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674 straight-talking guides on UK property and personal finance: browse by topic, or jump to a free tool.
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Official HM Land Registry data for July 2026: England averages £293,479 (+1.1% in a year), Wales £215,037 (+2.6%). See the areas rising and falling fastest — and what your own home is worth now.
Three payments that look identical on a statement and behave completely differently. Only one gives you a guaranteed refund, and the one most subscriptions actually use gives you the least protection.
Every route has a different clock. Chargeback is usually 120 days, Section 75 runs to six years, and unauthorised payments must be reported within 13 months. Miss the deadline and the strongest claim becomes the wrong one.
Your bank can stop the payment even when you cannot name the company. Which method works depends on whether it is a direct debit, a standing order or a recurring card payment — and banks often get the last one wrong.
Which route you use decides whether you get your money back. Unauthorised payments are refunded by the next working day. Chargeback covers debit cards. Section 75 covers credit cards over £100. They are not the same thing.
It is The National Lottery. Allwyn took over from Camelot on 1 February 2024, and existing direct debits quietly changed name — which is why a subscription you set up years ago suddenly shows a company you have never heard of.
Every document a UK mortgage lender and solicitor will ask a first-time buyer for (ID, income, deposit, source of funds) as a free printable checklist you can tick off.
Free gifted deposit letter template for UK mortgages. Fill in six fields and get the letter lenders and solicitors ask for: copy it or save as PDF. Covers what the letter must say, and Nationwide, Halifax, HSBC, Barclays, Santander and NatWest requirements.
Free source of funds letter template for solicitors and banks. Declare where your deposit or transfer money came from, with the evidence checklist for each source type.
An EICR is the electrical safety report every rented home in England needs at least every five years: £125 to £300 for most homes. What the inspection covers, the codes on the report, landlord deadlines and fines, and how to book one.
Every EPC is public on the government register: search by postcode, free, no account. How to find your certificate, what to do if the address is missing or the certificate has expired, and how to opt out of the register.
A landlord gas safety certificate (CP12) costs £45 to £90 and is legally required every 12 months. What the check covers, what adds to the price, the fines for missing one, and how to book a Gas Safe engineer.
Three payments that look identical on a statement and behave completely differently. Only one gives you a guaranteed refund, and the one most subscriptions actually use gives you the least protection.
Every route has a different clock. Chargeback is usually 120 days, Section 75 runs to six years, and unauthorised payments must be reported within 13 months. Miss the deadline and the strongest claim becomes the wrong one.
Your bank can stop the payment even when you cannot name the company. Which method works depends on whether it is a direct debit, a standing order or a recurring card payment — and banks often get the last one wrong.
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.
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.
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.
Free printable home contents inventory: room by room, what to record for each item, and how to check the total against your policy so you are not underinsured.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The best thermal receipt printers for UK small businesses, market stalls and cafes, from budget models to reliable workhorses that pair with card machines.
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.
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.
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.
Free printable landlord compliance checklist for England: gas and electrical safety, EPC, deposit protection, Right to Rent, alarms, licensing and the records to keep.
Free tenancy deposit return letter template. Formally request your deposit back, set the 10-day clock, and know the free dispute route if your landlord won't pay.
Free printable moving house checklist: everything from four weeks out to moving day, including who to tell, the meter photos, and the first-night box. Tick off online or print blank.
Official HM Land Registry data for July 2026: England averages £293,479 (+1.1% in a year), Wales £215,037 (+2.6%). See the areas rising and falling fastest — and what your own home is worth now.
Official HM Land Registry data for June 2026: England averages £293,262 (+1.8% in a year), Wales £213,162 (+1.8%). See the areas rising and falling fastest, and what your own home is worth now.
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.