Nottingham Letting Agent Property Blog

Replacing a property’s flooring is common during remodelling work. Often property owners will look at various ways to increase the value of their property before letting it and flooring is normally one of their top decor considerations. If you are new to wood flooring and you are looking to maximise your investment, this guide is meant to simplify your decision-making. Wood flooring are divided into two construction groups. The first is the traditional group that is made of solid wood and a second group that is made of wood together with syntactic materials. Manufacturers offer two construction types because each is...

During the final quarter of 2011, members of the Association of Residential Letting Agents saw a 47% increase in the number of rental properties coming onto the market because owner occupiers were unable to sell. A year earlier this percentage was just 18%, and illustrates the sluggishness of the property market. These owners are being forced to turn to the private rental sector to solve the problem.Most of these landlords are likely to be looking for short-term lets. Short-term lets can range from as little as one week to three months, but according to ARLA there are a few pitfalls new...

It looks as if buy to let will remain popular for a good many years to come, as more Britons are choosing or being forced to rent, but how do you choose the best investment property? As with any type of investment, doing your research is vitally important, and you need to decide if a buy to let property is what you really want. Investing money in rental properties is very much a long-term project, and it's worth remembering that your money is likely to be tied up for quite some time, and the value of the property could even fall.The...

Landlords and letting agents are being warned over the use of digital photos. According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) some are using photos instead of taking the time to give written descriptions in inventories, leaving them at risk of disputes over wear and tear at the end of a rental term. It points out that although photos are useful, they cannot replace a written description which gives detail about the property and its contents, and the location of any existing damage at the start of the tenancy. The written description can be backed up by the use of...

An article by the Association of Residential Letting Agents has highlighted the changes recently made to HSE Legislation regarding the private rental sector. The recent changes mean that all owners of private residential rental property, and who are responsible for the water systems in the premises must now have a Legionnaires' risk assessment carried out. Many landlords are already aware of this responsibility, but others may not know about these changes.Legionella is a bacterium which is commonly found in rivers and lakes and artificial water systems. Whenever you hear about an outbreak of Legionnaires ’ disease it's usually in larger facilities...

A new survey by the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), suggests the number of long distance landlords in the private rental sector is increasing, and the trend is especially prevalent in the capital and Scotland. ARLA thinks this trend is likely to continue as more owners may be forced to, or will choose to rent out property when moving to another part of the country. There is also an increasing trend for parents who have bought a property for their children to use while at university, to continue renting it out after the child has graduated.ARLA points out that being...

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is urging landlords to be cautious when buying older properties, and to arrange a full survey so they know exactly what they are letting themselves in for. It can be quite tricky finding the perfect buy to let property, especially as there aren't that many homes on the market, and many landlords are choosing to buy properties which need work. The trouble is that many of these older properties could need substantial work to make them suitable for rent, and typical structural faults could include fractured support beams and subsidence, dry rot, rising damp and...

Becoming a landlord carries a number of responsibilities; your property must be fit for habitation and all known problems must be fixed before it can be tenanted. It's quite possible you already know exactly what needs doing, especially if you bought a property which needs renovating as the survey should have shown up all the existing problems. Things which help rent a property more quickly are clean and modern kitchens and bathrooms, or you may be able to cheaply update existing fixtures.It is always preferable to have plastered walls which can be easily and cheaply redecorated whenever necessary, and to always...

According to an insurance company, the number of fraudulent tenants could be increasing. Apparently more potential tenants are filling out application forms fraudulently, and have no intention of continuing to pay the rent as they are constantly moving from property to property. Such tenants often give false information as to their previous address to try to prevent letting agents and referencing companies from tracking them down. Unfortunately these types of people also seem to have substantial knowledge of the legal system which makes it very difficult to evict them quickly.Anyone thinking of letting out a property is advised to have a...

It's essential to ensure all the electrical wiring, sockets and switches in your rental property are in good working order for your tenants. One of the ways you can do this is by making sure the electrical wiring and any equipment is regularly inspected by a properly qualified electrician. They should be able to provide you with a Periodic Inspection Report which will point out any possible defects which could be dangerous, and which may need immediate attention.Any electrical equipment supplied in a furnished privately rented home is covered under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. These regulations were put in...

With much of England predicted to finally feel the chill of winter over the weekend, it’s worth asking yourself if your buy to let properties are prepared for winter. Apparently last year's cold weather saw the number of claims for damage due to burst pipes increased by an incredible 900%, and insurers are suggesting that landlords take the time to meet with tenants and check their properties are in good order to minimise the risk.Simple checks include making sure all tanks and pipes are properly insulated in the loft space, and that overflow pipes are working correctly. This may seem pretty...

The Association of British Insurers have pointed out that as many as 200,000 homes may be unable to get insurance against flooding once current agreements between home insurance companies and the government come to an end on July 1 2013. At the moment an agreement called the Statement of Principles is in place which guarantees that homes at risk of flooding will be able to continue with their insurance while the government improves flood defences. As yet there is no firm commitment that the protection will be extended, and the ABI is keen to see the government take on at least...

Last year HM Revenue & Customs set up a task force to target tax evasion amongst landlords and small businesses. This task force initially focused on the North-West of England and North Wales, but it looks likely that it will expand to the rest of the country. Apparently HMRC is taking on around 90 new members of staff to help conduct these investigations so many more small business owners can expect a knock on the door.The purpose of the spot checks is to ensure records are being kept correctly and that they back up tax returns. Anyone found to be keeping...

it's your responsibility to ensure your rental property is in a safe condition to be let. Basic responsibilities include ensuring any appliances which burn fossil fuel, and which could produce carbon monoxide if fitted improperly or not serviced, are tested annually. Landlords can be, and are prosecuted for failing to ensure safety regulations are met, and run the risk of incurring considerable claims for damages from any injured parties. Renting out your property through letting agents in Nottingham does not absolve you from this responsibility.If your property had gas appliances these must be checked once a year using contractors registered with...

An inventory is a very important document as it's not only a record of property contents but also a record of their condition. The inventory forms part of the contract of tenancy agreement between the landlord and tenant. It is an accurate record of a property's condition when a tenant first moves in which can be compared when the tenant finally moves out.If you intend to carry out an inventory yourself it's important to be meticulous and methodical. This can be quite time consuming, especially if you haven't prepared an inventory before. However skimping on time at this stage could prove...