Whether you’re an established landlord or a first-time investor, you’ll probably be thinking about what to buy: a ready-to-go rental or a doer-upper. Which one should you pick? Currently, many changes are being made around rental rules, and reports claim that many landlords are selling up. However, there are still plenty of investors making their move into the rental space. And with the UK...
Unless you’re one of those super-organised types who spend the year secretly buying stocking fillers and stashing them under your bed, Christmas is probably the last thing on your mind right now. And why should it be? It’s summer, the schools are shut (for a few more days at least), and you still have months to dust off your reindeer antlers and Yuletide jumper. But there is one reason why it...
Let’s be honest, we’ve all been a nosy neighbour at some point, haven’t we? A ‘for sale’ sign goes up on a property in your street, and within minutes you’re online to find out what it’s on the market for. Soon enough, you’re marvelling or shuddering at your neighbour’s taste in décor and deciding that your home is bigger, smaller, smarter or scruffier than theirs. There’s...
As a landlord, one of your main goals is to make sure your property is tenanted. As soon as the old tenants decide they’re moving on, it’s time to find new renters to move in. But while you’ll be keen for a quick turnaround, it’s also important that things are done properly (cutting corners will cause you problems in the long run). Not only will you want to end the initial tenancy...
Renting a property with a friend or acquaintance? Never lived with anyone before? We’ve got you covered with some top tips to help manage your new living situation. These days, renting isn’t cheap and whether you’re a student or professional, those monthly payments can feel like a stretch. So, if you’re about to move in with a flatmate, it’s worth sticking to some basic rules to make sure your...
It’s often said that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but then (confusingly), it’s also said that first impressions count… Why are all these clichés so important? Well, when marketing a property, it’s a bit of both: how a property looks will catch a buyer’s eye before they pore over the finer details. Photos of your property are what hooks the buyer, what drives them to pick up the...
Buying a new home is a big step that comes with lots of considerations. Finding the right property in a good location at a price you’re willing to pay isn’t always easy and can take time. But when you finally move into your new place to start the next chapter of your life, all the hard work is worth it. Here are some factors to consider if you’re thinking about buying in 2023. Shifting...
Type ‘tenancy agreement’ into Google and you’ll get thousands of results offering free online templates and guides to writing your own rental contract. So why bother using a letting agent to sort out the tenancy agreement if you can do it yourself? What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a lot. Hastily downloading a template from the internet and high-fiving yourself for a job well done could...
Close your eyes and picture your dream home. What do you see? A home that’s light, spacious and orderly? Or one that’s chaotic and cluttered with objects piled high and shoes and clothes strewn on the floor (along with bits of Lego that you inevitably tread on). The first scenario is the one that most people aspire to – and for good reason. Research shows that when our environment is tidy,...
As a landlord, as well as managing the finances, the property and any repairs or maintenance, you also have to remember to look after your tenants. Whilst nine times out of ten you’ll never have to deal with anything too difficult, sometimes relationships can be testing. So, what’s the best way to deal with issues that arise during a tenancy? In this quick read, we look at ways to deal with such...