Deposit Deductions: What Landlords Should Know

The end of a tenancy agreement can be stressful for landlords. You need to make sure the property isn’t vacant for long and there may be a need for repairs and maintenance. Then there’s the deposit release process and decisions about whether you need to make any deductions.

Landlords have a bad rap when it comes to deposits. Many tenants think they have made unfair deductions or that their landlord is wrong to keep anything back.

Thankfully, services such as the Tenancy … Continue Reading…

Interior Design Trends of 2023

If you’re thinking of freshening up the interior of your home this year, here’s a list of what’s trending on the design front.

Are you planning a mega makeover in 2023? Or perhaps you just want to make some modest changes to breathe new life into your home? Whether your project is big or small, here are some design ideas to inspire you.

Warm colours
Many people are ditching the all-white minimalist look (it’s tricky to maintain, especially if you have a young … Continue Reading…

How Landlords Can Avoid Falling Prey to Scammers

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to make a fast buck, often leaving landlords out of pocket or caught up in messy legal disputes.

Read on to learn about the most common scams targeting landlords and how to protect your rental property.

Falsifying documents
The wonders of technology mean it’s much easier these days to make convincing fake ID, and doctor payslips, bank statements and references. As a result, landlords could be duped into taking on a tenant who isn’t who they claim … Continue Reading…

How to Turbo Charge Your Productivity

If you’re feeling sluggish after a few weeks back at work post-Christmas, here are some tips to boost your productivity and give you more of that most precious commodity – time.

Did you finish up in 2022 feeling knackered and overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? If so, you’re not alone.

According to a study in the journal Nature, most people say they feel persistently “time-poor – like they have too many things to do and not enough time to do them”.

And … Continue Reading…

Selling Your Property? The Questions to Ask Before Accepting an Offer

Accept an offer from a fast-talker or a faffer, and your hopes for a speedy property deal could be scuppered. Here’s how to choose the right buyer.

When it comes to property transactions, we often focus on the long list of questions buyers want answers to.

What’s the local area like? Where are the nearest good schools? And what about the boiler, electrics, water pressure, broadband and energy ratings?

A good agent will be able to deftly answer all these queries without pausing … Continue Reading…

Why Overvaluing Your Property Could Spell Disaster

So, your home is on the market, you’ve decluttered, the sink is sparkling, and you’re patiently waiting for potential buyers to come and view your property. A few people arrange appointments, but no one seems interested; it’s been weeks. Have you been hit by the curse of an overvaluation?

Overpriced properties can sit on the market for months. Viewings become as rare as sighting the Loch Ness Monster; the agent’s gone quiet and your hopes of moving are slowly slipping away.

In … Continue Reading…

Why a Good Tradesperson is a Landlord’s Secret Weapon

If you’re a seasoned landlord, chances are you’ve experienced at least one out-of-hours call from a panicked tenant about a leaky toilet or boiler breakdown. Why is it these things never seem to happen at a reasonable hour?

Repairs and maintenance of your rental portfolio can be costly and stressful, so having trustworthy contractors is invaluable. You need someone who you know will get the job done and (hopefully) won’t charge you exorbitant fees to do so.

For newer landlords, finding a … Continue Reading…

What Affects the Value of Your Property?

If you’re planning to sell your property, the first question that you’ll inevitably ask is how much it’s worth. Your home may be invaluable to you and your loved ones, but it’s also got a market value.

But how is a property valued? Is there a magic formula? How does an agent decide its worth? And why might your property be valued less than the house two doors down?

In this quick read, we look at different factors that affect the value … Continue Reading…