LANDLORD NEWS AND ADVICE FROM UK'S LARGEST ONLINE LETTING AGENT
The latest from the world of lettings and written for landlords. Top stories, advice, commentary and analysis...
Keep the discussion lively, if you read an article and have some thoughts, please comment. We’re always looking for new landlord tips and stories so if you have something you’d like to share please let me know, simon@upad.co.uk (editor).
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Archive for the ‘Tips for New Landlords’ Category
Top 5 rules you could be breaking without knowing it
Boilers You must carry out a gas safety check on a property’s boiler once a year using a Gas Safe Registered engineer, and if you’ve just installed a new boiler then the safety check must be completed within 12 months of putting it in – again by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Landlords must keep a record of these checks for two years and give the tenant a copy of it within 28 days of... Read more
Top ten items you can claim on your Tax Return
Few landlords are keen to wade into the bewildering world of tax return allowances but by dipping your toe in, significant sums can be saved if you know what you are entitled to claim. So, if you do your own return, here are some of the items you might not know you can claim (and one you can’t). 1. Wear and tear If you property is rented ‘furnished’ then HMRC allows you to either... Read more
Top tips for working out the best rent for your property
How much is my property worth? For landlords managing their own properties, what’s the best way for them to work out the optimum rent for a flat or house? This is a question that, until recently, was answered only by hours spent scouring local newspapers or scanning high street window displays. But the increasing sophistication and reach of the internet means the lettings market is now more... Read more
What to do if: there’s water leaking in from a neighbouring property
It’s every landlord’s nightmare – water seeping into your buy-to-let flat from an adjacent property making tenants unhappy, wallpaper peel and plaster go soggy and discoloured. The problem is getting the owner of the other property to admit liability for the water leak and, more importantly, doing something to remedy the problem. But how? One strategy is to get your own plumber into... Read more
What to do about rent reduction requests
Once upon a time only agents and landlords with large portfolios knew about rental asking prices in their local area, but the rise of websites such as Rightmove and Zoopla have helped tenants be much more aware of value for money and has helped drive an increase in the number of ‘rent reduction’ requests landlords receive. But what can you do? The answer is to be better informed about the... Read more
Top ten buy-to-let maintenance tips
Every landlord dreads the moment a tenant phones up to report ‘a problem’ as it usually demands money and time being spent. So here is the Upad guide to the most frequently replaced or repaired items within rented properties and some tips on how, when they crop up, to best manage them. 1. Sofas Buy sofas that are made of durable cord material and that are either brown or dark brown.... Read more
How to reduce buy-to-let costs
There are times when a buy to let property can appear to be an endless money pit. This is particularly true before a tenancy begins when refurbishment costs and energy performance certificate expenses are front loaded - before you’ve received any income - and also as on-going bills roll in. But at Upad.co.uk we’re focused on helping self-managing agents take the unnecessary expenses out of... Read more
Guest Post: condensation – why it’s a big issue
Condensation can cause landlords numerous problems over the winter months, and if left unresolved, it can really burn a hole in your pocket. Aside from all the hassle, possible redecorating and initial costs spent on trying to find a solution - not to mention the time it can take - condensation could lead to insurance claims, a visit from environmental health and, potentially, the loss of... Read more
Essential winter reading for landlords! 7 top survival tips for the big freeze…
Britain is set for freezing temperatures as the mild weather ends, with reports from The Met Office predicting snow in some parts of the country! As a landlord you are ultimately responsible for the upkeep of your property and therefore it’s vital to remember to protect your bricks and mortar during the winter months. James, our founder and CEO has utilised his 12 years of hands-on... Read more
Guest post: smoke and heat alarms – are they necessary?
There is a compelling case for landlords to fit interlinked smoke alarms (and heat alarms for situations where they can’t be used), as leading alarm manufacturer Kidde Fyrnetics explains. In Scotland, this is already a legal requirement in all rented housing, with at least one alarm on each floor, and the UK government is considering similar measures. Registered HMOs (Houses in Multiple... Read more
Landlord’s view: the green deal
Home owners, tenants and landlords are encouraged to save money on energy bills and help to save the planet with the new Green Deal initiative. Chere Di Boscio, a landlord in Primrose Hill, explains how and why this works. Having coffee with my tenants in the north London flat they’ve rented from me since 2010, two thoughts persisted in my head: one, they made the smoothest, strongest cafe... Read more
Landlord’s eye: finding tenants
Background I am a London based investor and Landlord with a number of properties in Central, West and South West London. As I have rented out this particular property located in the City, I have tested an array of different channels over the years in a desperate attempt to try and avoid the extortionate letting fees charged by most City based Letting firms by marketing the property myself... Read more
Diagnosing the damp
If you believe your home is suffering from damp or condensation problems (but you’re unsure of whether it’s condensation, rising damp or penetrating damp) it’s incredibly important that the problem in your home is diagnosed correctly in order to ensure a precise treatment. So, which of the three types of damp is your home undergoing? Rising damp is one of the most common problems in the... Read more
Staging the perfect viewing
As with most things in life, it’s best to be prepared when showing a potential tenant around. Here is what you need to know in order to stage the perfect viewing: 1. Be ready for tenants’ questions 2. Consider asking some pre-qualifying questions 3. If you have a lot of interest, think about holding group viewings Other things to think about: Help your current tenants tidy up, if... Read more
The difference between amateur and professional photos
Just how important is professional photography to finding the right tenants fast? Our statistics show the professional photos considerably increase your response rate. To prove this, we advertised the same property under separate adverts and compared them. One had the original photos taken by the landlord; the other has professional photos taken by one of our photographers. Here are the... Read more
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Recent Comments
- David Lawrenson: Very good piece. Other issues to consider: Occupants tend to like getting you involved in...
- liz sterland: Is it legal to stipulate tenants should maintain and repair white goods?
- Anna@letting Agents Kilburn: I work for a letting Agency in London, the amount of times iv’e viewed or showed...
- David Lawrenson: Good piece Freeholds are more valuable to buy and sell (among people who did this sort of thing) if...
- David Lawrenson: James, Good piece but why do Shelter fail to mention the rather important fact that lenders’...
