Category Landlords

A lot of people forget how important their front door really is. What do people see first when they walk up to your house? What can people see from the road when they drive by your property? What can people see when they look up your house on Google Street View? Your front door. This is really important. It is the physical barrier between the outside and the inside of your home. It is the part of your home that makes people feel welcome. Don’t you want to make a good impression on them? Don’t you want everyone who sees the outside of your house to think that the inside is just as nice? This is the effect a beautiful new front door can have. Here are some of the best reasons why you need a new front door.

Better Kerb Appeal

One of the best ways to update the look of your home is by installing brand-new windows and doors. In particular, installing an updated front door in lieu of your old one is an inexpensive, low-stakes replacement project that can have a significant impact. Changing out the entry door is a great method to modernise the look of your home and boost its value. See the difference that a stylish front door can make by comparing before and after photos of similarly-styled homes.

More Value

Boosting your home’s kerb appeal can potentially raise its value. A new front door provides a 68.8 percent ROI, as stated in the Cost vs. Value 2020 analysis by Remodeling Magazine. Your home’s kerb appeal can be improved with the installation of a new, high-quality front door. In addition to increasing your home’s marketability, it may also attract interested purchasers.

Make A Personal Statement With A New Front Door

Perhaps the most appealing feature of a changed front door is the opportunity it provides to make a unique fashion statement. Whether you decide to paint your new front door or go with a whole other style, it will completely change the look of your home’s outside. There is a wide selection of entry doors to choose from, so you can find one that fits the design of your home. Smooth, simple panels made of clear glass are an excellent choice for a modern or contemporary residence. For a more classic look, go for a door with decorative panels and either quarter-light glass or no glass at all. Grilles, crossbucks, clavos, ornate glass, dentil shelves, wrought iron, and other such embellishments can elevate your decor to the next level.

Do you want to buy a property to rent out? If so, you’re not on your own. These days, a lot of people want to get into renting out homes, and for good reason: it can be a very profitable investment. But buying a rental property isn’t as easy as just picking one out and paying for it. Before making such an important purchase, there are many things to think about. In this blog post, we’ll talk about some tips from experts that will help you buy a property to rent out. Let’s get started.

Get The Right Mortgage

Get a good mortgage if you want to buy a property to rent out. This is especially important if you plan to get a loan to help pay for the house. There are many different kinds of mortgages, and they are not all the same. Before making a choice, you should look around and compare prices.

Also, it’s important to make sure you can pay the mortgage payments. This is especially true if you want to be a hands-off landlord and employ a property management business to take care of every aspect for you. Remember that you will still have to pay your mortgage every month, even though you will be getting rent.

Location Is Important

When you buy a property to rent out, you will want to think about where it is. After all, the only reason to own a rental property is to rent it out. And if you want people to rent your house, it needs to be in a good place. If you don’t, it might be hard to find (and keep) tenants.

Before you buy a rental property, you should think carefully about where it will be. You should think about the neighbourhood, schools, and public transportation in the area. The easier it will be to find and keep tenants, the more desirable the area.

Know About Additional Expenses

When you buy a property to rent out, it’s important to remember that sometimes you’ll have to pay for things that you didn’t expect. This is just one of the things that come with being a landlord. As a landlord, there are many things that can cost you money, from repairs to empty units.

It is important to be ready for these unplanned costs. One way to do this is to put some money away each month in a contingency fund. When an unexpected cost comes up, you will have the money to pay for it without taking money from your other sources of income.

In the UK, more than 7 million people smoke. The number is going down from year to year, and there is so much information about why it’s good to stop smoking that more people will soon give up the habit.

But it’s likely that at some point you’ll find the perfect tenant for your property, except for one thing: they smoke. Even though 14.7 percent of people smoke regularly, only about 7 percent of rental properties actively welcome smokers.

If landlords had a different attitude, they might be able to rent to more people. But they have good reasons to worry about things like lingering smells, damage to furniture, and the chance of a serious fire. And it’s easy to see why this makes landlords less likely to put “smokers welcome” on their online ads.

So where do you and other landlords stand? Can you stop people from smoking in a rented property? Find out by reading on.

Laws About Smoking In A Rented Property

If you don’t want your tenants to smoke, there aren’t many laws to back you up.
Under the Health Act of 2006, smoking was banned in all places that were “open to the public” as of April 2007. It applies in many places, like bars, restaurants, and workplaces, and its goal is to make smoking less harmful.

But it only applies to privately rented property if it’s an HMO. It can’t be used to enforce a no-smoking rule in a self-contained apartment or house.

If you rent out HMOs, you can say that smoking in a rented property isn’t allowed in places like hallways, kitchens, and bathrooms that are used by everyone. You’ll also need to put up the right signs to let tenants know what they need to do.

Since your decision will be backed by the law, it should be easy to make it happen. If you do let people smoke in these places, you will be breaking the law and could be charged or given a fine by your local government.

So, landlords have every right to ask tenants who break this law to leave if they don’t follow it.

Smoking In A Rented Property And Tenancy Agreements

So, if you don’t want to allow smoking in a rented property but there are no rules to back that up, what are your options for places that aren’t HMOs? It all depends on your lease and how much you trust your landlord.

You can take steps right from the start of marketing your property to keep tenants from smoking: Make it clear in all of your ads that you will only rent to people who don’t smoke.

During the viewing, look for signs that the potential renter smokes, or ask your agent to look for them. Check for yellowed fingers and teeth in addition to the obvious smell of tobacco, which can be hard to hide.

Remind everyone who comes to look that smoking is not allowed, and pay close attention to what they say. Some people may lie a little bit.

Add a clause to the rental agreement that says tenants and visitors are not allowed to smoke anywhere on your property.

Even if you try hard, it may not help. The big problem here is how to make it work. So, what can you do if your tenant breaks their word and doesn’t follow the rules of the lease?

The first thing you can do is politely remind them of their promise and ask them to stop. Invite them to smoke outside if you want to keep things as good as possible with them.

If this doesn’t work, you can use one of the fault-based reasons for getting rid of an assured tenancy: Ground 12: The tenant broke one or more of the tenancy agreement’s rules, except for the one that said they had to pay rent. But this can only be enforced if a court decides to do so, which isn’t likely to happen if the tenant pays rent on time every month and would be expensive.

If your renter won’t stop smoking, you could use their security deposit to pay for any damage they cause. You might want to spend it on a deep clean by a professional to get rid of any stains on the walls and furniture. For this to work, there would need to be a thorough inventory at the beginning of the tenancy.

You could also raise their rent at the end of a fixed term to make up for any damage that occurred from someone smoking in a rented property.

What About E-Cigarettes?

Even though the number of people who smoke is going down, the number of people who vape is going up. Over 3 million people in the UK now use e-cigarettes.

More and more people who used to smoke are now vaping, but can they do it in your home? There is no law that applies, so it’s up to you if you want to let it happen or not. E-cigarettes don’t have the same bad smell or fire risk as regular cigarettes because people inhale nicotine in the form of vapour instead of smoke.

You can say in the lease that it’s not allowed, just like you can say that smoking isn’t allowed, but it will be harder to explain, find, and prove. And if you do let them do it but don’t let them smoke, you might turn off your tenants who smoke because they have to go outside to do it.

To let people smoke or not to let people smoke. Only the landlord can tell you the answer to that question. If you want to keep your property smoke-free, the best thing you can do is find an honest tenant who won’t be smoking in a rented property.

Do you plan to invest in rental property? If that’s the case, you’re definitely not alone. It’s no secret that buying a rental property and managing it can be a lucrative business venture, so it’s no surprise that so many people are eager to get into it. However, finding a rental home and giving over your cash is not as easy as it sounds. Many factors should be thought through before making such a substantial investment. In this article, we’ll share some useful information that will make it easier for you to invest in a rental property. 

Get A Good Mortgage When Buying A Rental Property

The importance of securing a decent mortgage cannot be overstated when buying a rental property. If you need a loan to buy the house, this is of paramount importance. All mortgages are not the same, and there are several to choose from. You should look around and get a few quotes before deciding.

In addition, you should check your financial situation to ensure that you can comfortably pay the mortgage. This is especially important if you intend to be a hands-off landlord and instead work with a property management firm. Keep in mind that even though you will be receiving rent each month, you are still responsible for paying the mortgage each month.

Think About The Location

Location is an important factor to consider when investing in a rental property. After all, getting tenants is why you buy a rental property in the first place. Your property’s location is a major factor in determining whether or not renters will be interested in it. Tenants may be hard to come by and keep if you don’t fix these problems.

As a result, it is crucial to give careful consideration to the location of the rental property before making a final decision. Think about accessibility to public transit and nearby schools as well as the safety of the immediate area. It is easier to locate (and keep) tenants when you’re in a more desirable location.

Be Prepared For Unexpected Expenses

An further crucial consideration is the fact that when buying a rental property, unanticipated costs can and will arise. As a landlord, you’ll inevitably face situations like this. As a landlord, you risk losing money due to a variety of factors, such as maintenance and vacancy.

It’s crucial to have a contingency fund in case of such unforeseen costs. One strategy for doing this is to put money aside on a regular basis. You won’t have to take money from your emergency fund or any of your other sources of income to address any unforeseen costs that may arise.

It’s important for landlords to know what tenants want. What are tenants looking for in a place to live? What should landlords put first when they buy a property to rent out? What turns away renters?

Some landlords find it hard to figure out exactly what their renters want, and some renters find it hard to find a place that meets their needs. In this article, we talk about the most important things that renters want in a place to live and what landlords can do to make renters more interested.

Good Location

When people are looking for a place to rent, location is very important; it’s a crucial factor in what tenants are looking for. Most people want to live close to their jobs, as well as to shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Obviously, you can’t move a rental property that you already own. But landlords who want to buy a property to rent out should think about where it is and what kind of tenants would be interested in it.

Tenants don’t want to live too far away from things they might need. Especially if they don’t drive and there aren’t many ways to get around. It’s important to live near a local supermarket, a doctor’s office, a pharmacy, and other shops, and families put a lot of value on being close to a good school.

Tenants care a lot about where a place is, so landlords should be sure to list all the nearby services in the property ad so that tenants looking for something specific know they have found it.

Safety & Security

Everyone who rents a place wants to feel safe there. Most people wouldn’t choose to rent a place in a dangerous area, so location and safety are often linked.

In addition to the number of crimes in the area, renters like to know that the alarms and locks on the windows and doors work. Because of this, it is important for landlords to make sure that the rental property has a security system that works.

Landlords can make their tenants feel safer by putting in CCTV, adding extra locks and a peephole to the front door, and making sure that all safety certificates are in place.

Landlords should also schedule a mid-term inspection to check on their property and make sure everything is safe and working. This also gives the renter a chance to talk about any questions or worries they may have.

Outdoor Space

Many renters like having their own outdoor space, like a patio, balcony, or garden. If those options aren’t possible, tenants, especially those with young children, often want to live near a park.

When tenants have outdoor space, they can enjoy the sun during the warmer months, have outdoor gatherings with family and friends, and have a whole other place to relax. People were stuck in their homes for so long during the pandemic that they realised how important it was to have space outside.

If the house has a garden, updating and improving it can make it more appealing to potential renters. This shows the tenants that the landlord cares about the property and is willing to make changes. It can also raise the value of the house.

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.

A property inventory is a very important document to have, whether you are a tenant looking to move into a rented place or a landlord who wants to protect his or her investment. Even though most landlords know how important they are, many tenants don’t care about them. This is a mistake that could cost you in the long run; there are many reasons why an inventory is important.

Who Conducts The Property Inventory?

A landlord, a letting agency, or an independent inventory clerk can all create an inventory. To be sure you’re working with a reliable company, look for an independent inventory company that has plenty of experience – just like Looksy Inventories. 

Both parties must sign the inventory report to certify that they agree with its contents, which is normally completed on the day of move-in. If the contents of the property are valuable, the report’s level of detail will reflect that. Photographic proof and written record are both acceptable.

Landlords should be mindful that if there is a disagreement, doing their own inventory might generate complications. The TDS would always prefer expert inventories over those done by the property owner.

Why Is An Inventory Important?

By taking an inventory, both parties can get a good idea of how the property is in its current state.

The property inventory will point out any areas that need to be fixed and say who is in charge of fixing them.

Having the document on hand will help tenants know exactly how to return the property to the landlord and give them an idea of how to take care of the home.

Inventory reports make it easy to tell the difference between damage and normal wear and tear.

Property inventories help both the landlord and the tenant protect their money.

When the tenancy is over, there are less likely to be problems if the inventory is done well.

But if there is a disagreement, having an inventory will help make sure the right decision is made.

Contact Looksy Inventories to find out more.

If you’re a landlord, you presumably already know this, but if you don’t, you should, since rental yield is crucial! It’s important for landlords to understand the concept of rental yield.

To put it another way, rental yield is a means to gauge the profitability of a property investment. Gross yield and net yield are equally significant, yet they measure different aspects of your business. To learn more, continue reading to see how you can increase your rental yield.

Review Rents Regularly

Here’s a simple way to help bring in more money from your rental yield. When the time is right, look at a property’s rental income and see if it can be raised to more closely match the going rate. Make sure you stick to your contracts, though, and think about whether you really want to raise the rent on a tenant who has been renting from you for many years and hasn’t caused you any trouble.

Review Your Outgoings

Let’s take a look at how much you spend on your property. Do you have your insurance automatically renewed, or is there a more affordable option out there? Is it expensive to hire a plumber, or can someone do the same job for less money?

Keep track of how much you spend and set reminders for when it’s time to look at other options. Treat being a landlord like a business, because it is.

Check Your Mortgage Renewal And Improve Your Rental Yield

You may have a buy-to-let mortgage on your home, but is it still the best one? There are a lot of new products on the market, so when the right time comes in your current mortgage, look around.

Be careful every time you switch. Keep an eye on the news for different products, and if it’s not the right time right away, write it down so you can come back to it when it is.

Invest Wisely

If you want to be a landlord, you should do your research. Think about where you want to spend your money and what kind of property you want to buy. Do you want a newer place that needs less work or an older place where more things could go wrong?

Don’t change your plan if it’s working. If you have a good rental yield because your home is new, keep that in mind when looking for another buy-to-let property.

Be A Good Landlord For Greater Rental Yield

If you have a great property and great tenants, you’re more likely to get a better rental yielf return (and yes, both can be achievable). But can you improve as a landlord?

Do you use high-quality components?

Do you deal with problems quickly?

Do you fix things right away?

If you’re a good landlord, you’re more likely to get good tenants and can charge them more rent.

You evaluate a house and a tenant, so why not evaluate yourself and see how you could be a better landlord? It’s good for business.

If you have the right tenant in your property, your rental yields are more likely to go up. If they take care of the house, your costs may go down. Obviously, if you want to get the most out of your property portfolio, you should think about hiring a lettings agent. You can get the most out of being a landlord if you hire a full-service property management company.

As a landlord, are you unsure whether you should use a letting agent? Depending on the circumstances, engaging with a letting estate agent can be an excellent method to save time, money, and worry. Here’s all you need to know about what a letting agency does and if you should engage with one to make your decision.

When You Use A Letting Agent What Do They Do?

Depending on the package you buy, a letting agent can do different things for you. You can give an agent some or all of the responsibilities for managing your property.

Most of the time, when you use a letting agent they can:

Advertise your property and help you find the right tenant.

Set up the lease: A letting agent can do everything to set up a tenancy, from getting references and running credit checks to getting deposits and writing up tenancy agreements.

Collect rent: A letting agent can collect rent from your tenants each month and follow up on any late payments according to the lease.

Manage questions: A letting agent can answer questions from tenants, deal with problems, and schedule maintenance or repair work.

Can You Manage The Property Yourself?

Think carefully about whether you want to manage your own property. It can take a lot of time, and you’ll need to know about all the latest legal changes to make sure you’re following the rules.

There are benefits to managing a property on your own, but only if you like being a “hands-on” landlord. Taking care of your own property can be a good idea if:

You want to keep costs down.

You have a lot of time to answer questions and deal with problems.

You know a lot of good tradesmen.

You are up to date on the newest laws.

You live close.

You like taking care of the business side of being a landlord.

Otherwise, it’s best to use a letting agent. 

What Are The Benefits If You Use A Letting Agent?

Not everyone can handle a rental on their own. Also, if you rent out more than one property, it can quickly turn into a full-time job.

Here are the top four reasons why you should use a letting agent instead of taking care of everything yourself.

Saves Time

Working with a letting agent will save you a lot of time because they handle tenant questions, rent collection, administrative tasks, and everything else in between.

You Can Be Hands-Off When You Use A Letting Agent

Working with a letting agent lets you be a hands-off landlord if you don’t like marketing your property, taking calls from tenants, and going to the property when problems arise. This is perfect if you live far from the rental property you own.

You Won’t Break The Law

One of the best reasons to use a letting agent is that they can make sure your property is up to code. A letting agent’s job is to keep up with the latest changes in the law so that you don’t have to. If you’re a new landlord or don’t have time to learn the rules, a letting agent can help you stay on the right side of the law.

Maintains Professional Connections

Things go wrong sometimes. Your tenants will need a tradesperson at some point, whether the boiler breaks or the kitchen sink leaks. Letting agents have professional connections with plumbers, electricians, and other tradespeople who may be needed in an emergency, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right person for the job.

Here’s a question: how important is it for landlords to use an agency? What do they get out of it?

If you’ve ever tried to manage your own properties, you know how stressful it can be. Having a good local letting agent take care of things like contracts, credit checks, inventories, and all the legal issues that come with renting is a big help.

In the last few years, the private lettings market has grown a lot. This makes it more important than ever for landlords to not only find the right local letting agent, but also know what services they can provide. And getting along well with your agent is important if you want to get the most for your money.

Why Do I Need A Local Letting Agent?

The goal of a good local letting agent should be to make renting a home as easy as possible so that both landlords and renters don’t have to worry about it.

As a self-managed landlord, it’s very important that you know about all the important laws, like the recently passed Tenant Fee Ban, deposit protection, and the Immigration Act. You should also know about health and safety issues, like making sure your gas certificates and electrical checks are up to date. If you don’t follow a law, you could be fined or even put in jail.

By hiring a letting agent to take care of your property for you, you protect yourself, your property, and your reputation. You can also rest easy knowing that they worked hard to find the right tenant and that the rent is paid on time.

And from the tenants’ point of view, they know that they are protected during their tenancy, that they know what their rights are, and that they have someone to talk to if something goes wrong. So you won’t have to answer the phone late at night when your tenant has a problem.

What Should You Look For In A Letting Agent?

You should know from the beginning what you want from your agent. Most agents offer a number of services for landlords, such as finding tenants and taking care of everything. Be aware that if you don’t pay an agent to fully manage your property, you as the landlord will be in charge of making all the necessary paperwork, like inventories and contracts, and making sure you follow all the laws and rules. If you don’t have time to learn all of the laws and rules about letting a property or don’t want the stress or responsibility of setting up regular checks for things like gas safety, electrical checks, PAT testing for appliances, etc., you might want to look for a service that will take care of all of that for you.

A fully managed service also means that the agent will take care of all the day-to-day issues, like general maintenance, complaints, and rent collection. So, if something goes wrong, your local letting agent will be the person your tenants will talk to and will be able to fix any problems on your behalf.

Once you know what level of service you want, you can start looking into letting agents in your area. If you know other landlords in the area, ask them for recommendations. You can also look for reviews online. Compare what they offer and how much they charge, and make sure they have the right memberships and money-back guarantees.