diff --git a/components/CMakeLists.txt b/components/CMakeLists.txt
index 56371a8c02..3ea44f1f11 100644
--- a/components/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/components/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ add_component_dir (queries
     )
     
 add_component_dir (lua_ui
-    widget widgetlist element content text textedit window
+    widget widgetlist element content
+    text textedit window
     )
 
 
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/element.cpp b/components/lua_ui/element.cpp
index 258da5269f..1a1b38e4dc 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/element.cpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/element.cpp
@@ -24,18 +24,7 @@ namespace LuaUi
 
     void setProperties(LuaUi::WidgetExtension* ext, const sol::table& layout)
     {
-        auto props = layout.get<sol::optional<sol::table>>("props");
-        if (props.has_value())
-        {
-            props.value().for_each([ext](const sol::object& key, const sol::object& value)
-                {
-                    if (key.is<std::string_view>())
-                        ext->setProperty(key.as<std::string_view>(), value);
-                    else
-                        Log(Debug::Warning) << "UI property key must be a string";
-                });
-            ext->updateCoord();
-        }
+        ext->setProperties(layout.get<sol::object>("props"));
     }
 
     void setEventCallbacks(LuaUi::WidgetExtension* ext, const sol::table& layout)
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/properties.hpp b/components/lua_ui/properties.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f23a5ce6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/lua_ui/properties.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#ifndef OPENMW_LUAUI_PROPERTIES
+#define OPENMW_LUAUI_PROPERTIES
+
+#include <sol/sol.hpp>
+#include <MyGUI_Types.h>
+#include <osg/Vec2>
+
+#include <components/lua/luastate.hpp>
+
+namespace LuaUi
+{
+    template <typename T>
+    sol::optional<T> getProperty(sol::object from, std::string_view field) {
+        sol::object value = LuaUtil::getFieldOrNil(from, field);
+        if (value == sol::nil)
+            return sol::nullopt;
+        if (value.is<T>())
+            return value.as<T>();
+        std::string error("Property \"");
+        error += field;
+        error += "\" has an invalid value \"";
+        error += LuaUtil::toString(value);
+        error += "\"";
+        throw std::logic_error(error);
+    }
+
+    template<typename T>
+    T parseProperty(sol::object from, std::string_view field, const T& defaultValue)
+    {
+        sol::optional<T> opt = getProperty<T>(from, field);
+        if (opt.has_value())
+            return opt.value();
+        else
+            return defaultValue;
+    }
+
+    template <typename T>
+    MyGUI::types::TPoint<T> parseProperty(
+        sol::object from,
+        std::string_view field,
+        const MyGUI::types::TPoint<T>& defaultValue)
+    {
+        auto v = getProperty<osg::Vec2f>(from, field);
+        if (v.has_value())
+            return MyGUI::types::TPoint<T>(v.value().x(), v.value().y());
+        else
+            return defaultValue;
+    }
+
+    template <typename T>
+    MyGUI::types::TSize<T> parseProperty(
+        sol::object from,
+        std::string_view field,
+        const MyGUI::types::TSize<T>& defaultValue)
+    {
+        auto v = getProperty<osg::Vec2f>(from, field);
+        if (v.has_value())
+            return MyGUI::types::TSize<T>(v.value().x(), v.value().y());
+        else
+            return defaultValue;
+    }
+}
+
+#endif // !OPENMW_LUAUI_PROPERTIES
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/text.cpp b/components/lua_ui/text.cpp
index 571bdaf403..4ae9865ac3 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/text.cpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/text.cpp
@@ -12,25 +12,11 @@ namespace LuaUi
         WidgetExtension::initialize();
     }
 
-    bool LuaText::setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value)
+    void LuaText::setProperties(sol::object props)
     {
-        if (name == "caption")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<std::string>())
-                return false;
-            setCaption(value.as<std::string>());
-        }
-        else if (name == "autoSize")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<bool>())
-                return false;
-            mAutoSized = value.as<bool>();
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return WidgetExtension::setPropertyRaw(name, value);
-        }
-        return true;
+        setCaption(parseProperty(props, "caption", std::string()));
+        mAutoSized = parseProperty(props, "autoSize", true);
+        WidgetExtension::setProperties(props);
     }
 
     MyGUI::IntSize LuaText::calculateSize()
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/text.hpp b/components/lua_ui/text.hpp
index 90a3fc563c..d87a9001a2 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/text.hpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/text.hpp
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ namespace LuaUi
         public:
             LuaText();
             virtual void initialize() override;
+            virtual void setProperties(sol::object) override;
 
         private:
             bool mAutoSized;
 
         protected:
             virtual MyGUI::IntSize calculateSize() override;
-            bool setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value) override;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/textedit.cpp b/components/lua_ui/textedit.cpp
index 2324a770c2..9cdc716ce4 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/textedit.cpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/textedit.cpp
@@ -2,18 +2,9 @@
 
 namespace LuaUi
 {
-    bool LuaTextEdit::setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value)
+    void LuaTextEdit::setProperties(sol::object props)
     {
-        if (name == "caption")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<std::string>())
-                return false;
-            setCaption(value.as<std::string>());
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return WidgetExtension::setPropertyRaw(name, value);
-        }
-        return true;
+        setCaption(parseProperty(props, "caption", std::string()));
+        WidgetExtension::setProperties(props);
     }
 }
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/textedit.hpp b/components/lua_ui/textedit.hpp
index 3eb5b471c3..d14f54d659 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/textedit.hpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/textedit.hpp
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@ namespace LuaUi
     {
         MYGUI_RTTI_DERIVED(LuaTextEdit)
 
-        protected:
-            bool setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value) override;
+        virtual void setProperties(sol::object) override;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/widget.cpp b/components/lua_ui/widget.cpp
index 3ce07273f8..ef876e8a06 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/widget.cpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/widget.cpp
@@ -142,19 +142,12 @@ namespace LuaUi
         mCallbacks.clear();
     }
 
-    void WidgetExtension::setProperty(std::string_view name, sol::object value)
-    {
-        if (!setPropertyRaw(name, value))
-            Log(Debug::Error) << "Invalid value of property " << name
-                              << ": " << LuaUtil::toString(value);
-    }
-
-    MyGUI::IntCoord WidgetExtension::forcedOffset()
+    MyGUI::IntCoord WidgetExtension::forcedCoord()
     {
         return mForcedCoord;
     }
 
-    void WidgetExtension::setForcedOffset(const MyGUI::IntCoord& offset)
+    void WidgetExtension::setForcedCoord(const MyGUI::IntCoord& offset)
     {
         mForcedCoord = offset;
     }
@@ -164,55 +157,16 @@ namespace LuaUi
         mWidget->setCoord(calculateCoord());
     }
 
-    bool WidgetExtension::setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value)
+    void WidgetExtension::setProperties(sol::object props)
     {
-        if (name == "position")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<osg::Vec2f>())
-                return false;
-            auto v = value.as<osg::Vec2f>();
-            mAbsoluteCoord.left = v.x();
-            mAbsoluteCoord.top = v.y();
-        }
-        else if (name == "size")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<osg::Vec2f>())
-                return false;
-            auto v = value.as<osg::Vec2f>();
-            mAbsoluteCoord.width = v.x();
-            mAbsoluteCoord.height = v.y();
-        }
-        else if (name == "relativePosition")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<osg::Vec2f>())
-                return false;
-            auto v = value.as<osg::Vec2f>();
-            mRelativeCoord.left = v.x();
-            mRelativeCoord.top = v.y();
-        }
-        else if (name == "relativeSize")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<osg::Vec2f>())
-                return false;
-            auto v = value.as<osg::Vec2f>();
-            mRelativeCoord.width = v.x();
-            mRelativeCoord.height = v.y();
-        }
-        else if (name == "anchor")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<osg::Vec2f>())
-                return false;
-            auto v = value.as<osg::Vec2f>();
-            mAnchor.width = v.x();
-            mAnchor.height = v.y();
-        }
-        else if (name == "visible")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<bool>())
-                return false;
-            mWidget->setVisible(value.as<bool>());
-        }
-        return true;
+        mAbsoluteCoord = parseProperty(props, "position", MyGUI::IntPoint());
+        mAbsoluteCoord = parseProperty(props, "size", MyGUI::IntSize());
+        mRelativeCoord = parseProperty(props, "relativePosition", MyGUI::FloatPoint());
+        mRelativeCoord = parseProperty(props, "relativeSize", MyGUI::FloatSize());
+        mAnchor = parseProperty(props, "anchor", MyGUI::FloatSize());
+        mWidget->setVisible(parseProperty(props, "visible", true));
+
+        updateCoord();
     }
 
     void WidgetExtension::updateChildrenCoord(MyGUI::Widget* _widget)
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/widget.hpp b/components/lua_ui/widget.hpp
index 48b169572f..360c6483ba 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/widget.hpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/widget.hpp
@@ -5,10 +5,11 @@
 
 #include <MyGUI_Widget.h>
 #include <sol/sol.hpp>
-#include <osg/Vec2>
 
 #include <components/lua/scriptscontainer.hpp>
 
+#include "properties.hpp"
+
 namespace LuaUi
 {
     /*
@@ -36,17 +37,16 @@ namespace LuaUi
         void setCallback(const std::string&, const LuaUtil::Callback&);
         void clearCallbacks();
 
-        void setProperty(std::string_view, sol::object value);
+        virtual void setProperties(sol::object);
 
-        MyGUI::IntCoord forcedOffset();
-        void setForcedOffset(const MyGUI::IntCoord& offset);
+        MyGUI::IntCoord forcedCoord();
+        void setForcedCoord(const MyGUI::IntCoord& offset);
         void updateCoord();
 
     protected:
         sol::table makeTable() const;
         sol::object keyEvent(MyGUI::KeyCode) const;
         sol::object mouseEvent(int left, int top, MyGUI::MouseButton button) const;
-        virtual bool setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value);
         virtual void initialize();
         virtual void deinitialize();
         virtual MyGUI::IntSize calculateSize();
@@ -55,9 +55,14 @@ namespace LuaUi
 
         void triggerEvent(std::string_view name, const sol::object& argument) const;
 
+        // offsets the position and size, used only in C++ widget code
         MyGUI::IntCoord mForcedCoord;
+        // position and size in pixels
         MyGUI::IntCoord mAbsoluteCoord;
+        // position and size as a ratio of parent size
         MyGUI::FloatCoord mRelativeCoord;
+        // negative position offset as a ratio of this widget's size
+        // used in combination with relative coord to align the widget, e. g. center it
         MyGUI::FloatSize mAnchor;
 
     private:
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/window.cpp b/components/lua_ui/window.cpp
index b7bb426a63..5d34bf8212 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/window.cpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/window.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ namespace LuaUi
         : mCaption()
         , mPreviousMouse()
         , mChangeScale()
+        , mMoveResize()
     {}
 
     void LuaWindow::initialize()
@@ -43,20 +44,13 @@ namespace LuaUi
         }
     }
 
-    bool LuaWindow::setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value)
+    void LuaWindow::setProperties(sol::object props)
     {
-        if (name == "caption")
-        {
-            if (!value.is<std::string>())
-                return false;
-            if (mCaption)
-                mCaption->setCaption(value.as<std::string>());
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            return WidgetExtension::setPropertyRaw(name, value);
-        }
-        return true;
+        if (mCaption)
+            mCaption->setCaption(parseProperty(props, "caption", std::string()));
+        mMoveResize = MyGUI::IntCoord();
+        setForcedCoord(mMoveResize);
+        WidgetExtension::setProperties(props);
     }
 
     void LuaWindow::notifyMousePress(MyGUI::Widget* sender, int left, int top, MyGUI::MouseButton id)
@@ -84,9 +78,11 @@ namespace LuaUi
         change.width *= (left - mPreviousMouse.left);
         change.height *= (top - mPreviousMouse.top);
 
-        setForcedOffset(forcedOffset() + change.size());
-        MyGUI::IntPoint positionOffset = change.point() + getPosition() - calculateCoord().point();
-        setForcedOffset(forcedOffset() + positionOffset);
+        mMoveResize = mMoveResize + change.size();
+        setForcedCoord(mMoveResize);
+        // position can change based on size changes
+        mMoveResize = mMoveResize + change.point() + getPosition() - calculateCoord().point();
+        setForcedCoord(mMoveResize);
         updateCoord();
 
         mPreviousMouse.left = left;
diff --git a/components/lua_ui/window.hpp b/components/lua_ui/window.hpp
index c04b0a6055..f34779c8f7 100644
--- a/components/lua_ui/window.hpp
+++ b/components/lua_ui/window.hpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ namespace LuaUi
 
         public:
             LuaWindow();
+            virtual void setProperties(sol::object) override;
 
         private:
             // \todo replace with LuaText when skins are properly implemented
@@ -22,12 +23,12 @@ namespace LuaUi
             MyGUI::IntPoint mPreviousMouse;
             MyGUI::IntCoord mChangeScale;
 
+            MyGUI::IntCoord mMoveResize;
+
         protected:
             virtual void initialize() override;
             virtual void deinitialize() override;
 
-            bool setPropertyRaw(std::string_view name, sol::object value) override;
-
             void notifyMousePress(MyGUI::Widget*, int, int, MyGUI::MouseButton);
             void notifyMouseDrag(MyGUI::Widget*, int, int, MyGUI::MouseButton);
     };