Unlock Property Group

19/11/2025

Important Update!

After a lot of thought, I’ve decided that Unlock Property Group will officially close and will no longer be trading.
I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported the business - from clients to partners to the wider community.

I’m excited to share that I’ll now be focusing on growing my own property portfolio, which has always been my long-term vision.
If you’d like to follow along with the journey, I’d love to stay connected over on my personal page:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/clare.n.groom/

I’m also launching a small property “hand-holding” support service, centred around confidence, learning and helping people navigate their own projects, not investment advice. More updates will be shared on my personal page.

Thanks for being part of this chapter, I am very excited for the next!
Clare

30/08/2025

Ready for the biggest shake-up in property for 36 years? 👀

I was sent this Telegraph article yesterday – it’s true that so many Landlords have been spooked by upcoming proposals, and here’s why...

The Renters' Rights Bill is finally landing between October 2025 and January 2026 - the most significant change since the Housing Act 1988, which originally introduced ASTs (Assured Shorthold Tenancies) and Section 21 evictions to encourage landlords into the market.

Key proposed changes:
✅ Fixed-term tenancies abolished - all become periodic
✅ Section 21 "no-fault" evictions scrapped
✅ Rent increases limited to once yearly
✅ Rental bidding wars banned
✅ Advance rent capped at one month
✅ Decent Homes Standard mandatory for all rentals (historically mainly for social housing)

💥 Important: tenants can still be removed through Section 8 grounds with rent arrears, property damage, antisocial behaviour and criminal activity all remaining valid grounds for possession.

And, you can legitimately evict a tenant if genuinely selling/redeveloping, but if you claim you're selling and don't follow through, you can't re-let for 12 months.

My take 🤔🤔:
👉🏻 It's unknown territory, but I can understand the reason for scrapping Section 21 - imagine getting a no-fault eviction after settling your family into a home (and kids into school)!
👉🏻 The courts are already overwhelmed - landlords face long (months) eviction delays, it’s unclear if these changes help or hinder (will the courts be quick to adapt?!)
👉🏻 The changes will separate professional landlords from casual ones – especially when threatened with hefty fines for substandard properties.
👉🏻 I’m no economist, but I envisage a rental supply paradox: if landlords sell up (see the article link below), fewer available rental properties means rents go up. But with rental increases to be capped to once yearly, will this create a mismatch between market forces and what landlords can actually charge?

Will we see intense competition for available rentals, landlords starting new tenancies at much higher rents to compensate, and a focus on keeping good tenants to avoid costly void periods?

Personally, these regulatory changes aren't stopping me from growing my portfolio. Buy well, refurbish suitably (dealing with defects properly) and, for me, leave the professionals to thoroughly reference all prospective tenants and manage the properties, so I don’t have to!

What are your thoughts? Is the uncertainty putting you off buying or is it pushing you to change your investment strategy? Do you see the changes as an opportunity?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/buy-to-let/amateur-landlords-sell-up-ahead-labour-rent-reforms/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMfkUxjbGNrAx-QcWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe-JrgF7fIjFj2RDgknX3O8EvCKuAg-auBLvsiTFrO9OtqWY-lmP_ITnpgbD8_aem_HSmnadWGuoV9sHfleSMKow

Buy-to-let loans drop 14.5pc as brokers warn the sector will be dominated by professional investors

14/07/2025

💧Thinking of getting a damp meter for property viewings? Here's what you need to know.

One of our VIP investor clients recently brought a damp meter to a viewing, which prompted me to put together this post. These meters are clever—but can easily mislead if you’re not sure what you’re reading.

Swipe through this carousel for some tips:

✅ What the colours actually mean
✅ How to “profile” a wall
✅ Why condensation often shows as dry
✅ Things that cause false readings

Let me know if you've used one—and what you found!

08/07/2025

👣 I’ve recently learned something I think is worth flagging — especially if you're juggling a few financial moves like we are right now.

It’s another one of those background admin details (I know, snore 😴) that can have a real impact on your investment plans and anticipated trajectory if you're not aware of it. Just like how lender rental stress tests increase once you become a portfolio landlord 😢

We're in the process of both refinancing an existing property and trying to buy another one… and suddenly the topic of credit footprints has come up.

I’m no credit expert, but our broker warned us that applying for multiple mortgages can leave hard footprints on a credit file. These are visible to other lenders and can make you look like a risk — especially if you’ve got a few in quick succession.

And now I’m also thinking of getting a new car in the next couple of months — possibly on lease — so it’s even more important to be careful. I might be refused 😶

Did you know: when you lease, the FULL value of the vehicle appears as a loan on your credit file!

It’s something I hadn’t really considered before, it's never cropped up, but it might affect what finance options we get approved for — even though the timing is purely practical from our side.

Just thought I’d share in case it helps someone else avoid a hidden hiccup by planning ahead strategically.

Anyone else dealing with multiple finance applications at once? How are you finding it? Has it bitten you?

17/05/2025

If you're wondering whether to flip your next property for quick cash or hold it for passive income - come check out my latest blog!

Discover key factors to help you decide, from goals and cashflow needs to risk, market conditions, and area assessment.

Read more here: https://wix.to/DiOuC0F

07/03/2025

Did you know that almost half of individual UK landlords are women?

In readiness for International Women's Day tomorrow (March 8th) here's our shout out to the girls and a brief look into how this shift is changing the landscape of property ownership.
https://wix.to/78owY9T

In July 2021, the FT (Financial Times) Adviser reported that 48% of UK landlords are now women. It would appear that the momentum is only growing. I know that in our network there are lots of fantastic women involved in property investment. And it makes total sense!Why Are Women Investing in Propert...

05/03/2025

This off-market opportunity was snapped up within 3 days of advertising! 🥳🥳

Comment "Me" if you'd like to be contacted about similar opportunities in South Yorkshire and North-East Derbyshire.

Feel free to drop us a line or a call to chat over becoming one of our VIP Investors💖

29/01/2025

Are diagonal cracks in your property just cosmetic issues, or are they warning signs of deeper problems? 🏡🤔 Dive into our latest blog post to learn how to effectively monitor and assess these cracks for potential investments. Don't ignore the signs! Read more about it here: https://wix.to/mm0pd3X

Cracks in walls are a common sight when inspecting properties—but when should you really start to worry?Hairline cracks can arise from various factors like settlement or thermal expansion, but if a crack is diagonal, it’s time to take a closer look.Why Diagonal Cracks Matter?Diagonal cracks sugg...

28/01/2025

How Much Do You Need to Get Started in Property Investment? 🤔

The short answer: Not as much as you think!

But the best strategy depends on your goals. Are you aiming for:

👉 Asset growth and longer-term wealth?
👉 Monthly cash flow to boost your income now?

Here’s what’s possible:

💡 Buy-to-Let (BTL): With just £25,000, you could start building a Buy-to-Let portfolio!
In my investment patch, modest 2-bed terraces can be bought for as little as £65,000, often ready-tenanted and generating yields of 10% or more.

Your £25,000 budget could cover:

✔️ Purchase (mortgage deposit)
✔️ Buying costs (legal fees, Stamp Duty, etc.)
✔️ Light refurbishment

BTLs are straightforward, cost-effective, and perfect for first-time investors.

💡 Serviced Accommodation (SA): If cash flow is your priority, SA is a fantastic strategy. Think guest houses for contractors or home-from-home stays. While it requires more upfront investment, the potential returns are significantly higher.

With £60,000, you can fund:

✔️ Purchase (mortgage deposit)
✔️ Buying costs (legal fees, Stamp Duty, etc.)
✔️ Light to moderate refurbishment
✔️ Furnishings to make it “guest-ready”

The property criteria for SA can differ from BTLs—think a bit larger, with a garden, off-street parking, or a standout feature that makes the property attractive to guests.

Ready to turn your savings into a thriving property investment? We can help with as little or as much of the process as you want. Click the link below to get in touch.

👉 https://bit.ly/unlockpgmailinglist

20/01/2025

💡 Have you ever heard of a Stress Test (clue...I'm talking about something connected to mortgages) – and why does it really matter if you're a property investor?🤔

A stress test is a way for lenders to check if your rental income can cover the mortgage payments, even if circumstances change, such as:
🔺 Interest rate rises (e.g., tested at 5.5%-8%).
🔺 Fluctuating rental income.
🔺 Unexpected costs like maintenance or void periods.

These tests often tighten when the economy is uncertain or interest rates are rising 😶.

📋 For Portfolio Landlords
If you own 4+ properties, lenders often apply stricter tests (seems the wrong way around to me!), such as higher rental coverage or assessing your whole portfolio’s performance.

🛏️ For Serviced Accommodation
Even when buying for serviced accommodation, lenders stress test your property based on standard buy-to-let rents – not the potentially higher SA income.

🏡 Gathering Sale & Rental Comparables
So, when buying, it’s crucial to check both sale prices AND rental comparables. As a simple example:
• Purchase price: £100,000
• Loan: £75,000 (75% LTV)
• Stress-tested monthly payment (interest-only): £343.75
• Minimum rent needed (at 145%): £498.44 per month
If local rental comparables don’t meet this, the mortgage may not be approved.

And remember, it's the rental achieveable BEFORE you've refurbished that is used. I find that one hard to swallow 😂

I hope this bit of information has been helpful and shows that lenders use these tests to protect both you and themselves, ensuring you can afford the property even in tougher market conditions. I can’t deny however that, at the start of building a portfolio, it just feels like another hurdle!

It nonetheless highlights why doing good due diligence before purchase is so important. I've been caught out before and ended up paying a larger deposit, though in the end I just looked forward to releasing more equity later on🙌🏼

Has this stung you before? I'd love to hear your stories!