Guides for property developers
Practical guides on deal appraisal, development finance, tax, project management and more — written for small UK property developers.
Permitted Development Rights for Property Developers: A 2025/26 Guide
How permitted development rights let UK developers convert and extend without full planning, plus the prior approval traps to watch.
Permitted Development Rights for Small Property Developers: Class MA, Prior Approval, and the Traps to Avoid
How PD rights and prior approval work for small UK developers — Class MA conversions, Article 4 traps, and the numbers.
How to Appraise an HMO Conversion in the UK
A step-by-step guide to appraising a UK HMO conversion: licensing, Article 4, valuation, costs and a worked example.
How to Calculate Build Costs for a Property Development (UK, 2026)
Estimate UK property development build costs: the cost per m2 method, fees, contingency, VAT and a worked example.
How to Calculate Build Costs for a Property Development (UK)
A practical guide to estimating UK build costs: cost per m2, contingency, professional fees, site costs, and VAT.
How to Calculate Build Costs for a Property Development (UK)
How to estimate UK property development build costs using cost per m2, professional fees, VAT and contingency.
How to Estimate Build Costs for a UK Property Development
£/m² benchmarks, contingency, professional fees and VAT — a practical guide to UK property development build costs.
How to Calculate Build Costs for a UK Property Development (2026 Guide)
How to size up build costs for a UK development properly: £/m² rates, fees, contingency and VAT.
How to Estimate Build Costs for a UK Property Development (2026 Guide)
A 2026 guide to UK build cost estimation: £/m² ranges by work type, what sits outside the rate, and a worked example.
UK Property Development Build Costs: A Practical Estimation Guide
An accurate build cost estimate is the most important number in your appraisal. Here's how to get it right.
Permitted Development Rights for UK Property Developers: What You Can Build Without Planning
A practical guide to PD rights for UK developers — Class MA, Class Q, prior approval, and Article 4 pitfalls.
Class MA Permitted Development: Converting Commercial Property to Residential in 2025/26
How Class MA permitted development works for UK developers converting shops and offices to flats in 2025/26.
VAT for UK Property Developers: When You Pay 20%, 5%, or Zero
Get VAT wrong on a UK property development and you can lose 15% of your build cost overnight. Here's when 20%, 5%, and zero-rated VAT applies — with worked examples.
How to Estimate Build Costs for a UK Property Development
A practical guide to estimating build costs per square metre for UK property developments, with worked examples.
Section 106 Agreements: What UK Property Developers Need to Know
Section 106 planning obligations can add tens of thousands of pounds to a scheme and catch small developers off guard. Here is how they work, what councils typically require, and how to factor them into your appraisal.
How to Appraise an HMO Conversion: Calculating GDV, Yields, and Profitability in 2026
HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) conversions are one of the most popular development strategies in the UK right now — and for good reason.
How to Calculate Property Development Profit in the UK
Understanding how to work out profit on a property development project is fundamental to making sound investment decisions. Here's the complete guide to calculating development profit, margin on GDV, ROI, and profit on cost.
Development Finance Explained: Bridging vs Development Finance, LTV, and Arrangement Fees
Development finance is one of the biggest costs in any property development project. Understanding the difference between bridging finance and development finance, how LTV is calculated, and what arrangement and exit fees really cost you is essential for any developer.
SDLT for Property Developers: Rates, Additional Dwelling Supplement, and How to Minimise
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is often the biggest single cost in acquiring a development property — and one of the most frequently underestimated. This guide covers the 2025/26 SDLT rates for developers, the 5% additional dwelling supplement, and the reliefs available to reduce your bill.
CIS Tax Guide for Property Developers
The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) affects almost every property developer who engages subcontractors. Getting it wrong can result in penalties, unexpected tax bills, and strained contractor relationships. Here's what every developer needs to know.
Property Development Project Management: The Complete Phase-by-Phase Checklist
Managing a property development from acquisition through to sale is a complex, multi-phase undertaking. This guide covers every phase of a typical UK residential development project, what you should be tracking at each stage, and the most common project management mistakes to avoid.
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