BUMBLEBEE

Investors' Dream Market? Aug 26 , 2021

With a shortage of new homes being built and interest rates remaining at historically low levels, there has perhaps never been a better time to invest in a property with a view to letting it. The market opportunity is huge. Mortgages are increasingly hard to obtain for buyers unless their creditworthiness is impeccable, they are able to pass increasingly h

The Accountable Manager Aug 19 , 2021

One of the attractions of property as an investment is that it apparently “looks after itself”. In an ideal world, the tenant pays the rent, the rent covers the mortgage, and you the landlord need not be especially involved apart from banking the difference. If only the reality were so simple. Unlike stocks and shares, property usually requires a h

Don't Look Aug 12 , 2021

How Many Should We See? When looking to rent a property, it is natural to want to see as many properties as possible before making the "right" choice and common sense dictates that you should view a handful of alternatives before deciding which to rent. Our job as professional letting agents is to help tenants make decisions that are genuinely in their b

How Long? Aug 05 , 2021

“How Long Has It Been Available?” One of the first things a tenant will ask a letting agent when offered a property is “How long has it been available?” - and with good reason. Moving house is a huge event and it takes courage to commit to undertake such a decision – often with very little support other than pure instinct. One of the most pe

Reputable Landlord Jul 29 , 2021

There have been numerous reports in the media of tenants handing over money in good faith, hoping to move into their new home, only to be shocked to discover that the landlord is not who he/she claimed to be, the property doesn’t actually exist, or someone else is living there. One example found that a property had been “let” to eight people, each of w

The Inheritance Landlord Jul 22 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Parent” landlord and, in this article, the “Inheritance” landlord. The inheritance landlord is someone who has been fortunate enough

The Parent Landlord Jul 15 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Inheritance” landlord and, in this article, the “Parent” landlord. Many parents fork out huge amounts in rent during their children�

The Pension Landlord Jul 08 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Parent” Landlord and The “Inheritance” landlord and, in this article, the “Pension” landlord. Traditional pension investment schemes have proved unreliable

Accidental Landlord Jul 01 , 2021

The archetypal multi-property “professional” landlord probably only accounts for about half of all landlords. The rest come in all shapes and sizes - The “Accidental” landlord, The “Pension” landlord, The “Parent” landlord and The “Inheritance” landlord. In this article, we consider The “Accidental” landlord: The accidental landlo

Let it Shine Jun 24 , 2021

As a landlord you’ll want to minimise the time your property is empty between tenancies (what we call the void period) so it is essential that your property is looking its best for showing to new tenants both in terms of condition and cleanliness. Although a tenanted property should be redecorated from time to time, tenants are allowed fair wear and tea

Waiting in Hope? Jun 17 , 2021

If your rental property is currently on the market awaiting a tenant, it may be tempting to assume that your agent is in full control of the situation, and that sooner or later a tenant will materialise. But don’t be so sure! Sometimes an agent will take the same view and simply sit in hope, having apparently exhausted their own marketing options. However

Should I Furnish? Jun 10 , 2021

Landlords often ask us whether or not it is worth furnishing a property they intend to let. “Furnishing” usually means everything required to live reasonably comfortably in a property, including white goods, with the exception of bedding and personal possessions. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Tenants come in all shapes and sizes,

Renting Freedom to Buy Jun 03 , 2021

Possibly prompted by a lack of supply, increasing numbers of home movers are renting as an interim measure prior to buying their next property. If you are selling, it can be tempting to stay put until the right house comes onto the market. However, many people who have done this, and who find the right onward property, then find themselves in a position of

Viewing Feedback May 27 , 2021

"What Does Viewing Feedback Really Mean?" Landlords often approach us after an unsatisfactory experience with another agent, particularly in relation to poor levels of feedback following property viewings. Surely, prompt and constructive feedback should be a fundamental part of any letting agent’s service to their clients! Only when agents understand what

Landlord Cost Survey May 20 , 2021

Landlords will be interested in stats revealed by a survey that identifies some of the physical costs of being a landlord, along with their knock-on effects. Conducted by LV Insurance, the survey suggests that landlords spend an average of £3,134 on often unexpected aspects of maintenance such as: Boiler repairs: £370 Structural repairs: £313 Decoration

Seriously Clean May 13 , 2021

There is clean and then there is really clean! Even prior to Covid-19, we always insisted that our landlords’ properties are thoroughly cleaned between tenancies. This is not only to ensure that we maximise the rent paid, but a tenant is more likely to treat an immaculately clean property with more respect and leave it in a good state of repair at the end

Tenant Charges Pt2 May 06 , 2021

Letting agents are no longer allowed to charge a fee to process a tenant’s application to rent. But this does not mean that an agent cannot ask for certain monies, so here’s our brief guide for tenants (Landlords listen up too!). Part 2 – Post-Agreement charges. Early Termination Ending a tenancy prior to its scheduled end date falls into the realms of

Tenant Charges pt1 Apr 29 , 2021

Letting agents are no longer allowed to charge a fee to process a tenant’s application to rent. But this does not mean that an agent cannot ask for certain monies, so here’s Part One of our brief guide for tenants. (Landlords listen up too!) A holding or reservation deposit. Competition for rental property is high and sometimes, in order to prove th

Rent by a Road? Apr 22 , 2021

Location, location, location is the somewhat overused maxim applied by many as a rule of thumb when selecting a property. However, a closer look reveals that a compromise in this principle can produce significant benefits for tenants a area. Clearly, most tenants’ idea of a dream home is one in perfect condition, with a beautiful garden, massive sunny

Dedicated to Lettings Apr 15 , 2021

If you are considering renting your property as an alternative to selling, it would be understandable if you considered using the agent who is handling your sale to find a tenant instead. However, a word of caution here on two counts. Firstly, many estate agents have recently entered the market offering lettings alongside their traditional sales practice, ap

First Impressions Feb 17 , 2021

You only get one chance to make a first impression! When it comes to letting your home, attention to detail could be pivotal in securing the best possible rent –quickly. Most tenants have a good idea of their preferred location, minimum accommodation needs and ideal style of property. Yet it is often presentation that makes the greatest difference.

Habitable Rules: For Landlords Feb 10 , 2021

Legislation exists whereby tenants can potentially sue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain their property. The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 means that tenants can take direct action over substandard property, rather than having to rely on their local authority to pursue a landlord who fails to adequately maintain it. Courts will

A Chilling Mistake Feb 03 , 2021

During these winter months, landlords can easily overlook the importance of ensuring that the temperature of your property does not fall below freezing. Your tenant might be more concerned about their own comfort than the welfare of your investment. But what happens if they decide to fly to some winter the sun for a couple of weeks? Temperatures falling

Finding a Tenant - The Need for Speed Jan 27 , 2021

According to the Nottingham Building Society, about 21% of Buy to Let landlords do not secure a paying tenant within four months of completing their investment purchase. 53% waited for two months and the average void period was one month after completion. This should ring alarm bells for landlords. We suggest these delays should be unacceptable for t

Getting Personal Through Technology Jan 13 , 2021

The opportunities opened up by technology in the lettings field have been enormous, yet many lettings agents simply use their website as a glorified shop window. Like any agency window, the properties displayed need to be regularly updated and presented in a way that inspires tenants to take things further. But a good agency website is more than a sim

What does lockdown number 3 mean for the Property Market? Jan 11 , 2021

On Monday 4th January 2021, PM Boris Johnson announced that England was to enter lockdown (our 3rd lockdown since March 2020). The conditions of lockdown being that we must all limit, or completely avoid, time spent outside the home. This is due to take place until mid-Feb due to the COVID19 variant which has now surpassed the previous peak in Spring las

Viewing Time Jan 06 , 2021

Most landlords will recognise the tremendous importance of ensuring that as many prospective tenants as possible see their property. After all, more viewings means more tenant competition thereby maximising your chances of securing the highest rental the market will pay. However, whilst one always has to be fair, there is a lot to be said for strategic

Beware the sub-let Dec 30 , 2020

An unfair quirk in the law can leave landlords substantially out of pocket, as highlighted by the recent case of Cheryl Roux, the former wife of Michelin star chef Albert Roux. A bogus tenant, introduced by a fake London letting agency, rented Mrs Roux’s £5m Knightsbridge property. That tenant then advertised the property to legitimate tenants on

Let's Share Dec 23 , 2020

Increasing numbers of people, and not just students and couples, are choosing to share the cost of renting, for good reason – house-sharing lowers your rent per person, increases the number of potential properties available to you, spreads running costs, and can increase security. However, it’s worth considering a few pointers before embarking upon a

The First Steps in Letting Dec 16 , 2020

When letting your property, your primary objective is simple – you want to find a reliable tenant who pays the rent regularly and looks after your property as you would yourself. The reality is usually more complex than this. Letting your property comes with legal obligations and social responsibilities, many of which are unknown to anyone who does n

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