Latest Property News - Homelets & Sales

Details: Published: 15 February 2022; Hits: 620

LEVELLING UP LETTINGS: SHOULD YOU SELL OR UPGRADE YOUR BUY-TO-LET PORTFOLIO?

What a time to be a landlord! No sooner are we passed the phasing out of mortgage interest relief than the Government announces new areas of expense.

The Levelling Up white paper released on February 4^th aims to make the Private Rental Sector in England and Wales more eco-friendly. It's all part of a drive to reduce carbon emissions as part of the UK's target to be net-zero by 2050.

While everybody agrees that energy-efficient homes are a good thing, the white paper has left landlords in Liverpool and around the country with more questions than answers.

How much will it cost to upgrade your buy-to-let?

Will you get that money back through higher rent?

Is funding going to be available?

Are you better off selling up and buying a more energy-efficient property?

Should you stop being a landlord altogether?

There's plenty to unpack in there, and our blog this week does just that, so you can make a plan that's best for you.

Details: Published: 02 February 2022; Hits: 803

RENTAL ARITHMETIC: SHOULD YOU BE A PRIVATE LANDLORD OR A LIMITED COMPANY?

Landlords in the Liverpool City Region are an essential part of the local rental market - there simply aren't enough new homes being built and demand from tenants is stronger than ever.

Ever since the Chancellor began phasing out mortgage interest relief in 2017, landlords have been wondering whether it's still possible to have a profitable buy-to-let business.

It's a concern for landlords in Liverpool as much as anywhere else. Some have chosen to exit the buy-to-let market altogether, while others have decided against expanding their portfolio.

We'd like to reverse that trend by talking about one of the biggest shifts in the property market: landlords switching from owning their buy-to-lets privately to buying them through a limited company.

It isn’t an option that's right for everyone, and if you only ever intend to own one or two rental homes, you're probably better off staying as a private landlord. But if you're a higher-rate taxpayer and you'd like to build a sizeable portfolio, there can be significant advantages to owning your rental homes through a limited company.

So this week’s blog is all about cutting through the noise to see if being a private landlord or owning your buy-to-lets through a limited company is right for you.

Details: Published: 24 January 2022; Hits: 648

PREMIUM LETTINGS: HOW TO ATTRACT HIGH-EARNING PROFESSIONAL TENANTS

Landlords are always asking us how they can make their property more attractive to professional tenants, and no wonder. It's a lucrative market of high-earning people who'll pay a premium rent for the right home. But what exactly do they want?

Professional tenants often work extra-long hours, so their free time is particularly precious: whether they're staying home alone or entertaining friends, they want to truly savour where they live.

They also expect a professionally managed home where they can be sure of being well looked after, with a 24-hour number to call in case of emergencies. And with time a precious commodity, finding a home fast is also a priority, which means your buy-to-let should be listed on a major property portal and not buried in classified ads.

If you already own a buy-to-let, our blog this week will help you identify improvements you can make to reach a new audience. And if you're starting or expanding a lettings portfolio, you'll find tips on what professional tenants look for in potential homes and locations to pay a premium rent.

Details: Published: 05 January 2022; Hits: 577

BUY. REVAMP. RENT. REPEAT: FOR SUSTAINABLE LETTINGS SUCCESS

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 need of work cost less to buy, which immediately reduces the cost of stamp duty. And when you're not paying for somebody else's taste, you can add value by updating the interior and identifying untapped potential.

With tenancies getting longer and renting becoming a lifestyle choice, tenants are looking for high-quality homes to live in for longer. By meeting this continually growing demand, you'll achieve higher rents and grow a profitable long-term business.

Finding suitable homes to renovate, getting the specification right, and having the finance in place for the purchase and works are essential elements of any successful project. So here's our comprehensive guide to the "buy, revamp, rent, repeat" system used by many successful landlords.

Details: Published: 30 September 2021; Hits: 605

HIRING CONTRACTORS: A LANDLORD’S GUIDE TO FINDING TRADESPEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST

Whenever you ask someone if they know a good contractor, you’ll never be far from a tale of woe: the plumber who never turned up; the electrician who bodged the job; the builder who overcharged and left a huge mess.

It’s taken us many years to build a circle of reliable contractors, and we’ve had plenty of upsets along the way. Unfortunately, even the good ones go bad, get too busy, or simply disappear, so we keep our eggs in more than one basket to ensure we have a backup plan.

One thing that makes the life of a managing agent easier is that we look after multiple homes. Our calls take priority because of the amount of work we provide through regular maintenance, compliance checks, general repairs and, of course, the odd emergency.

It can be more challenging to build close relationships with contractors when you’re a landlord with a single rental property or a small portfolio, but with our checklist of tips, you’ll find it easier to spot the ones you can trust.

And if you’d rather someone else did all the legwork, why not ask us to take care of everything for you? Call us on YOUR PHONE or drop us a line at YOUR EMAIL to see if we’re a match.