Selling to Your Tenant: Everything You Need to Know to Cut the Best Deal
By The Vesta TeamWhen opportunity knocks, it’s not always clear whether to say yes or no, particularly when it’s unexpected or means changing your plans. Selling to your tenant could be one of those times, and even if you’re planning to be a...
Damage or Wear & Tear? Which Counts as Which, and What Can You Claim Back?
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteJust 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...
Replacing a Sharer: Our Guide to a Swift, Smooth and Legal Switch Between Tenants
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteHouse 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....
Rigorous Referencing: The Secret Sauce for Trouble-Free Tenancies and Peace of Mind
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteGiving 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...
Grand Designs: How to Use Planning Permission to Boost Your Home’s Value
By Rachel OllingtonHow do you feel about adding thousands to your home without making a single improvement? One of the magic words in property is ‘potential’, and getting planning permission to increase the amount of accommodation is a great way...
Renting to Sharers: How to Prepare Your Property and Get the Legals Right
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteDemand 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...
The Landlord Lingo Buster Part Two: Mid-Tenancy Checks, Rent Reviews, Tax Talk, and Getting your Property Back
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteYour 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...
The Landlord Lingo Buster Part One: Set Your Tenancy Up the Right Way and Keep Your Property Legal
By Phillippa Baillie-Whiteo 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...
How to Avoid Losing your Rental Deposit
When you first begin renting a property, your new landlord is highly likely to ask for a deposit before letting you move in. Typically, this is one month’s rent payable upfront, although it can be more in some cases. Your...
Electrical Safety Inspections: Everything Landlords Need to Know
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...
Rent Arrears: Don't panic! Take these 5 simple steps
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...
Energy Efficiency Changes: Are you ready for the new regulations?
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...
Jargon: Don't You Just Hate It?
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...
Your Legal Obligations as a Landord
By Phillippa Baillie-WhiteThese 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...