Latest Property News - Homelets & Sales

Details: Published: 09 January 2023; Hits: 354

WHICH HAS THE PROFIT, FREEDOM AND SECURITY THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU?

“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 inflation eating into returns. Meanwhile, buy-to-let is regularly portrayed in the press as no longer viable, despite research from Hamptons revealing that the average rental yield of 6% is 50% higher than the 4% of pensions.

So who and what do you listen to if you want to start planning for your future?

There's no replacement for hearing things straight from the horse’s mouth, so we’ve gathered some thoughts from our landlords on why they choose buy-to-let. We’ve also included some useful facts that don’t always make the headlines so you can see what feels right for you.

This week's blog doesn’t constitute financial advice, and you should speak to an expert before choosing a pension or investment. But if you’re on the fence about becoming a landlord or whether to expand or offload your lettings portfolio, we hope you find some clarity to start 2023.

Details: Published: 20 December 2022; Hits: 439

WINTER PROTECTION AND PLANNING THE FUTURE OF YOUR PORTFOLIO

The big day is less than a week away, and we hope you’ll have the chance to take some well-earned time off.

As well as the usual overspending, over-eating and overindulging, the festive break gives landlords a chance to review their business and think about what comes next. And if you can limit your intake of mulled wine and eggnog, you can do it all with a clear head!

Christmas provides all sorts of opportunities, including:

filing your tax return long before the deadline
strengthening relationships with your tenants
ensuring your rental home survives winter in one piece
checking and improving vacant properties
planning the future of your portfolio.

As luck would have it, all of these are covered in this week’s blog. So make yourself a cuppa, find a cosy corner where you won’t be disturbed, and let’s dive in.

Details: Published: 12 December 2022; Hits: 346

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW?

Every landlord needs to follow around 170 different pieces of lettings legislation, so you’re not alone if you’re feeling flummoxed by so many rules and regulations.

Even though we let and manage rental homes every day, we still need to set aside time to keep track of changes to the law and landlords’ responsibilities. And to make sure we get everything right and done on time, we need watertight systems, reminders and checks.

Does this mean that being a landlord is difficult or unprofitable? No, but it can be time-consuming when there’s so much to know and do. You can also be fined or taken to court if you get things wrong.

Some of the biggest misunderstandings we see among landlords and tenants are also some of the most important. So our blog this week covers what you can, can’t, must and mustn’t do, to keep you on the right side of the law for smooth and successful tenancies.

Details: Published: 28 November 2022; Hits: 358

WHY BEING A LANDLORD IS A SOLID PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE

How do you feel about becoming a landlord?

If you're planning your long-term financial security, you have plenty of options to choose from. Savings, shares, pensions, property… they all have their pros and cons, and people choose one or more for multiple reasons.

We have many different types of landlords as clients. Some of them own just one property, while some have large portfolios. But regardless of whether they’re private individuals or limited companies, they share some common motivations for owning rental homes.

Freedom, stability, feeling in charge, retirement planning and financial security for their families are all in there, and so is the feelgood factor in nurturing their passion for property and providing comfortable homes that people to live in for many years.

So, in this week’s blog, we’re diving deeper into how our clients choose to become landlords and why they enjoy it, so you can decide if you’d like to start and grow your own lettings portfolio.

Details: Published: 14 November 2022; Hits: 391

COULD RISING INFLATION SPELL GOOD NEWS FOR LANDLORDS?

Everyone's talking 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 and buyers feeling the squeeze, but what about landlords? Reduced tax allowances and rising interest rates are affecting monthly profits, and you might be
wondering whether buy-to-let is still a viable business.

While today is nothing like when inflation hit 25% in the 1970s, or when mortgage rates breached 15% in the 1990s, those numbers aren’t very useful for making decisions now. Nonetheless, there are some lessons to learn from previous times of uncertainty, not least that growing your business and income can be far more profitable than simply cutting your losses.

As a landlord, you want your rental portfolio to thrive and give you a passive income into retirement, regardless of economic ups and downs. With that in mind, this week’s blog explores how rising inflation can work to your advantage.