Author: Coast to Country Lettings

In our previous post, we started our list of 6 top tips for landlords looking to renovate their property. Here’s part two of our extravaganza, and the final tricks you’ll need to master the renovation process: 4. Make sure the walls and floor sparkle:  When tenants first come to view the property, they first thing to turn them off is always the paintwork and the floor work. If you’ve kept these in fresh, good condition then it automatically gives the potential buyers and good impression of your upkeep of the property. Bright and neutral colours welcome all whilst wood laminate…

As the excitement of closing escrow on your first purchase builds, you’re probably looking for the best ways to renovate your property without spending more than the place cost in the first place. Here is six of the best tips and tricks to help you get the best from your new property. 1. Budget A word we’re all too familiar with it. With property renovation, you don’t just have to budget for costs but time and your own, personal energy as well. Those offering low-price and a quick-turnaround rarely keep true to their word. If you have a 30 day…

Here is part two to our previous post on how to improve your skills as a landlord! Continued: Make friends with your handyman For those repairs that are more than a DIY job, it’s always good to have reliable people on call to help you. Part of being a landlord is finding the right balance between things you can and should do yourself, and things that are more beneficial to everyone if you hire out to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Organisation is key Keep up to date with your accounts and numbers, have a clean office and…

I quickly found that in becoming a landlord, I immediately boarded the roller-coaster of different experiences. I’ve had amazing tenants and I’ve had dreadful ones. Before I started, I was bombarded by people trying to advise me against it. They threw generalizations at me about tenants not paying rent, trashing my house and calling me at 2am because they’ve clogged the toilet. In my short years as a landlord I have made a lot of mistakes and had some horrendous people rent from me. However, I’ve also had some brilliant ones and I assure you, I’ve not once unclogged a…

Renting for the first time can be exciting but it also comes with a lot of challenges, especially when dealing with leasing agreements and important details. Here is a handy guide to help your first renting experience run as smoothly as possible: 1. READING THE LEASE This is the most important document you’ll receive and it’s important that you read it cover to cover. Although long, complicated and full of legal jargon, it’s important that you’re aware of exactly what you’re signing into in order to avoid problems later down the line. You should highlight anything you find disconcerting to…

Beginning on the 23rd June, a new Deregulation Act will be applied to landlords with existing tenancies that began before the Tenancy Deposit Protection came into effect in England and Wales on the 7th April, 2007. The new change in legislation means that an estimated 330,000 tenancy deposits may be affected, requiring landlords to move their deposits into a UK-approved protection scheme and supply their tenants with new information regarding the scheme as required by law. Landlords who fail to do so may be fined. Eddie Hooker, the chief executive of deposit protection scheme company My Deposit, said, “It’s important…

Approximately 10% of landlords in England and Wales currently let homes that they will be banned from letting without upgrades starting 1st April, 2018. As part of the government’s scheme to reduce the environmental footprint of the nation, all landlords are required to obtain an Energy Performance Certificate or EPC for homes that they let.

In 2011 the government enacted new energy efficiency standards for properties being rented out by landlords in England and Wales. This legislation makes it illegal for landlords to rent out properties without a suitable level of energy efficiency, rules that come into full effect on April 1, 2018.

Cavity Wall Insulation is a centrepiece of the government’s energy efficiency scheme, funded in large part by the nation’s energy companies. It involves insulating the wall cavities of millions of UK homes with blow-in insulation with the goal of improving the properties’ overall energy efficiency, and reducing the homeowners’ energy bills. According to the door-to-door sales people and the marketing from the industry, cavity wall insulation is backed by a government guarantee. Based on these facts what homeowner would want to say no to such a proposition? A free or nearly free energy upgrade to their home that will save…

Starting 6th April, the Landlords Energy Saving Allowance, a tax incentive designed to help landlords’ transition to the new rules implemented under The Energy Act of 2011, will expire. This means landlords will have to hurry to make improvements in order to claim the tax break on their self-assessed income tax. Over the next three years the act specifies new environmental standards landlords must meet in order to let out their properties. This will mean many are required to make improvements in the form of new boilers, added insulation, or new energy efficient windows in order to improve the overall…