Whether you are looking to rent your cozy property or the perfect London apartment, or are considering a buy-to-let is an intense rush of administrative and legal obligations. The new landlords are often overwhelmed by the tasks of ensuring you have the correct building and contents insurance, as well as the correct furniture, gas, and electrical security requirements. Also, there’s the challenge of vetting your potential tenants appropriately, as well as the challenges of dealing with rent arrears and regular property maintenance.
While the income from letting a property is certainly appealing and a move into the buy-to-let market can be a great investment – whether you are paying for holidays and school fees in the present, or creating a retirement income in the future , there are a few aspects to take into consideration, such as safety, compliance and of course finding the ideal tenant for the property you own.
This is why we advise hiring an estate agent or a professional property management business, to assist you in your letting requirements. Not only does this take lots of administrative stress off your hands, but it also guarantees that you’re in compliance with the legal requirements for letting that in the event of a breach, you could incur massive fines and make an investment into an expensive mistakes.
Making your property ready for renting
First impressions count much – with people and with property – and you must make sure your home stands out in the crowded rental market. London rental rates are on the rise which means there are plenty homes and London apartments available for rent for sale as possible investment properties. Here are a few easy ways to ensure that your home or apartment attracts prospective tenants.
The importance of first impressions means taking care of the exterior of your house. This is the first contact potential tenants will make with your property and it can affect the overall experience of looking at your property. Check that all exterior elements of your property are up to standard, as this sets the scene for the tenant when they first begin imagine living there.
Simple steps towards this include tidying up the garden by weeding and mowing the lawn, and fixing the fence that is damaged or ugly, or walls, if they need TLC. Plants and flowers go a long way towards making a beautiful and comfortable outdoor space. It doesn’t matter if aren’t a fan of greenery – choosing a few blooming plants from your local nursery will suffice.
Repairing any cracks on driveways and walls also makes maintain the appearance of your home, as does giving an oil-based coating to the frames of windows, walls and doors. One little thing that can add up is to make sure that your street number is neat and clear. All in all, you’ll want your property to look as well-maintained as the neighbours’, if not the best in the neighborhood!
The interior of your home is just as important just as the exterior, due to obvious reasons, and requires just as much attention. Decluttering by removing any unnecessary furniture or objects can enhance the impression of space and a thorough cleaning will make your home appear inviting and remove any unpleasant odors. A lick of paint also aids in bringing out the warmth and energy of rooms. Small repairs can go a long way to highlight some of the building’s features. You can add a few ornamental touches with a picture, or a arrangement of flowers is enough for a room to add character and make it look more appealing.
It might seem like an overwhelming amount of work and money now however, doing these easy steps can have a significant impact on how quickly you are able to let your home – and begin earning money from it.
Once you’ve taken care to ensure that tenants are going to become enthralled with your home at first sight It is important to make sure they’re those you want to live in your house.
Inspecting your tenants
Every tenant should go through an extensive and rigorous vetting process. It could be a lengthy process to carry out in a proper manner, but you want to make sure they will pay their rent promptly and take proper care of the property. This is where hiring an expert agent could help, since they have all the necessary experience, and will handle the whole vetting process on your behalf , with an aim of selecting the most suitable tenant for your home.
These are a few of the checks that an agent will make in the process of finding the perfect tenant.
Stable job: You want to be certain that your tenant has the money to pay the rent , so that you are not impacted by the hassles that come with late payers and rent arrears. To further ensure your security, you want the renter to make enough income to not only cover rent, but also have a comfortable and healthy lifestyle.
Right to rent The agent you choose to work with will make sure that your tenant is legally allowed to rent and live in the UK. To ensure this, they will verify original passports and ID documents and not duplicates.
Credit checks: A lot of agents will conduct credit checks to determine if a potential tenant has experienced trouble with paying bills in the past, or if they have defaulted on financial commitments. Be aware that the potential tenant will have to give consent in writing to allow this process to be carried out.
Contacts with references. Your representative might need to reach out to the previous landlords and employers of potential tenants to ensure their good standing. If the tenant has never ever rented before, the contact details of the tenant’s parents or guardians may be required, too.
Guarantors: A Guarantors is someone who is willing, on the tenant’s behalf, to cover rent or other expenses in the case that the tenant is not able to. This is usually required in cases where the tenant is a first time renteror when their credit score raises red flags over defaults on previous payments. This is a different way to ensure that you trust that your rent will be paid on time.
Other aspects to keep in mind while letting your home is the type of accommodation available and the manner in which you intend to rent it. The layout of the property as well as its place of the property will affect the way you market it. The room count and size of your property determine how many tenants you are going to allow to stay there. In other words, are you going to let a single room to many tenants? Are you targeting families, students or professionals? Are you, or are you, allow pets on your property? If so, could this create concerns about damage to your property or noise complaints?
If you provide your estate agents Burnley with the information they need will allow them to locate the most suitable tenants in the vetting process.
The right property management system to suit your needs
Do you want to enjoy your benefits from renting your home without sleepless nights and stress? Are you looking to profit from the Buy-to-let possibilities in London’s vibrant rental market without being overwhelmed with paperwork, and compliance and security red tape?
When you choose a reputable property management and real estate firm for the management of your property rental, you can enjoy all the benefits with none of the hassle.