In this second part of our 8-part strategy series we’re going to be looking at SCU’s or self-contained units. The Schrödinger’s cat of HMOs - Self Contained Units or SCUs are exactly what they sound like. Self-contained bedsits or studio apartments. Depending on the set up, SCUs may be considered HMOs. If one or more of the units […]
Believe it or not, welcome packages for new tenants can be quite a controversial subject. Admittedly, few landlords will ever lose sleep over the debate. Yet, there appears to be a clear dividing line between more experienced landlords and the newer generation of property investors.
In this first of an epic 8 part series we’re going to be looking at different property investment strategies ranging from buy to let through HMO to niche strategies you may never have heard of. But where better to start than with buy to let? It is arguably still the most popular strategy.
Visit any landlord focussed blog and you will find the obligatory “x tips for new landlords” post. The posts usually contain good but generic tips for getting started with property. What you won’t often find is the post that needs to come after that, the one about growing or scaling your property business – how to level […]
Times of economic uncertainty are often felt across every inch of society in some way, shape or form. The global pandemic has been no exception, and as the first national lockdown temporarily halted the property industry, a lot of landlords were left concerned about their Buy-to-Let property.
Since our distant ancestor searched for a cave in which to keep his family dry and safe we have known that the location of a place to call home is THE single most important consideration …. And yet mistakes happen because a T-Rex isn’t standing in the entrance and sometimes we don’t see the more subtle signs. Great area, wrong road…
Landlords in England are required by law to ensure that their tenants have the right to reside in the UK before providing rented accommodation. It is imperative that, prior to letting a property, landlords verify the immigration status of each and every adult proposing to occupy the property.
One of the most satisfying parts of being a landlord is seeing the rents rise on the properties you let out. In most cases, it can mean a greater income and increased profit on your properties. Intrinsically, it can be an indication of a property well bought and a portfolio well managed.
It is increasingly common for ambitious or tax conscious landlords to operate their properties through a limited company structure. In fact, more companies were set up to hold buy-to-let properties between 2016 and 2020 than in the whole of the preceding 50 years. There are more than 225,000 limited companies operated by landlords in the UK.
There are few things quite as dull as a monetary policy report. For many people, the term ‘monetary policy’ is enough to immediately lose their attention. It is understandable, monetary policy relies on economic theories, the reports often use financial jargon to refer to complex tools and changes are often measured in basis points (one-hundredth […]
Airbnb is a disrupter in the true sense of the word. It took an established industry and turned it on its head. While some traditional B&Bs and landlords decry it as a negative influence, others have grabbed this opportunity and ran with it.
Inheritance tax is becoming more and more of a ‘tax bombshell.’ This is purely because property prices have increased so much over the past few years. If you do not plan for IHT now, then you could be passing on a huge tax liability as well as unwanted stress to your loved ones!
I have probably made more mistakes than most landlords over the last 49 years, not least because back in the day there was no internet, landlord associations (that I was aware of) or property investor magazines. It occurred to me that admitting my mistakes will give other property investors the information that they need to […]
Typically, investors seek to purchase properties Below Market Value (BMV). Paying less for properties can be a key factor in determining how profitable your property investments turn out to be. Unfortunately, in an ever more digital and transparent world, buying a property below market value is proving to be an increasingly difficult task.
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