury?
Not directly — Cadbury has been owned by Mondelez since 2010 and isn't a separate company. Here's what happened, and how UK investors can access the parent.
Business & Commercial
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Business & Commercial
Best Property Investment Books (UK)
The best books on UK property investment and buy-to-let, from beginner guides to the strategy classics, chosen for British landlords and would-be investors.
Business & Commercial
Best Receipt Printers for Small Businesses (UK)
The best thermal receipt printers for UK small businesses, market stalls and cafes, from budget models to reliable workhorses that pair with card machines.
Business & Commercial
The 3 Best Card Machines For Small Businesses
The best card machines for small businesses avoid long contracts and set up fast. Compare three low-fee, pay-as-you-go readers to start taking card payments quickly.
Reviews
All Reviews →
Reviews
The Best Note Counting Machines for Home and Small Business
The best note counting machines for 2026, with UV and MG counterfeit detection, batch and add modes. Our buying guide helps you pick the right one.
Reviews
Strike Review: The Hand holding Agent
Read our Strike Estate Agent Review to discover why Strike is the best choice for you. Say goodbye to high fees and hello to transparent pricing.
Home & Lifestyle
All Home & Lifestyle →
Home & Lifestyle
Do I Need a Party Wall Agreement? The Two-Month Trap
Skip the notice and your neighbour can get an injunction stopping the job mid-build. Here is which work triggers it, and the notice period that catches people out.
Home & Lifestyle
High Hedge Complaint to the Council: How It Works
The council will not touch it until you have tried yourself, and there is a fee before anyone visits. Here is what actually qualifies as a high hedge.
Home & Lifestyle
Neighbour Blocking a Shared Driveway: What Are Your Rights?
Owning half the driveway does not mean you can park on it. Here is what a shared right of way actually permits, and the steps that shift a blocked drive.
News
All News →
News
House Prices May 2026: The Biggest Risers and Fallers
Official HM Land Registry data for May 2026: England averages £292,095 (+2.3% in a year), Wales £215,252 (+4.2%). See the areas rising and falling fastest — and what your own home is worth now.
News
How Much Is a Crown Worth Today?
A crown was worth five shillings — 25p today. But many crowns were large silver or commemorative coins, so they're often worth far more. Here's what a crown is really worth.
News
How Much Is a Farthing Worth Today?
A farthing was a quarter of an old penny — about 0.1p today, and the smallest British coin. Withdrawn in 1960, its little wren design is a collector favourite. Here's the detail.