The complete guide to buying and renting your first home - Niki Chesworth

It is harder than ever to get your foot onto the first rung of the property ladder, and the number of first-time buyers is at its lowest since records began. That is why all those house-hunting for the first time need as much practical advice as they can get.

This new edition of The Complete Guide to Buying and Renting Your First Home, which has been fully revised and updated to reflect the current shape of the housing market, is packed full of useful information. Written in a lively, jargon-free style, it guides you through the options - from renting to buying - as well as giving helpful tips on making the leap from renter to homeowner and the alternative ways to buy a home if affordability is a problem.

There's up-to-the-minute advice on:

your rights as a tenant

moving from renting to buying

the costs of buying

how to afford a first home

alternative ways to get on the property ladder

house-hunting

the new Home Information Packs

valuations and surveys

mortgages and monthly mortgage costs

protecting your property

repairs, renovations and home improvements

If you are thinking of renting or buying a property for the first time you should arm yourself with this essential guide. It could be the key to your dream home!"