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Getting Rentals Right Oct 07 , 2021

Just as anyone can open up an estate agency, so they can also start up a lettings business, without any training, experience or qualifications. This should concern landlords, because there is far more to the business than meets the eye. In some ways, finding a tenant is the easy bit! The issues arise over how selective the agency is when recommending a tena

The Meaning of Service Sep 30 , 2021

Most lettings agents see their role solely as a “purveyor of tenants”, and they pride themselves on their ability to find the right tenant for a property and to negotiate attractive terms for the landlord. But lettings agency has moved on. Indeed, finding a tenant is arguably one of the most straightforward aspects of letting a property. Wise landlords

Benefit of Pets Sep 23 , 2021

Why Let Your Property To A Pet Owner? Almost half the UK population own a pet, and this is rising fast post-pandemic! Yet many landlords are reluctant to accept pets! According to research by The Dogs Trust, some 78% of pet owners reported that they had experienced difficulty finding rented accommodation that would accept pets. However, if you are a landl

The New Landlord Sep 16 , 2021

Some would-be sellers are reluctant to sell their home in view of the high cost of moving, or selling for what they regard as too low a figure to enable them to fulfil their plans. Others may be moving abroad and don’t necessarily want to commit to selling their UK home just yet. Maybe you’re keen to move but don’t want to “cash-in” the investment

The Advertising Myth Sep 09 , 2021

It would be perfectly reasonable to assume that as your rental property comes to market, your letting agent will simply post the property details on various property portals and wait for the tenant enquiries to roll in. However, this approach is somewhat simplistic and we take a much more strategic and proactive approach to handling new tenant enquiries. T

Landlord Insurance Matters Sep 02 , 2021

It has been reported that one in eight landlords does not have landlord insurance! Whilst most landlords will of course have regular buildings insurance, covering subsidence, storm damage, flooding etc, some policies do not take account of a property being let. In fact, some insurance can be invalid if the insurer has either not been informed that the proper

Investors' Dream Market? Aug 26 , 2021

With a shortage of new homes being built and interest rates remaining at historically low levels, there has perhaps never been a better time to invest in a property with a view to letting it. The market opportunity is huge. Mortgages are increasingly hard to obtain for buyers unless their creditworthiness is impeccable, they are able to pass increasingly h

The Accountable Manager Aug 19 , 2021

One of the attractions of property as an investment is that it apparently “looks after itself”. In an ideal world, the tenant pays the rent, the rent covers the mortgage, and you the landlord need not be especially involved apart from banking the difference. If only the reality were so simple. Unlike stocks and shares, property usually requires a h

Don't Look Aug 12 , 2021

How Many Should We See? When looking to rent a property, it is natural to want to see as many properties as possible before making the "right" choice and common sense dictates that you should view a handful of alternatives before deciding which to rent. Our job as professional letting agents is to help tenants make decisions that are genuinely in their b

How Long? Aug 05 , 2021

“How Long Has It Been Available?” One of the first things a tenant will ask a letting agent when offered a property is “How long has it been available?” - and with good reason. Moving house is a huge event and it takes courage to commit to undertake such a decision – often with very little support other than pure instinct. One of the most pe

Reputable Landlord Jul 29 , 2021

There have been numerous reports in the media of tenants handing over money in good faith, hoping to move into their new home, only to be shocked to discover that the landlord is not who he/she claimed to be, the property doesn’t actually exist, or someone else is living there. One example found that a property had been “let” to eight people, each of w

The Inheritance Landlord Jul 22 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Parent” landlord and, in this article, the “Inheritance” landlord. The inheritance landlord is someone who has been fortunate enough

The Parent Landlord Jul 15 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Inheritance” landlord and, in this article, the “Parent” landlord. Many parents fork out huge amounts in rent during their children�

The Pension Landlord Jul 08 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Parent” Landlord and The “Inheritance” landlord and, in this article, the “Pension” landlord. Traditional pension investment schemes have proved unreliable

Accidental Landlord Jul 01 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Parent” landlord and The “Inheritance” landlord. In this article, we consider The “Accidental” landlord: The accidental landlo

Let it Shine Jun 24 , 2021

As a landlord you’ll want to minimise the time your property is empty between tenancies (what we call the void period) so it is essential that your property is looking its best for showing to new tenants both in terms of condition and cleanliness. Although a tenanted property should be redecorated from time to time, tenants are allowed fair wear and tea

Waiting in Hope? Jun 17 , 2021

If your rental property is currently on the market awaiting a tenant, it may be tempting to assume that your agent is in full control of the situation, and that sooner or later a tenant will materialise. But don’t be so sure! Sometimes an agent will take the same view and simply sit in hope, having apparently exhausted their own marketing options. However

Should I Furnish? Jun 10 , 2021

Landlords often ask us whether or not it is worth furnishing a property they intend to let. “Furnishing” usually means everything required to live reasonably comfortably in a property, including white goods, with the exception of bedding and personal possessions. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Tenants come in all shapes and sizes,

Renting Freedom to Buy Jun 03 , 2021

Possibly prompted by a lack of supply, increasing numbers of home movers are renting as an interim measure prior to buying their next property. If you are selling, it can be tempting to stay put until the right house comes onto the market. However, many people who have done this, and who find the right onward property, then find themselves in a position of

Viewing Feedback May 27 , 2021

"What Does Viewing Feedback Really Mean?" Landlords often approach us after an unsatisfactory experience with another agent, particularly in relation to poor levels of feedback following property viewings. Surely, prompt and constructive feedback should be a fundamental part of any letting agent’s service to their clients! Only when agents understand what

Landlord Cost Survey May 20 , 2021

Landlords will be interested in stats revealed by a survey that identifies some of the physical costs of being a landlord, along with their knock-on effects. Conducted by LV Insurance, the survey suggests that landlords spend an average of £3,134 on often unexpected aspects of maintenance such as: Boiler repairs: £370 Structural repairs: £313 Decoration

Seriously Clean May 13 , 2021

There is clean and then there is really clean! Even prior to Covid-19, we always insisted that our landlords’ properties are thoroughly cleaned between tenancies. This is not only to ensure that we maximise the rent paid, but a tenant is more likely to treat an immaculately clean property with more respect and leave it in a good state of repair at the end

Tenant Charges Pt2 May 06 , 2021

Letting agents are no longer allowed to charge a fee to process a tenant’s application to rent. But this does not mean that an agent cannot ask for certain monies, so here’s our brief guide for tenants (Landlords listen up too!). Part 2 – Post-Agreement charges. Early Termination Ending a tenancy prior to its scheduled end date falls into the realms of

Tenant Charges pt1 Apr 29 , 2021

Letting agents are no longer allowed to charge a fee to process a tenant’s application to rent. But this does not mean that an agent cannot ask for certain monies, so here’s Part One of our brief guide for tenants. (Landlords listen up too!) A holding or reservation deposit. Competition for rental property is high and sometimes, in order to prove th

Rent by a Road? Apr 22 , 2021

Location, location, location is the somewhat overused maxim applied by many as a rule of thumb when selecting a property. However, a closer look reveals that a compromise in this principle can produce significant benefits for tenants a area. Clearly, most tenants’ idea of a dream home is one in perfect condition, with a beautiful garden, massive sunny

Dedicated to Lettings Apr 15 , 2021

If you are considering renting your property as an alternative to selling, it would be understandable if you considered using the agent who is handling your sale to find a tenant instead. However, a word of caution here on two counts. Firstly, many estate agents have recently entered the market offering lettings alongside their traditional sales practice, ap

First Impressions Feb 17 , 2021

You only get one chance to make a first impression! When it comes to letting your home, attention to detail could be pivotal in securing the best possible rent –quickly. Most tenants have a good idea of their preferred location, minimum accommodation needs and ideal style of property. Yet it is often presentation that makes the greatest difference.

Habitable Rules: For Landlords Feb 10 , 2021

Legislation exists whereby tenants can potentially sue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain their property. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 means that tenants can take direct action over substandard property, rather than having to rely on their local authority to pursue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain it. Courts will

A Chilling Mistake Feb 03 , 2021

During these winter months, landlords can easily overlook the importance of ensuring that the temperature of your property does not fall below freezing. Your tenant might be more concerned about their own comfort than the welfare of your investment. But what happens if they decide to fly to some winter the sun for a couple of weeks? Temperatures falling

Finding a Tenant - The Need for Speed Jan 27 , 2021

According to the Nottingham Building Society, about 21% of Buy to Let landlords do not secure a paying tenant within four months of completing their investment purchase. 53% waited for two months and the average void period was one month after completion. This should ring alarm bells for landlords. We suggest these delays should be unacceptable for t

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