James Morgan has been writing about UK property and mortgages since 2016. He covers the full purchase journey — affordability checks, mortgage product comparison, the deposit and loan-to-value puzzle, stamp duty (SDLT in England and Northern Ireland, LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales), first-time buyer reliefs, conveyancing costs, and what to expect at completion. James also writes on the landlord side: buy-to-let mortgages, the 3% additional-property SDLT surcharge, Section 24 finance-cost restriction, rental yield maths, and the practical realities of being a small private landlord in the post-2017 tax regime. He has a particular interest in the remortgage decision — when to switch product, the trade-off between rate and arrangement fee, early repayment charges, and how to read a mortgage offer document. James's mortgage worked examples are built up from the underlying amortisation schedule, not borrowed from comparison sites, and stamp-duty figures are verified band-by-band against the HMRC SDLT calculator. He writes to CalcHub's editorial standards, with primary-source citations to HMRC, Revenue Scotland and the Welsh Revenue Authority, and clear disclosure that CalcHub does not sell mortgages or take affiliate commission on regulated mortgage products.
EWS1 ratings, which lenders accept B1/B2 cladding, the Building Safety Fund, and a practical checklist for buyers of flats with cladding issues.
Grant of Probate timelines, HMCTS fees, IHT400 vs IHT205, the chicken-and-egg IHT problem, and a 15-point executor checklist for 2026.
How Agricultural Property Relief works for IHT in 2026 -- the new £1m cap, qualifying conditions, interaction with Business Property Relief, and estate planning strategies.
How higher mortgage rates are hitting UK landlord profits in 2026 -- the 20% tax credit restriction, stress tests, and strategies to protect your rental income.
Every allowable expense UK landlords can deduct from rental income in 2026 -- from mortgage interest credit to repairs, management fees, and the property income allowance.
How apprentice pay typically progresses for trades like electrician and plumber — from the £8.00 statutory apprentice minimum through to qualified tradesperson pay, and why rates vary by employer.
British Army officer pay and soldier (other ranks) pay follow different structures and starting points. How rank, service length and allowances fit together, and where to check current official rates.
A first-time landlord's practical 2026/27 tax checklist — registering for Self Assessment, declaring rental income, allowable expenses, the Section 24 mortgage interest restriction, and what happens when you eventually sell.
Buying a holiday home or second property in 2026/27 means paying a 5% SDLT surcharge on top of standard rates. Here's the worked maths on a £350,000 second home, and how the 3-year refund window works if you sell your main home.
Welsh councils can charge up to a 300% council tax premium on second homes and long-term empty properties in 2026/27. Here's how the premium works, which councils use it, and the exemptions that can reduce or remove it.
The government's proposed EPC C minimum for rental properties from 2028 isn't law yet — but landlords who wait to act risk a costly scramble. Here's the sell, upgrade or exempt decision, worked out in numbers.
Franchise turnover figures rarely translate directly into take-home pay. How royalty fees, marketing levies and normal business costs stack up before a franchisee sees a personal income figure, 2026/27.
