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Red Cardinal Property Investment

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Independent property intelligence from our desk.

Market reports, city-level research, policy commentary, tax analysis and transaction data, 7+ articles in our archive.

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Stamp Duty in 2026: The Real Cost of the 5% Surcharge on Buy-to-LetTax & Policy

Stamp Duty in 2026: The Real Cost of the 5% Surcharge on Buy-to-Let

The additional-dwellings stamp duty surcharge sits at 5%, and the nil-rate threshold has reverted to £125,000. Together they have meaningfully raised the entry cost of a buy-to-let. Here is the maths on a typical purchase and how we factor it into returns.

16 June 20262 min
EPC C by 2030 Is Confirmed: The Retrofit Maths Every Landlord Needs to RunTax & Policy

EPC C by 2030 Is Confirmed: The Retrofit Maths Every Landlord Needs to Run

Every privately rented home will need an EPC rating of C by October 2030, with non-compliance penalties rising toward £30,000 per property. The methodology is changing too. Here is how to think about the retrofit cost before you buy or hold.

19 May 20262 min
The Renters' Rights Act Is Live: What Changed on 1 May and What We Are Telling LandlordsTax & Policy

The Renters' Rights Act Is Live: What Changed on 1 May and What We Are Telling Landlords

Phase one of the Renters' Rights Act took effect on 1 May 2026. Section 21 is gone, fixed terms have converted to periodic tenancies, and rent increases now run on a single annual mechanism. Here is what actually changed and the five things we are asking our landlords to do.

6 May 20262 min
SPV vs Personal Name: A 2026 Tax Comparison with Worked NumbersTax & Policy

SPV vs Personal Name: A 2026 Tax Comparison with Worked Numbers

A side-by-side comparison of holding a UK buy-to-let in personal name versus a limited company, with a worked example on a £275,000 Manchester apartment at current rates.

17 April 20262 min
Section 24, Five Years On: The DataTax & Policy

Section 24, Five Years On: The Data

Section 24 was meant to cool the buy-to-let market. Five years of HMRC and Land Registry data tell a more nuanced story — and it matters if you are weighing personal-name ownership in 2026.

12 April 20262 min
Non-Resident Landlord Tax: A 2026 Guide for Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong InvestorsTax & Policy

Non-Resident Landlord Tax: A 2026 Guide for Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong Investors

UK property remains the most internationally popular residential asset class. The buying process is straightforward. The tax is not obvious. Here is what overseas investors should model before committing capital.

11 April 20262 min
Leasehold Reform Two Years On: What Has Actually Changed for BTL BuyersTax & Policy

Leasehold Reform Two Years On: What Has Actually Changed for BTL Buyers

The 2022 Act banned new ground rents. The 2024 Act made lease extension cheaper. Two years in, six months into the extended reforms, what is actually different for the BTL investor in 2026?

8 April 20262 min

Free Investment Guide

The 2026 UK Property Investment Guide

  • 5-year growth forecasts for the UK's top 8 rental cities
  • Full breakdown of buy-to-let yields, running costs and tax
  • Off-plan vs completed: the 140-deal data comparison
  • How our clients structure portfolios for limited-company ownership

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