Am I unduly negative about our position? Should we sell rental property?

Good point - just shows how much I'm not seeing the wood for the trees!
 
Thanks, the only thing about that is putting all eggs in one basket with the AVCs, I know the tax element brilliant, I'm going to see if we can put mine back to 25% and there's about 7k for 2021 I didn't put in, that given @NoRegretsCoyote 's comment re: the prize bonds, maybe we should be taking money from there to do that. That then gives some breathing space in the day to day as well.
 
I agree. First line of financial defence is the prize bonds anyway. It would be foolish to hold on to these while failing to take advantage of tax-relieved pension contributions in your 40s.
Thank you for this - I actually didn't think of that, I have myself wired not to dip into it that I forgot sometimes it makes sense!
 
...raffle tickets, love it! I take your point, at the time I figured there was nowhere offering much return and wanted no risk - and to keep them slightly out of my own reach as well...