Blog: Landlords

We’re all familiar with an MOT, an annual check-up to ensure your car is safe and good to go for the year ahead. Well, let’s apply the same concept to a buy-to-let investment.

Even if your current tenancy is ticking...

There are few guarantees in life, but we promise you this: let your property to a bad tenant, and your job as a landlord will get much more complicated.

Expect to be out of pocket (due to missed rent payments and damage...

There’s one rookie mistake that many first-time landlords make when they invest in property – and it can cost them dearly further down the track.

While most newbie landlords mull over the obvious financial stuff –...

As a busy landlord juggling a portfolio of multiple properties, you might be thinking about ways to reduce your workload or secure a regular income. Have you been enticed by promises of guaranteed rent?

Guaranteed rental...

Whatever property you’re marketing it’s well known that a home that feels spacious will always fetch a higher price than a similar property that comes across as cramped and crowded.  A few clever adjustments will do the...

As trusted local letting agents, we work with a lot of landlords. Finding tenants, managing properties, organising inspections – we take care of each step. However, more and more landlords are choosing to work alone, but is...

Do they need to sign a tenancy agreement?

Yes, yes, and yes again! They might be family, but they’re also your tenants and both parties need to know what is expected of them. For example, they might say they want to...

Joint tenancies are a great way for friends or couples to live together and share the rental burden. (Think about best buddies and flatmates Joey and Chandler in Friends, they had a ball, right?)

And joint tenancies...

Who is responsible for what?

Always check your contract, but as a general rule, landlords are responsible for structural features like walls and chimneys, along with windows, drains, stairs, toilets, showers, pipework,...

When it comes to tenant selection, there’s a saying that all landlords should heed: Go with the right tenant, not the first tenant.

Sometimes, landlords are so eager to see rent payments rolling in that they treat the...

From toxic tenants to financial friction – there are many reasons why a landlord might want to end a tenancy.

These reasons can include:

Landlords looking to secure reliable, long-term tenants shouldn’t overlook a growing demographic in the rental sector – the older renter.

Recent statistics* show that the proportion of people aged 45 to 54 who rent is...

Calling all landlords! Have you checked your buy-to-let property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating lately?

Unfortunately, there have been some legal changes that might mean you’ve got some work to do (and...

With the rental market changing enormously over the past decade, savvy landlords need to stay on their toes to make the most of their investment.

General trends

It’s often thought that being a landlord is easy: buy a property, rent it out, and hey presto! You’re all set. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple, and many landlords look to sell up for an easier life.

Whether...

Almost all relationships benefit from good communication.

Below are ten ways landlords and tenants can help to ensure good communication.

What tenants like about good landlords

Are you a landlord with a new rental property? Are you about to decorate? Step away from the colour charts, put down the paintbrush, and read on.

Sometimes, it’s hard to separate your personal taste from your rental....

Our tax system is often criticised for being complicated and unwieldy, but by following two simple rules you can take the stress and hassle out of filing a return.

Rule Number 1: Do your homework

Raise your hand if...

Now’s the time to give your spare room some serious thought about how to make the best use of this extra space in your home.

Especially after the past 18 months...

Before becoming a landlord, you need to consider how you want to buy your rental property. There’s lots of tricky tax stuff to consider and changes to tax relief over the last few years mean that becoming a landlord might not...

What’s the difference between a landlord and a property investor? Aren’t they the same thing? Does one rent out properties and the other sell them on? If these questions have got you scratching your head, read on....

Four New Year’s Resolutions Landlords Will Love

It’s 2022. A new year, new hopes, and a new focus on getting rid of old ways of doing things that are holding us back.

And Landlords are not immune to wanting a...

Councils Under Pressure to Clamp Down on Lax Landlords

Landlords who struggle with all the rules and regulations associated with renting out a property – be warned.

Councils are coming under increasing pressure to...

Landlords – Five Fantastic Ways to Make More Profit

In this two-minute read, we look at five fundamental ways landlords in can make their rental properties more...

In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can gain the winning edge, starting with deposit disputes.

We know the Olympics have just finished but indulge us if you will as we explain how a popular...

This three-minute read explores the reasons why evictions happen and how they are carried out.

Getting to the stage where you...

In this two-minute read, we explain why your letting agent should be part of a client money protection (CMP) scheme.

The lettings sector used to be the Wild West of the property market, with a small group of...

In this three-minute read, we compare the different types of buy-to-let mortgages.

When choosing the right buy-to-let mortgage, landlords face a key decision: go with an interest-only deal or opt for a capital...

In this three-minute read, we look at what can go wrong if you side-step tenant reference checks and wind up with a bad tenant.

New landlords often flirt with the idea of ditching traditional tenant selection...

In this three-minute read, we look at ways landlords can prevent losing money in disputes about cleaning.

It’s not just couples who bicker over who did or didn’t scrub the bathroom; landlords and tenants can...

This three-minute read guides Bromley and South East landlords to declaring their rental income in the best way possible.

If you rent out a property and receive a rental income from that,...

A two-minute read to help you quickly determine the return on a buy-to-let property in Bromley and the South East.

If you’re looking for a property to rent out,...

In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can avoid getting a bad insurance deal.

If you’re a landlord looking to take out insurance or renew a current policy, there are a few things you should...

In this three-minute read, we look at a study that found some landlords were putting themselves and their investment at risk by cutting corners on checks and maintenance.

Landlords are leaving themselves exposed to...

In this two-minute read, we look at how landlords can foster a good rapport with tenants.

Every successful landlord needs a rock-solid tenant retention plan or what we like to call “a happy tenant...

In this three-minute read, we list five things Bromley and South East sellers should look for in an estate agent.

It pains us to say this, but a recent survey found people were more likely to trust a traffic...

A two-minute read.

A landlords’ advice article published recently said property investors need to think more like the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The billionaire businessman is renowned for his...

In this two-minute read, we show you how to keep calm and in control when letting your Bromley and the South East property.

The idea that investing in rental property is easy passive income is a myth....

In this two-minute read, we look at how letting agents handle the fiddly, time-consuming elements of renting out a property.

In part two of our series on property management, we look at how letting agents save...

Deposit Disputes: How Bromley and South East Landlords Can Avoid the Most Common Cause of Conflict

In this three-minute read, we look at how Bromley and South East landlords can protect themselves from getting...

In this three-minute read, we look at a new report that outlines how Bromley and the South East landlords can build a long and prosperous partnership with their tenant.

What’s the secret to a successful...

In this two-minute speed read we look at 10 things you can do as a landlord to make 2021 a year to remember for all the right reasons.

1 – Review your buy to let mortgages. Great deals are continually coming to...

In this three-minute read, we look at the two biggest decisions landlords in Bromley and the South East make when renting out their property.

Life is a daily...

In this three-minute read, we outline the costs and expenses landlords encounter when letting a property.

To succeed as a landlord, you need to have a realistic idea about the costs you'll encounter when letting...

In this three-minute read, we look at the pros and cons of letting a property to a tenant with a pet.

Should tenants be allowed to keep pets in rental properties? It’s a thorny subject that is back in the...

In this three-minute read, we look at the documentation landlords need to meet their legal obligations – and avoid messy disputes.

First-time landlords often make the rookie mistake of underestimating the amount...

Tier 2

In this two-minute speed read; we look at what the new tier system means for landlords and people looking to rent in Bromley and The South East of...

In this three-minute read, we look at how landlords can manage tenants who are noisy, aggressive, or destructive.

Let us start with the good news: most tenants pay...

In this three-minute read, we look at the ten most important things a landlord needs to succeed.

If you’re contemplating becoming a landlord, here’s a helpful checklist explaining what it takes to let a...

In this three-minute read, we look at why landlords MUST take gas safety very seriously.

This Monday (14th) sees the tenth annual Gas Safety Week.

In this three-minute read, we explain how landlords can navigate their way through choppy economic waters and achieve good returns on their investment.

When officials announced on 12th August that the UK had entered...

The eviction ban extension means more than ever, why landlords need a property partner who has their back.

Whether you’re a veteran landlord with years of...

Landlords in South-East London and Bromley experience a release of pent up demand in lettings

Last week letting agents in England were given the go-ahead to return to...

In this two-minute read, we look at ways you can keep your home and family safe as the weather turns colder.

Households across the country are having the same argument.
And no, it’s nothing to do with Brexit...

In the next five years, price of renting property in the UK is expected to rise by 25 percent, while property values are set to only increase by 20 percent. The number of prospective tenants is expected to rise with less...

Perhaps you’ve considered buying properties for rental purposes, but held yourself back due to some very common misconceptions about being a landlord. One assumption, requiring debunking, is that by and large tenants are...

The rental market in 2016 in the UK continues to rise with an imbalance in rental prices and the amount of properties available. This has been an ongoing problem for some time now according to ARLA Propertymark organization....

New regulations going into effect April first of this year will restrict the Universal credit 18-21 year olds receive for housing costs. The move is aimed at alleviating the cost to taxpayers by keeping young people who can...

House-price linked mortgages can help more buyers, especially young people, onto the property ladder according to the below article. Banks have made mortgages available to keep financial institutions solvent. David Miles, a...

Are you looking for a fabulous new spa to go to in Orpington? If so then you are in luck - the Bannatyne Group has remodeled the former LA Fitness into a brand new spa. It is the first of a series of new spas that they will be...

Are you a landlord in Bromley, Beckenham, Dulwich and surrounding areas? Do you sublet? Surely you have considered the affect of reporting income from your property. If you are even considering investing in management property...

How is your "buy-to-let" investment in Bromley doing? Whether you have only one or rent several, you have an obligation of up-keep. There are two good reasons: if you decide to sell you want the best value, and if you want good...

Property investment can be a good source of income but it can be costly if not done right. You have to consider certain factors before buying the property in order to make it work. There are five important considerations you...