Lettings

Owning a buy-to-let can be a challenge, especially in the current market. If you're looking for a letting agent to help you let or manage your property successfully, here's how to find the very best one.   Firstly, do they work in your area? Are they the local experts?   It may seem obvious, but there's no point in using a letting agent who doesn't specialise in the area where your...

Over a third of home insurance flood claims occur between June and August, according to insurer Aviva.* Here’s how landlords can prepare for the risk of flooding.   Many people associate flooding with the colder seasons, but changing weather patterns mean it’s time to think again.   Jason Storah, CEO of UK and Ireland General Insurance at Aviva, explains: “Traditionally, we think of...

Tech experts have warned that fraudsters are using Artificial Intelligence to create fake documents. Here’s what landlords need to know. The news is currently awash with stories about the marvels of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Unfortunately, however, there is a downside to this technological tsunami – one that will concern landlords. Some of the earliest adopters of AI are fraudsters who are...

With a bit of planning, moving out of your rental can be smooth-running and stress-free. Here’s how. The date is set; it’s all agreed. You’ve spoken to your landlord or letting agent and know exactly when you’ll be vacating your current rental and moving to new digs. So what happens next? Well, if you like to fly by the seat of your pants, probably not a lot. You’ll put your feet...

The Bank of England will announce its latest decision on interest rates later this week. But have you ever wondered who decides what your mortgage interest rate will be? Here we'll explain how it all works.   The Bank Rate vs the mortgage rate   The first important thing to know is the difference between the Bank Rate (also known as the base rate) and your mortgage rate. They're two different...

Take advantage of the summer weather and get ahead with maintenance on your rental property. Summer isn’t just the perfect time for lazy picnics in the park and trips to the seaside. The long, sunny days also make it an ideal opportunity for landlords to undertake important maintenance and safety checks. So don’t wait until winter to discover that there’s an issue with your roof, boiler or...

What do tenants really want in a rental? The answer is surprisingly personal. When tenants feel happy in a rental, they’re more likely to stay put and look after the property. For landlords, this can mean a long-running, trouble-free tenancy (and who doesn’t want that?). So what elevates a rental from being a roof over one’s head to a home? A recent survey* of 2,000 tenants gives us an...

Rentvesting is an arrangement where you rent a home to live in yourself, but buy a property elsewhere and rent it out.   Rentvesting has received a lot of attention in Australia, New Zealand and the USA in recent years. Here we’ll look at whether it might work for you.   The pros of rentvesting   Rentvesting might appeal to people who live and work in one area but don’t want to...

Shared houses or HMOs are often thought of as being a very lucrative type of property investment. Here's what you must know before investing in an HMO or converting your existing property into one. What is an HMO? An HMO (house in multiple occupation) is a property where the rooms are let individually to different people. Tenants have their own bedroom and may share communal amenities like...

Landlords who make any of these common mistakes could find their insurer refuses to pay out on claims. Picture this: you’ve been loyally paying your landlord insurance premiums for years without ever making a claim. Then there’s an unfortunate and unforeseen incident at your buy-to-let. Once you’ve dealt with the immediate crisis, you lodge a claim with your insurer (which is quite a faff...