Ex-Council Property – A Sound Investment?

With limited financial resources, an ex-council property can seem like the
perfect solution. However, is buying an ex-council house a worthwhile investment
for budding property investors, or is it simply a money pit that is more hassle
than its worth?

House prices are on the up and, despite many doom and gloom merchants fearing
the worst, it seems that the market is going to continue to rise over the long-term.
With this in mind, it can be difficult to raise the necessary money to finance
your property investment plans. Some of the cheaper properties are ex-council
houses and it would seem that these, in many instances, offer good value property
with decent rental and capital returns. So what’s the catch?

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Popularity: 6% [?]

Affects of new licenses for landlords

Nine months after the new licences for landlords were introduced it is now
time for the buy to let landlord to count the cost and evaluate just how the
market has changed.

The new licences only affected landlords who owned houses in multiple occupation,
commonly known as HMOs. In reality, this meant that student landlords were
the most likely to have seen market changes and increased costs.

A report by Heritable Bank has revealed that there is a dramatic disparity
in costs of complying with the new regulations, with some postcodes costing
as much as £1,040 more than other areas. It is only a matter of time
before these differences begin to have an effect on the buy to let market in
the regions that charge the most to obtain the necessary licence, in order
to own an HMO.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Letting agents are often seen as the difference between success and failure for the buy to let investor. Given their importance, it is vital that you select the correct letting agent for your needs. Here are some ideas on how to make the right decision - first time!

Reputation

Letting agents do not always have the best of reputations and are often tarred with the same brush as rogue estate agents. This shouldn’t put you off; there are plenty of agents out there who will ensure that you get the most out of your experience as a landlord. Selecting the most appropriate agent for your needs and having a realistic idea of what you should expect from the agent are both factors that you should consider carefully. Read the full story

Popularity: 4% [?]

Landlords Ongoing Responsibility

Once you’ve made your buy-to-let investment and found your tenant, you may think that all you have to do is sit back and watch the cash roll in. No savvy landlord should forget their ongoing responsibility, if you are not to have a hefty fine that eats up your profits.

Buy to let investment is based on purchasing a property that you believe will see considerable capital growth, plus renting it out in the meantime to cover your costs or, if you are really lucky, to make a monthly profit along the way. Many landlords, however, run the risk of falling foul of the many laws and regulations that they have to follow, if they are not going to end up with a large fine which could all but wipe out any profits. Read the full story

Popularity: 8% [?]

Letting Options – Which is better, short-term or long-term?

Having made the big leap and bought your buy to let property, one of the first questions you will have to consider is whether you are going to let it on a short-term or long-term basis. So what exactly are the pros and cons of these options?

The decision about whether to let on a long-term or short-term basis is entirely a strategy decision and not necessarily one that you have to make once and for all, as the purpose and letting strategy can, of course, change over time. Read the full story

Popularity: 5% [?]

Landlord Tips to Maximise Rental Returns

Entering the buy to let market means that, as a landlord, you are hoping to make a good regular rental return to fund any necessary financing. In many cases, landlords could make a lot more money without a great deal of initial cost. Don’t miss out on that extra rental yield!

There are some properties that will always be coveted by potential tenants, including well presented flats in city centres, at an affordable price. Bear in mind, however, that a landlord can do many small things which will have a substantial impact on the rent that they can command and on how quickly their property becomes tenanted. Read the full story

Popularity: 5% [?]