Most people assume that flats make the best buy to let investment, and while in the past this might have been true the face of the rental sector is changing quite rapidly, and some areas are seeing increased demand for family homes. While one-bedroom flats continue to be the mainstay of much of the lettings market, more families are choosing or being forced to rent due to the residential property market as they are either waiting to find a suitable property or cannot afford a deposit.

As with any type of rental property, there are several things that need to be taken into consideration before purchasing a family home with a view to letting it. The most obvious thing is to make sure the home is close to good schools and public transport connections, while it would be nice if it has at least a small garden and that the bedrooms are of a good average size. Most families are looking for an unfurnished property which helps to keep landlords costs down.

There can be considerable advantages to letting to family groups as they tend to be much more stable than young singles, couples or several friends renting a house. They are also likely to treat your property as their own, especially if they have previously owned a house.