Legend tells of one estate agent who described a driveway as a ‘multi-vehicular block paviour parking facility’. That is not the sort of description you want in your advert. Edit out the syrup (see jargon buster below), but make sure you include everything a tenant really wants to know: Where? State not only the area (and don’t call it central … Read More
Lettings marketing guide: Why you should use floorplans to market your rental property
Historically floorplans have been used to market property sales and higher-end rentals but they are becoming more common – for good reason: they’re an invaluable marketing tool for all lets. Floorplans only need to be done once, but can help a would-be tenant work out whether the property is right for them or not, saving both your time and theirs. … Read More
Lettings marketing guide: Where to advertise your rental property – and how to stand out with great photos
How did we ever manage to find homes before the internet? These days more than 90% of property searches start online, and two-thirds of them are via mobile devices, says Zoopla. Local lettings agents, once the first port of call, are no longer the gatekeepers linking tenants and landlords. Nowadays tenants can even do virtual viewings. Britain’s main property portals … Read More
What you should (and shouldn’t) provide when letting your property furnished (or unfurnished)
Even unfurnished lets are not completely empty. You still need to provide: Appliances. Just about 99% of tenants will expect a decent washing machine, fridge-freezer and cooker Light fittings for wall and ceiling lights Curtains or blinds. Tenants will need these from day one, but finding the right size is a hassle, so do supply them. Go with neutral or … Read More
Should I Rent Out My Home On Airbnb?
It’s holiday season and you may well have stayed in an Airbnb rental this summer. But have you thought (and perhaps hesitated) about letting out your home on Airbnb while you’re away? For the past three years, my wife and I have rented out our London home on Airbnb to fund our holidays. Although we’ve had the odd broken glass, … Read More
Should you let your rental property furnished or unfurnished
Rule number one of lettings: properties attract the tenants they deserve. Put the odds in your favour by doing all you can to make your property look its best. In most countries rental properties are provided without any furniture – and if you do want it furnished, you’ll pay a premium. In fact, in Germany tenants have to bring their … Read More
How to protect yourself when evicting a tenant from your rental property
It started with a phone call from the inventory clerk: “I tried to use the keys, but the tenant is still in there and won’t give me access to the property.” Thus began my own experience of a six-month eviction nightmare, which included court appearances and a visit by the (lady) bailiff. Evicting a tenant is a last resort for … Read More
Good, bad or ugly: 20 questions to choose the best lettings agent
Lettings agents don’t have the best of names. (You have two bullets. Who do you shoot: the lawyer, the insurance salesman or the estate agent? The estate agent – twice, just to make sure.) Yet there are some excellent high-street agencies that could prove invaluable. Their biggest benefit is that – for a fee – they take care of all … Read More
What you need to know about the new energy efficiency laws for your rental property
This winter’s “beasts from the east” that covered London in up to 10cm of snow are over, but from this month new rules ban landlords from allowing tenants to shiver in the draughtiest homes. Here’s what you need to know about the new minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES). What are the new rules? Every property let to private tenants in … Read More
How to choose an online lettings agent
If you self-manage your rental property, you can use the new generation of online lettings agents to advertise your property. They can, however, take care of a whole lot more: some offer full management at a mere 3% of your rent. Tempted? Though there are brands with excellent reviews (Upad.co.uk and OpenRent.co.uk and well-funded players (easyProperty.com and Purplebricks.com), there are also … Read More