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: 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
Rents rise 2.2% as market recovers
After months of falling rents, the lettings market has turned a corner — driven by a recovery in London
Q&A: What landlord insurance do I need?
Q I am about to start letting the three-bedroom house that has been my family home. What kind of insurance do I need? Steve White, Manchester A Your standard home insurance is likely to be invalid if you let your property, so check your policy. As a minimum, take out landlord buildings insurance (from about £250 a year), which covers … Read More
Where to invest in the new rental hotspots
Investors in search of better buy-to-let returns are looking away from London, to cities where prices are low and build-to-rent schemes are booming
How to negotiate property lettings like a pro
To achieve the highest possible rent, good negotiation is key. Here knowledge truly is power: the best lettings negotiators give nothing away while trying to establish as many key facts from the tenant as possible. Don’t reveal any of your main drivers. Where an agent is letting your property, don’t disclose any personal facts to them – they may not … Read More
Sunday Times coverage: How to let your spare room
Looking for tax-free rental income? Follow these rules and it’s elementary Forget Rigsby. The typical owner who lets out their spare room is no longer a miserly live-in landlord like the one from the 1970s sitcom Rising Damp — fiftysomething and long since separated, spying on his bedsit tenants. Nowadays, they’re likely to be younger and struggling to afford the … Read More
How to screen tenants before viewings
If you plan to do your own viewings, it helps to ask the prospective tenant a few screening questions over the phone before they view. This will not only give you a better feel for the tenant, but it will also save your time and theirs: you can avoid wasted viewings by highlighting any deal breakers early on. Some good … Read More
The rental manifesto
The Green Party’s Sian Berry is a long-term renter who wants a union to protect tenants from bad landlords