Guides

Plain English for rural property

Character homes come with questions that town houses rarely raise. Who owns the track? Where do the drains go? Which side of the border is it on, and what does that mean for tax and planning? Our guides answer them clearly, so you can go into a purchase, a renovation or a sale with your eyes open.

Start here · Buying

The complete guide to buying a character home in the Wye Valley and Vale of Usk

Everything to check before you buy a stone cottage, barn or farmhouse in the Wye Valley and Vale of Usk, from drains and rights of way to tax and surveys.

14 min read · Last reviewed November 2026

Guides · Buying

Private drainage and water supplies: what rural buyers must check, in Wales and England

Septic tanks, treatment plants and private water supplies: how they work, the rules on each side of the border, and what to ask before you buy.

6 min read · Last reviewed November 2026

Guides · Buying

Rights of way, access and unregistered land: a buyer's guide

Private access, public footpaths, shared drives and unregistered land: the paperwork that matters most when a home sits down a country lane.

6 min read · Last reviewed November 2026

Guides · Buying

LTT and SDLT across the border, explained

Why two homes a mile apart can carry different tax bills, and how Land Transaction Tax in Wales compares with Stamp Duty Land Tax in England.

5 min read · Last reviewed November 2026

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