The essential dos and don'ts of buying and renting out a home, how you could build a buy-to-let empire and how to keep good tenants - and avoid the bad ones.

We are in the process of buying a place in France using tax-free lump sum cash from our pension. With the pound so strong against the Euro now should we secure the currency now? We aim to become 'hosts' for students in France who want to learn English at home - can you advise on the tax allowances for us claiming some UK pension and earning a limited income in France.

Tradesmen, from decorators to electricians and plumbers, can leave a trail of misery behind them. An estimated one in ten jobs goes wrong, landing householders with an average bill of £3,200 to put it right. But a wave of websites are popping up, listing 'reputable' contractors. We look at these and other ways to avoid a rogue. Kathleen Kiff (pictued) has suffered.

Mortgage rates have plunged in recent years - and landlords have been benefiting just as ordinary homeowners have. However, the best deals are reserved for those who meet lenders' specific criteria. Experts say that knowing which buy-to-let lender to apply to is key to accessing the best rates. Because getting a buy-to-let loan can be quite complex, almost all applicants use a broker, with only one in ten going direct to a bank or building society.

After reading your recent article mentioning Ansar Ali, I would like to know if I have a case for reimbursement. I paid £9,500 to his company, Elite Gems Limited, for two coloured diamonds, but I do not think they are actually investment grade as described. I used my wife's MBNA credit card to pay a deposit on the diamonds.

Buying and selling property is always eventful. My own recent experience was no exception but at least it was fast, with just 12 weeks between the date my husband Rob and I put our two-bedroom house in South-East London up for sale and the date we moved into our new home in the Midlands. Confusion, stress and surprise were dominant themes. But the lessons from my experiences could help make yours go more smoothly. So welcome to my scandalous house move, says Laura Shannon (pictured).

For much of the last century the Swiss refused to co-operate with global investigations into wrongdoing, while defending banking secrecy as if it was a fundamental human right. But during the past decade this culture of financial secrecy in Switzerland met its match in the shape of the long arm of puritanical American justice, which has blown a hole in the country's defences.

Takeover talk surrounding Imagination Technologies is nothing new. Intel has offloaded a chunk of its stake in Imagination Technologies, reducing its holding down to 4.6 per cent. Apple still holds 8 per cent of stock and Liberum yesterday announced firm was ripe for bid. The firms, both big customers for Imagination's technology, had each built up stakes in order to prevent the other taking out the company.

With TV property programmes ringing in their ears, many homeowners are tempted to improve rather than move. Loft conversions are often considered the easiest way of adding an extra bedroom, but 36% of builders surveyed said they are the most problematic home improvements.

I ended up paying for practically everything, which amounted almost £10,000, on the grounds that he would pay me back his share. We have recently exchanged a few messages on Facebook and I think he plans to stop making repayments altogether. Do I have a case and is it worth me taking him to court?

I am thinking of investing in a £150,000 house as a buy-to-let but am unsure on how to work out my rental return. I understand that property returns are normally referred to through rental yields, but how do I work out what my actual annual return from the rent would be?

It sounds a nice problem to have - and one many may expect they'll never have to deal with. But for those able to benefit from the new pension freedoms, it's a question they may have to answer. The problem is that the old cautious orthodoxy looks very risky right now.

If you're one of the thousands of small business owners that has put off the day when you start a workplace pension for your staff, you shouldn't bury your head in the sand any longer. If you fail to comply with new auto-enrolment rules, you could be fined heavily. An expert explains what you need to know.

Differences across the UK have been revealed by a new ONS disposable income map that also shows how parts of Britain have become better or worse off since 1997. The figures reflects what people have to live on once their taxes, mortgage or rent and pension savings have been taken out.

A clear strategy is a key element of active fund investing but sometimes an alternative route is also necessary. Fund managers need to be savvy to navigate potential problems brewing and that's where some different contrarian thinking can pay off. We reveal six fund manager's unusual thoughts.

To clear the average national household debt of £13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of £100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Figures from the ONS showed negative inflation of 0.1 per cent in April, as the consumer prices index fell slightly year-on-year. A mild dose of deflation is not forecast to change the outlook for rates, however, with inflation expected to soon pick back up again and a late spring 2016 rise on the cards.

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

The influence of financial services on the economy is spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year's official list of highest earners. According to the detailed 2014 annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school. Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.