Blog: Landlord

A brilliant letting agent or property manager can have a profoundly positive impact on your life as a landlord, from enjoyment to profit to spare time, but how do you find the perfect one? Maybe you'd check the neighbourhood for...

Is there anything trickier than a rent review with a tenant you want to keep? It's little wonder so many landlords leave things as they are, no matter how far behind the market their income falls. Eventually, though, an...

Just like a friend you haven’t seen for a long time, your rental property will look older when you get it back at the end of a tenancy, and the difference can be jarring if you haven't visited for a while. Regardless of whether...

There's no denying that landlords faced a pretty challenging 2023. In particular, many of those who were highly leveraged decided to simply sell up, but did they act too soon? Their departure has left a large hole of opportunity...

The weather has turned, and winter is on the way, bringing with it a chilling collection of potential problems at your rental property. In many ways, rental homes are more at risk when they’re occupied in winter because the...

If you’re looking for ways to boost your buy-to-let profits, converting your rental home to a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO for short) could be the answer. HMOs have exploded in popularity as an option for landlords to...

Making mistakes is a part of life: many can be laughed off, but others are more serious. And for landlords, there can be legal and financial consequences for getting things wrong. When we're asked to take over a rental home by...

House shares are a great way of maximising your rental income, and they cover every kind of tenant, from university students to high-earning professionals. Inevitably, a housemate will leave at some point as their life evolves....

If you’re a landlord with a fixed-rate mortgage nearing the end of its initial term, you’ll only be too aware of the coming increase in your monthly repayments. Back in October 2021 and 2018, two and five-year buy-to-let fixed...

For some landlords, the very mention of guarantors can ring alarm bells. But they're written into more tenancy agreements than you might think, and needing one isn’t necessarily a sign of problems ahead. Even well-paid...

An empty rental property doesn’t have to be a downer. In fact, having some time between tenancies gives you the chance to optimise your investment's rental yield, sales value, and future popularity. That said, vacant homes do...

Although long-term lettings to professional tenants are easily the most hands-off way of being a landlord, they're not your only option. So having previously covered renting to families, attracting high-income earners, and even...

Giving someone the keys to your rental property is a big deal, and you want to be as sure as you can be that whoever you choose turns out to be reliable, trustworthy, and trouble-free. For complete peace of mind, a thorough...

Is your buy-to-let as profitable as it could be? Many aren’t. There’s often more mileage in a rental home than many landlords realise, and some of the checks you can make to determine whether your property is a peak performer...

To furnish or not to furnish? That hasn’t been the question for as long as we can remember - it’s been unfurnished all the way. Nonetheless, the subject comes up in conversation every now and then, and a recent Zoopla article...

Imagine if your child was already financially independent by the age of 25. How proud would that make you feel? With the UK’s massive housing shortage, rents are being pushed higher and higher. This means more private landlords...

There have been lots of changes to the way landlords are taxed over the last few years, creating plenty of confusion and leaving some questioning whether buy-to-let is a worthwhile investment. The answer is very much a personal...

“Is buy-to-let still worth it?” Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask us that question. For a lot of people, the answer is no. Changing lettings law and tax rules have caused many landlords to drop out and sell up,...

Having a letting agent who fills you with confidence is an essential part of being a landlord, whether you're an old hand or just starting out. But how do you choose who to work with when you've got no idea what an agent is really...

Arrears - a dreaded word among landlords and, for anyone with even a mildly British temperament, an often uncomfortable situation to discuss and resolve. We’re fortunate enough to have very few tenants behind with their rent,...

Buy-to-let is undergoing a massive transformation right now. Poor-quality homes are getting squeezed out by tightening legislation, and short-term profiteering has fallen away through changing tax laws. As a result, many landlords...

Although rents are going through the roof, yields are getting higher, and there’s massive demand from tenants, many landlords are selling their rental homes. For some, it’s part of their long-term plan, but for others, it’s...

It sounds like a landlord’s dream come true: a shortage of rental homes, multiple tenants competing for each one, and rents going through the roof. It’s the same story for almost every property to rent in Basildon, Benfleet,...

Demand for rental homes rose by around 25% in 2022, and competition among tenants is hotter than ever as potential buyers wait and see what house prices will do. As rents continue to rise from a shortage of property, more and more...

How many tax allowances do you think you can claim from owning a rental property? The truth might pleasantly surprise you. Being a landlord is a business, but from our experience, not every landlord knows what they’re entitled...

Your tenants have moved in, you’ve protected their deposit, and the first month’s rent is in the bank. So what comes next? Following on from Part One of our Landlord Lingo Buster, Part Two is all about effective management to...

o you know your ARLA from your elbow? Or how about a GSR from the TDS? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Just like every industry, the lettings world has its own particular lingo to master, with plenty of phrases, abbreviations...

There are many different models of buy-to-let, but a proven winning formula is buying a property in need of renovation, upgrading the specification, then releasing the increased equity to fund another buy-to-let project. Homes in...

“Being a landlord might still pay better than a pension” - that was the arresting headline in The Telegraph that caught our attention recently. Pensions have certainly been squeezed, with workplace pension pots shrinking and...

Everyone's talking about inflation right now, and usually in negative terms. The current climate of rising prices is affecting us all, from filling up the car to doing the weekly shop. There’s also plenty of news about tenants...

There are many different models of buy-to-let, but a proven winning formula is buying a property in need of renovation, upgrading the specification, then releasing the increased equity to fund another buy-to-let project. Homes in...

Can you believe the average UK employee now spends just 1.5 days a week at the office? Unimaginable just a couple of years ago, it's now abundantly clear that the way we work has changed forever. The new era of flexible working...

With the annual tax return deadline a couple of months off, what better time to explore preparing in advance to avoid all that late-night uploading on January 31st? Using the tips in our handy guide, you can make a start right...

There's a book by Simon Sinek called Find Your Why, and it's all about identifying your reason for having a business: why do you do what you do? The same question can be applied to your rental property: why would a tenant choose...

If you’re considering becoming a landlord, there are many elements to consider and understand before you purchase a property. The process of buying a buy-to-let property differs compared to buying a residential property that you...

As a landlord, you might own your property outright or you may have a buy to let mortgage. If you do currently have borrowing, that could be because you didn’t have enough capital available to buy without a mortgage, or perhaps...

Whether you want to invest in property or save for retirement, there are plenty of pros and cons for each. If you’re unsure what’s best for you, this guide should help to give you a few handy tips to fit your circumstances....

I caught up with David via Zoom to chat about the property we now manage for him, and the refurbishment that took place in order to get David a fantastic long-term tenant. David is now a non-resident landlord, so it's a priority...

We spend a lot of time as landlords thinking about how well our investment is performing, and how to get the best tenants to occupy our property. But do we spend enough time once we have a good tenant, thinking about how to keep...

If you’re currently deciding whether to let your rental property unfurnished or furnished, you might be weighing up the pros and cons of each. But have you thought of everything? Here’s our handy round up of some of the main...

Whenever landlords have a rental property to prepare for the market, one decision they have to make is whether to let it furnished or unfurnished. If you’re in that position right now, two questions you might be asking are:...

Rental income is an important part of being a successful landlord. Whether you need it to cover mortgage payments and expenses, or you’re taking rental profits as valuable extra income, you might want to check whether you’re...

For many landlords, rental income provides a valuable boost to their other earnings or pension. For some, it may even be their only income, while others might mainly use it to cover the cost of the mortgage and other expenses, as...

Many homeowners and tenants do not have the time, money, or desire for the upkeep required to maintain a vibrant natural lawn. Without real grass, it can be a struggle to know how to fill your garden, especially for those looking...

Letting a property to multiple occupants is an attractive option for many landlords, as it can generate a much higher return and far more monthly rental profit than a single let. However, it’s not for everyone, as the rules and...

If you’ve ended up with a ‘spare’ property – perhaps because you’ve inherited one or moved in with your partner – you might be wondering whether to sell it or hang on to it and become a landlord. There are pros and...

You’ll probably know this already if you are a landlord, but if you don’t yet, you should get to know it – because rental yield is important! But, what is rental yield and what do you, as a landlord in Benfleet need to know...

Some people are landlords because they’ve made a deliberate decision to buy property and rent it out. They’re part of the buy-to-let crowd, who’ve chosen to use property as an investment vehicle to grow their wealth....

Refurbishing a rental property can be a big project. And when you’ve already had to invest a fair amount to buy it, the big question is: how much more do you need to spend doing it up? Is it worth putting in a high-end kitchen...

Most tenants today aren’t looking for temporary digs, they’re looking for a home. And as the lettings market has grown, standards have gone up. So what does your property need to offer to make sure the best tenants are falling...

Whether you’ve got lots of capital and are a cash buyer or you need to borrow money to finance your rental property purchase, there’s a lot to think about. The right financing can make the difference between a good rental...

When it comes to property, the best thing can be to own it outright – either buying with 100% cash, if that’s possible, or taking out a mortgage and paying it off as soon as you can. And when it’s your own home, that’s...

Buying a property and letting it out can be very rewarding. Not only do you receive a rental income, but the property itself should also increase in value over time. The property you are renting out is an investment, but you must...

When you are a landlord, you should remember that people actually live in your property! It’s more than just bricks and mortar and an investment. It’s ultimately someone’s home. There lies within property ownership a...

Congratulations on your rental property in Basildon, whether this is an exciting journey into Buy to Let, or as a result of a home move or inheritance. This is an exciting time for you, and now is the right moment to consider two...

When you’re renting out your property in Basildon, you want to get things right. After all, it’s your property, and you want to ensure it is going to be looked after and that the rent is going to be paid. It’s a business,...

You might be wondering ‘why buy a rental property in Wickford’? After all, we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, and a trip to the shops is stressful enough! However, all the findings suggest that now is a great time to...

Being a landlord in this area can be highly lucrative, especially with the current demand for high-quality rental properties in Wickford. However, the key to success in the rental market lies in preparing effectively and securing...

So, you have a property to sell, and it would be ideal for a first-time buyer? Did you know that many first time buyers are struggling to get mortgage deals right now as lenders become more risk-averse and house prices boom? This,...

As of today, a new area of Essex has replaced Basildon as the Covid capital of England. Yesterday (Saturday, December 19), Basildon, Essex, was announced as the worst-affected area in the week leading to December 14. But today the...

Here at Baillie White Lettings & Management, we can guide you to the right places to identify property values and yields in Wickford, and other useful property related information so you can make sure you get all the information...

This week, we decided to get our usual decorator in to give our spare room / home office ("the study" as we rather grandly refer to it) a makeover. It is in need of new skirting boards, something we have not yet done since we...

As the dark evenings draw in, so does the realisation that none of us can escape the colder months to come. Whilst the big freeze can be hard on homes, there are some steps you can take to protect and care for your property this...

In the UK, it's estimated that 12 million, or 44% of all UK households have pets, with around 51 million total pets owned. About one in five UK households – 4.5 million families – live in private rented accommodation, with a...

Whilst many have not been surprised by Boris Johnson's announcement tonight of a second National lockdown, the news has been met with some anxiety by landlords. For those with tenants in extreme arrears (generally 9 - 12 months of...

Why do some landlords work with lettings agencies while others prefer to go it alone? A survey carried out this month by insurance provider Hamilton Fraser may help us to understand. It found that 48.3% of more than 2,200...

David Amess, MP for Southend West, has tweeted his support for a Bill which aims to end “cruel” discrimination against pet owners by much of the private rental sector. Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has introduced the Dogs and...

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, was introduced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak in March to help employers deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Official estimates suggest...

The Home Office is proposing a new online service to make it easier to check that prospective tenants fulfil the much maligned 'Right To Rent' requirements. Right To Rent was introduced in 2015 after a six month trial in the...

The number of new prospective tenants is at its highest level ever according to the August 2020 Private Rented Sector report just released by ARLA Propertymark. The average letting agency branch registered 101 new tenants last...

The government has set out confirmation of the new regulations and protocols that landlords will have to follow if they wish to restart or request a possession hearing and evict a tenant. “This guidance is to help private...

New research suggests that tenants are joining home buyers in a trend towards leaving big cities and heading for more spacious homes in smaller towns and the suburbs. Between May and August 2020, 34% of tenants that moved home...

With so much in the media at the moment relating to the housing market and private rented sector prices, it can be hard to decipher what is really happening in the rental market in Benfleet and the rest of Essex. I have spent some...

1. Keep track of Paint colours ....and use the same paints in all your properties if you have more than one. Keeping track of the brand of paint, the colour name / number for every room in your rental property can save you a lot

The 5 Questions You Should Ask Your Letting Agent Choosing a letting agent is an important decision for any landlord. You're a paying customer and you want to ensure you get a good service and value for money, but how do you know...

It didn't come as a shock to many within the industry when Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick extended the ban on evictions for another 4 weeks just 2 days before courts were due to resume eviction hearings on the 23rd August. This...

I read an interesting article in Scientific journal Cosmos recently. Apparently, research suggests that paying people to help out with odd jobs that you don't enjoy doing could lead to a happier life. A research team from Canada,...

There are a number of reasons people become residential landlords. Often, it’s because someone wants to do more with their savings and sees property as a sound investment with a regular income. It might also be that a person...

Picture the scene; your rental due date rolls around and you check your bank account as usual, but what's this? No rent has hit your account. It's one of the biggest Landlord worries, because no matter how carefully you select or...

Since 1st April 2018, all residential properties (apart from a few exemptions) in England and Wales have been required to have a minimum EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of E. From 1st April 2020, this law was extended...

Don't you just hate it when the internet uses 'jargon'?! What is a "rear aspect", anyway?! I'm going to cover off a few of these property and landlord related jargon terms that I see getting chucked around, as this industry is...

These days, it can seem that the To Do list for Landlords keeps piling up! At Baillie White, we like to think that ensuring residential lets are safe and up to standard is a positive move, but it can feel a little overwhelming for...