Advice « PropertyQuoteDirect – Landlords & Buy to Let Insurance Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Advice’

Having good tenants can avoid a lot of trouble

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Two elements that make a landlords life more comfortable are property insurance and reliable tenants. If the tenant turns out to be a nightmare, evicting them from the property doesn’t have to be. While evicting renters should always be only as a last resort, sometimes as a landlord it is the only course that can be taken.

When to evict a tenant

A landlord should not evict a tenant simply because they feel like it. But there are three main reasons why landlords need to try and get the tenant out of the property.

The main reason a landlord starts an eviction process is when the tenant does not pay the rent or has accumulated a large amount of rent arrears. Reason two is for a breach of lease terms, this will include a variety of situations for example; animals or extra people living in the property, noise complaints, illegal activity and any damage to the property. The third is when the lease has ended and the tenant does not leave.

Finding a good tenant is regarded by most landlords as the single most important thing when letting a property. Having good tenants will be worth a lot of money, but if they’re bad and cause trouble there may be no option but to evict the tenant. So it’s always important to pre-empt disaster, and the inherent difficulties of eviction, by carrying out checks on the tenant before they move in.

Property insurance & Choosing the right tenant

Ideally a landlord should choose a tenant who has a permanent job and who wants to stay in the property for a long period. They should get and check references, especially from the tenant’s employer, and also try to get a tenant who has a very good employment history. Also a credit check will tell a landlord if the prospective tenant has had any County Court Judgements.

A landlord should always try and deal with any problems quickly because by ignoring them, they could get worse. Try and avoid any confrontations with a tenant and also try to be reasonable. Every option should be tried before taking the steps leading to eviction. Many tenants may fall victim to health or work problems and will want to work with a landlord in an effort to stay in the home. If a landlord wishes to avoid the cost and upset of having to evict, it is a good idea to recognize which tenants are going to be worth negotiating with.

Any landlord thinking of evicting a tenant should consult someone with legal experience as failure to give proper notification and meet all the time deadlines may result in denial of the eviction petition by a court.

Tags: Advice, Advice for Landlords, landlord advice, Landlord Insurance, property advice, Property insurance
Posted in Best Practice Guides for Landlords, Insurance Guides, Landlords Insurance | No Comments »

Damaged drywall can be easily fixed

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

Everyone will know how easy it is to accidentally put a hole in drywall; it could be from a door handle, maybe something falling over, or even from children playing. Happily drywall is fairly easy to fix, especially if it is a small hole, It is something that even a novice DIY person can tackle and save paying for a tradesman. If the hole is quite big i.e. anything bigger than 12 inches, it is probably better to replace the whole sheet of drywall rather than making a large patch. Whether the property is rented from a landlord who has good landlord insurance or it is your own property, a hole in the drywall does not mean having to panic.

In the past when there was a hole in drywall, a contractor would arrive, square up the hole and then put in some wooden braces which would support a new square of drywall. However times have moved on and now there are aluminium patches, which will go over the hole without the need to square it up. This aluminium patch is strong enough to fix larger holes, yet it is also thin enough to be covered over with a layer of drywall joint compound. They work in the same way as traditional drywall tape works, where a layer of drywall joint compound is put over the mesh, left to dry, and then 24 hours later a second coat is put on with a larger trowel. The area is then sanded down.

Cracks can quite often occur when the property starts to settle, so it is not that strange to find cracks in a drywall in new and old houses. A crack is very easy to fix by taking a utility knife and make a v-shaped channel along the length of the crack. Fill the crack with some drywall joint compound and then apply some mesh tape over the top (unlike a hole where the aluminium patch works well, it is highly recommended that mesh tape is used for cracks). Once the tape is applied, cover it with some drywall joint compound and feather out the ends. When it has dried, keep feathering it out on the second application and when it has dried, sand it to a smooth finish.

The most common reason for fixing the drywall is filling in old screw holes or nail holes from pictures which have been attached to the wall. Again fixing this is very easy. Take the end of a trowel and tap in the edges of the hole and create a small crater. If the drywall is loose, screw in a new fastener just underneath the hole, then spackle and trowel over the hole, making sure it is filled completely. Wait until it has dried then sand until smooth.

Tags: Advice, DIY, Dry wall, Landlord Insurance
Posted in Advice, Best Practice Guides for Landlords, DIY, Insurance Guides | No Comments »

Do the job right

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

As any landlord knows keeping ones property in good condition is of the utmost importance. It is great to get cheap landlord insurance but the premiums will soon go up if a series of claims are made.

There are always lots of little jobs that need doing and often outside jobs get ignored in favour of little niggles pinpointed by tenants on the inside. It is really important to maintain the outside of the building not just to protect the integrity of the property but to ensure the place retains as much kerb appeal as possible.

When getting round to the outside jobs it is necessary to ensure that the work is carried out correctly and to a good standard, if this can’t be achieved using one’s own skills then it is time to call in a professional. Don’t jeopardise the rental capabilities of the home by doing a poor job, saving pennies in this way can cost you pounds.

A job where this can easily apply is painting a door. A simple enough job it would seem and one that will greatly benefit the appearance of any home, a fresh lick of paint really can work wonders. It is however, important to carry out the job correctly.

First of all iron out any problems the door may have before starting the job. A door that requires painting can often indicate a door that has not been maintained correctly. For instance if the door is tight and difficult to open or close then a couple of coats of paint can make a real difference. A tight door can become a door that is almost impossible to operate without using brute strength and before you realise where the problem is, you have cracked or broken a pane of glass trying to open it. If a door is tight examine it well, it could be the door has swollen slightly and needs planing. It could well be the door mechanism at fault, the screws in the strike box could have become loose and obstruct the door slightly.

Once the door is prepared for painting it is a good idea to take the door of its hinges and carry out the job in a well ventilated space under cover. Use protective clothing where required for a painting job, eye protection, overalls and light gloves should all be worn. If using a spray gun to paint the door then a face mask must be used.

The painting of the door itself really is simple, take your time to cover any glass in the door or any other parts that don’t require paint and apply the paint carefully, making sure the you get an even coverage. The paint tin will give details on how long a time is required between coats.

Tags: Advice, DIY, landlord advice, landlords, Landlords Insurance, Property
Posted in Advice, DIY, Landlords Insurance | 2 Comments »

Rush for university lets imminent

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

With A-level results out later this week, landlords in many of the UK’s provincial towns and cities as well as the capital will be anticipating a new influx of tenants.

It is expected once again that the pass rate for A-levels will supersede anything previously seen and with it a rush for university places. It may well also precipitate a rush in quotes for cheap landlord insurance. Although it is most certainly wrong to tar everyone with the same brush, it would be a foolhardy landlord who did not secure landlord insurance for properties housing students.

Very often the teenagers are away from home for the first time and are embarking on a steep learning curve not only in education, but also in the art of caring for oneself and their belongings. They will encounter problems that have always been sorted by their parents and will be doing household chores and using household implements that simply were not in their domain before.

Accidents will happen and with it damage to properties. A tap left running can not only cause flood damage to the room in question, but there is the added danger of the water finding its way downstairs causing damage to the room below, which may well be used by another student in the same house. It is a common site in student halls of residence to see the fire brigade on call. Usually because a smoke alarm has been activated by an unsuspecting student not yet versed in the art of cooking or the geography of their new flat.

It will pay a landlord great dividends to welcome and support his new tenants in whatever way he can. Time spent with the students in the first few weeks of their tenancy can go a long way to building up a good relationship with customers, who could well be renting the property for at least 3 years. Take time to explain the kitchen, the heating system and the plumbing. Any good landlord will have ensured all safety requirements are met anyway, but go to great lengths to explain fire rules and how electrical appliances work. It will also help to meet parents, they will take comfort in the knowledge that their fledglings are in the hands of a good landlord and remember there is often a younger sibling who will be looking for rooms a couple of years hence.

Tags: Advice, landlords, Landlords Insurance, Students
Posted in Advice, Landlords Insurance | No Comments »

Posts Tagged ‘Advice’

Having good tenants can avoid a lot of trouble

When to evict a tenant

Property insurance & Choosing the right tenant

Damaged drywall can be easily fixed

Do the job right

Rush for university lets imminent

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Blogroll