Landlords: How to Avoid Deposit Disputes for Good

For many landlords, the end of a tenancy is the moment they dread. Will the deposit be returned smoothly, or will it turn into a drawn-out argument? The good news is that disputes are rarer than most people fear, and almost always avoidable.

If you let a property locally, here is how deposit disputes really work, what causes them, and how to make sure you are never on the wrong end of one.

How common are deposit disputes really?

Less common than the … Continue Reading…

Inventories Explained: A Landlord’s Guide to Deposit Protection

Of all the paperwork a landlord deals with, the inventory is the one most often rushed, and the one most likely to cost you money if it is. It is also, quietly, your single best protection.

If you let a property locally, here is exactly what an inventory is, what a good one contains, and the mistakes that turn a deposit into a dispute you cannot win.

What is an inventory?

An inventory is a detailed written record of the condition and contents … Continue Reading…

Becoming a Landlord: What to Sort Before Anyone Moves In

Letting out a property for the first time can feel like a big step, and it should. You are taking on a home, a tenant, and a set of legal responsibilities that carry real consequences if they are missed.

The good news is that it is entirely manageable once you know what is expected. This is your plain-English checklist of what needs to be in place before a tenant so much as picks up the keys. Get these right and you … Continue Reading…

A Week On: What Britain’s New Prime Minister Means for Landlords

It’s been more than a week since Andy Burnham became Britain’s new Prime Minister and, after the inevitable political excitement, many landlords are beginning to ask a more practical question.

What does this actually mean for me?

The honest answer is that nobody yet knows every detail.

Governments rarely transform the housing market overnight and, despite the headlines, most changes affecting landlords take months or even years to filter through.

However, enough has now been said to identify some clear themes.

The first is that … Continue Reading…

Beat the Rush: Five Jobs Every Landlord Should Book Now

Right now, your rental property is probably behaving itself. Tenants are happy, the sun’s out, nothing’s leaking. Enjoy it while it lasts, because it usually won’t last long.

The moment the weather turns, so does everyone’s diary.

Come October/November, that changes fast.

Heating engineers get booked solid. Roofers stop taking new jobs until spring. Electricians and decorators start turning things down because they’re already up to their eyes in it.

Sort these five jobs now, and you’ll thank yourself later, plus it’ll keep tenants … Continue Reading…

FAO Landlords: Would YOU Rent Your Own Property?

Here’s a question every landlord should ask themselves from time to time.

Would you be happy to rent your own property?

Not as an investor looking at the monthly figures. Not as the owner who already knows every quirk and compromise. But as someone collecting the keys tomorrow and planning to call it home for the next year.

It’s a surprisingly useful exercise because landlords and tenants don’t look at a property in the same way.

As a landlord, you might focus on rental … Continue Reading…

When Can a Landlord Actually Enter a Rented Property?

It is your property. You own it. Surely you can pop round whenever you like?

Not quite. Once a tenant moves in, the rules change. And getting them wrong can land you in serious trouble.

Here is a clear guide to what you can and cannot do.

The right to quiet enjoyment

From the moment your tenant moves in, they have a legal right to quiet enjoyment of the property. That is not about noise levels. It means they have the right to live … Continue Reading…

Why Good Tenants Leave Good Properties

Most landlords spend a lot of time worrying about finding good tenants.

But what about keeping them?

While no tenancy lasts forever, many landlords are surprised when reliable tenants suddenly decide to move on. The property is in good condition, the rent has been paid on time, and there have been no obvious issues.

So why do good tenants leave good properties?

Sometimes the reasons have nothing to do with the landlord at all.

A growing family may need an extra bedroom. A new job … Continue Reading…

FAO: Landlords – Avoiding Rental Property Own Goals

With the World Cup now underway, football fans across the country will be hoping their team can avoid the mistakes that turn promising performances into disappointing results.

The same principle applies to property investment.

Most landlords don’t run into difficulties because they deliberately take risks. More often than not, problems arise because something small is overlooked until it becomes a much bigger issue.

The good news is that many of the most common landlord mistakes are entirely avoidable.

Don’t Get Caught Offside

Keeping up with … Continue Reading…

What’s the Single Biggest Worry Landlords Have?

Ask a group of landlords what worries them most, and one concern is likely to come up time and again: losing rental income.

That is why void periods matter so much.

Most landlords understand that an empty property means lost rent. What many do not realise is how quickly the costs can add up beyond that.

A six-week void on a property renting for £1,200 per month could mean around £1,800 in lost rent alone.

Mortgage payments continue.

Council tax may become your responsibility.

Utility charges … Continue Reading…