Latest Property News - Homelets & Sales

Details: Published: 17 April 2025; Hits: 30

15 HIDDEN WAYS THEY TRIP LANDLORDS UP

Margins matter when you’re a landlord, and keeping an eye on your costs as well as your income is an essential part of any successful business strategy.

But what about savings that cost you more later on? Just as buying cheap taps or appliances inevitably means paying for replacements or repairs before too long, cheap letting fees can equally backfire.

Cheap fees are never sold as coming with a reduction in service or protection, and many of the hidden costs of bargain rates only reveal themselves when it’s too late. The usual areas are:

Inadequate tenancy setup
Flawed rental contracts
Small print surprises
Lax legal compliance
Substandard communication

Your choice of letting agent affects you and your property’s legal and financial well-being, so read on for tips on spotting these rental red flags before you make any decisions.

Details: Published: 02 April 2025; Hits: 33

HOW MUCH RENT SHOULD YOU SAVE EACH YEAR?

Finding the sweet spot between saving for a rainy day and actually enjoying your rental income is every landlord’s dream for a peaceful and profitable life.

Maintenance and repairs come with the territory of owning a rental home, but a smart approach can really protect your property, maintain a healthy cash flow, and even create happy tenants.

But how much should you set aside each year?

Well, that's the tricky bit, as much depends on a property’s age, type, location and condition. There’s no ‘magic number’, but let’s uncover the right formula for you by delving into the following areas:

Factors that influence your budget.
What exactly are you budgeting for?
Essential protections and costs.
The golden percentage rules.
Building a maintenance plan.

There’s plenty to unpack, so stay right here as we break everything down to keep your rental property profitable, protected, and ready for anything.

Details: Published: 18 March 2025; Hits: 97

HOW TO TRANSITION FROM ACCIDENTAL LANDLORD TO ACTIVE INVESTOR

Many landlords start out accidentally, from inheriting a property to moving in with a partner to having no luck selling their previous home.

Some are happy to stick with just one rental, but for many others, it's the start of something bigger as they recognise the opportunities in renting out multiple properties, not least a financially secure future.

We love nothing more than helping landlords build thriving portfolios, and here in our guide we're sharing our best tips on making the leap from accidental to active investor. So let's explore:

Reframing Your Mindset.
Optimising Your Existing Property.
Professionalising Your Approach.
Setting a Clear Strategy and Goals.
Embracing Continuous Learning.

These are the shifts that give you the tools to build a robust and enduring buy-to-let business that delivers long-term security and prosperity for you, your children, and beyond. Let's begin.

Details: Published: 27 February 2025; Hits: 118

WHY THEY MATTER, WHAT TO CHECK, AND HOW TO GET THEM RIGHT

Do you really need to carry out mid-tenancy inspections? Well, yes you do, and here’s why.

Aside from being an excellent opportunity to nurture the relationship with your tenant, carrying out regular mid-tenancy inspections at least every 6 months means you can:

Check that your property isn't being misused, abused, illegally occupied, home to unauthorised pets, being a nuisance to neighbours, or becoming a health hazard.

Get early notice if your tenant is thinking of moving, so you can plan ahead around making cost-effective upgrades that could get you more rent. HOW TO GET MORE RENT - Homelets & Sales

Spot and solve little issues before they become or cause larger and costlier problems. Every home gets older every year, and things do wear out, break down, or start to look tired.

Show that you are serious as a landlord about your property being properly maintained, by both you and your tenant.

Create a traceable record of checks, observations and instructions that can be used in case of any disputes or, in the worst-case scenario, legal action.

With all these benefits, why do so many landlords not bother with mid-tenancy inspections? We don't know, but we have put together a guide to help you get the most from them, with valuable tips on:

Setting the stage for mid-term inspections; arranging the appointment correctly; a mid-tenancy inspection checklist; preparing and sharing the report; and repairs, breaches and action points.

There’s a lot to cover, and we’ve distilled it into bit-size chunks for effortless consumption and maximum impact. Are you ready to reap the benefits of mid-tenancy inspections? Then let's begin.

Details: Published: 03 February 2025; Hits: 116

HIGH-IMPACT, LOW-COST UPGRADES TO MAXIMISE YOUR BUY-TO-LET PROFITS

You don't need to spend a fortune to revitalise your rental property’s performance and transform its place in the market.

A simple but often overlooked strategy is to target more affluent tenants, and by upgrading the experience of style and comfort, you can raise the income ceiling for your buy-to-let.

Fortunately, with some constructive thinking, smart purchases, and the help of our handy guide, getting a great result needn't cost the earth, and we’ve broken things down into five areas:

Easy fixes for instant appeal.
Smart storage solutions.
Affordable style updates.
Energy and security upgrades.
Outdoor improvements and kerb appeal.

Does your rental home have unrealised potential that you haven’t considered? Let's dive into whether you could achieve more income than you think, and for a lower cost than you thought.