Archives July 2022

Investing in property is an old method of accumulating money. People have been doing it for hundreds of years, looking for methods to raise their net worth and ensure profits.

Is 2022, however, the right moment to invest in property? This piece examines the present status of the market and what it means for individuals like us. Just because the market is hot doesn’t mean there aren’t any inexpensive houses out there ready to be snapped up.

Invest In Property For A Passive Investment

To get into real estate, you don’t have to go out and start purchasing homes. Passive techniques are becoming more popular as a way to invest in property.

People wishing to get into real estate, for example, are purchasing real estate investment trusts (REITs) to avoid some of the hefty transaction costs associated with traditional real estate acquisitions. Instead of purchasing homes outright, people are putting what they can into shared ownership of baskets of real estate. They can generate a return from property without having to put up large sums of money.

Overseas Investment

Even while the local property market is hot, there are still bargains to be had in other countries. Flats for sale overseas may be offered at a lower price than the market rate in your native country. Remember that the real estate market varies greatly from place to place, even within the same country. You can frequently discover deals in one location that would be tricky to find in another.

More Affordable Homes For You To Invest In Property

People are wanting to rent more cheap houses as a result of today’s inflationary climate. As a result, landlords with lower-priced homes are likely to encounter more demand. Rent competition will most likely drive up the lower end of the market, improving returns.

Investing in this sort of property is thus one option. Furthermore, even if interest rates climb during the remainder of the year, mortgage payments will be less of a problem. You’ll be repaying less on a single home, and rising rentals will likely cover the difference when you invest in property of this type.

The place you rent from a landlord becomes your home. They should only come in without you being there if you’ve given them permission to or if it’s a real emergency. For inspections, repairs, and maintenance, your landlord or letting agent will need to get into the property. By law, they have to give you 24 hours’ written notice. In other words, no, your landlord cannot enter a property without permission.

If you’re new to renting and don’t know what the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and responsibilities are, keep reading for our full guide to landlord access in rented properties.

The Right To Quiet Enjoyment

As a tenant, if you sign an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, you have the right to “quiet enjoyment of your property.” You pay rent to the landlord so that you can use the property as your home. Since it is your home, you have the right to decide who comes in and when. If your landlord comes into your home without your permission, they are technically breaking the law unless they have a court order to do so. They cannot just enter a property because they want to.

Landlords’ Right Of Access To Enter A Property

Still, landlords or letting agents can go into the property to do what the law says they have to do. The Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 says that your landlord can look at your home as long as they give you at least 24 hours’ notice and come at a reasonable time.

The landlord should send you a letter telling you who will be coming into the property and why. You are not forced to say yes to the visit. But keep in mind that it might be in your best interest to be flexible, so that your landlord can keep the house in good shape and make sure it’s safe and comfortable to live in, and so that you can keep getting along.

Why Your Landlord Might Want To Enter A Property

There are many good reasons why your landlord might want to enter a property:

For regular inspections, your landlord has the right to check the property at regular times to look for damage or problems that could get worse and cost a lot to fix.

For repairs and maintenance, the landlord is responsible if you report a problem or an inspection finds one.

Your landlord is required by law to have a gas safety check done every year.

To have viewings near the end of the tenancy. If you’ve given your landlord notice that you’re leaving, he or she will need to find a new tenant, so it’s a reasonable request that you show people around.

Enter A Property In An Emergency

In a real emergency, your landlord will need to get into your home right away. In this case, they won’t need permission from the tenant to enter a property. Emergencies are rare situations like a fire, flood, the smell of gas, dangerous damage to a building, or the thought that someone has done something violent or illegal.

Changing The Locks

Your right of exclusivity gives you the legal right to change the locks on your rental property. You don’t have to give your landlord a set of keys unless it says in your rental agreement that you do.

Think about whether it would make things easier if you gave your landlord a set of keys in case of an emergency, if you locked yourself out, or if you agreed to inspections and repairs while you were away.

Tenant Refusing Entry

If your landlord asks to enter a property in writing, you can say no if it doesn’t work for you, but try to offer an alternative and come to an agreement. If you keep saying no, it could make you look like you don’t want to help and make the landlord less willing to work with you if you need them to.

Work or other obligations may make it hard for you to give a 24-hour notice. If you don’t want your landlord to come in when you’re not there, suggest a longer notice period that will make things easier, or let them know any regular times that work for you.

Harassment

Most landlords are fair and easy to get along with. If your landlord comes over too often, at odd hours, or without your permission when you’re not there, they may be breaking the law. This is especially true if their actions make you feel pressured. Under the Housing Act of 1988, it is illegal to bother tenants. If you think this is happening to you, talk to a lawyer or call Citizens Advice for help.

Have you ever considered staging your living room? Whether you’re a seller or a landlord, staging your living room can mean the difference between a sale/finding a new tenant, or having to wait. When you stage your living room in the right way, it can show the people looking around how they might live, and what can be done with the room. With that in mind, read on for some useful tips.

A New Suite For Staging Your Living Room

If you have an old, sagging sofa in your living room, it’s going to make it look less desirable than if you have a brand new suite. This is why it’s a good idea not to put off buying your new furniture if that’s something you were intending to do anyway. For one thing, you’ll have more money before your move than after (moving is very expensive), and for another, when you’re staging your living room you want to offer up a good impression.

It’s true that the new owners or tenants aren’t going to be using your furniture (although, when it comes to tenants, the option might be there – even more reason to get a new sofa), and you might think it’s no one’s business what your stuff looks like. That’s true, but it’s also true that you’ll create a more positive subconscious impression when there are nice things around you.

Your Carpeting

How does your carpet look? Is it dark, has a lot of patterns, or both? Would having it cleaned by a pro make it look better, or does it really need to be replaced? If the carpet is dirty, worn, and old, it will look like the house hasn’t been taken care of. If you want to show that the house is well-kept, you might want to spend a few hundred pounds on a new, neutral carpet to make staging your living room easier.

Your Lighting

This can really change how your living room looks. Downlighters and table lamps can make a room feel warm and inviting, while uplighting can add a bit of drama. If you have overhead lighting, it’s usually best to turn it off and use your other lighting options to make the room feel more like home.