Esther Shaw

Homeowner loans – also known as secured loans or second-charge mortgages – allow you to borrow money using your house as security. They’re common for people who want to borrow more without remortgaging or extending their mortgage. Here we look at how homeowner loans work, how much you can borrow, the pros and cons, how […]

What are guarantor mortgages? When you take out a guarantor mortgage, someone – typically a parent – takes on some of the risk of the mortgage by acting as a guarantor. This usually involves them offering their savings or their home as security against the loan and committing to making the mortgage payments if the […]

What is Rent to Buy? Rent to Buy is a government scheme designed to ease the transition from renting to buying a home by providing subsidised rent. You may also hear it referred to as Rent to Save, Rent to Own or Intermediate Rent. With Rent to Buy in England and Northern Ireland, you rent […]

What is a house survey? A house survey is an inspection of a property’s condition conducted by experts. The experts – surveyors – inspect the property and tell you if there are any issues to do with the condition of the property from minor to significant structural problems. They will highlight what repairs or alterations […]