Category Archives: Insurance Guides

Part time landlords offered advice on how to pay their taxes!

Posted on 8th March 2011

Although there may still be 508 days to the start of the London Olympics, there are many people already looking on the Games as a potential money earner.
The tickets for the London games actually go on sale at the end of this week and there is a massive difference in the price of seeing different events. The opening ceremony and blue riband track and field events final days come in at hundreds of pounds while other tickets are as cheap as £20. All the more […]

Growth figures cause clash of opinion in the city

Posted on 27th January 2011

“Should I stay or should I go” say the famous lyrics of a song by punk rockers; The Clash. It is a choice very rarely offered up to politicians or football managers, but is currently very much a question both landlords and tenants are asking themselves each day.
Many tenants are wondering whether to leave their tenancy now before their housing allowance is cut or whether to wait and see if their landlord offers them a cut in rent. Landlords are asking the same question about […]

Sun continues to shine for landlords in the South West

Posted on 25th January 2011

As property owners in the South West prepare to sort out their landlord insurance for the coming year, they will take great heart from the latest surveys by both letting and estate agents.
Although online letting agents LSL Property Services recently reported that December 2010 proved to be a disappointing end to what proved to be a fairly good decade for most landlords, as rental prices eased slightly, those in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset still saw their profit margins maintained.
 
Is the South West a good investment […]

Kiwi’s one step ahead of UK counterparts

Posted on 11th January 2011

As landlords in the UK look forward to the announcement by Housing Minister Grant Shapps on landlord/tenant relations today, it seems that their fellow property investors in New Zealand are one step ahead.
It is anticipated that the announcement by Grant Shapps today will enable landlords in the UK to get rid of bad tenants a lot quicker than the 12 months or more it can take at the moment. And although the new plan should see improvement in moving on rogue elements, charities such as […]

How to Be a ‘Green’ Landlord

Posted on 6th January 2011

There is no denying the fact that being green is the in thing to be. Consumers across the UK are attempting to save both money and the climate by trying to reduce their carbon footprint. It makes sense that anyone looking at renting a home from a landlord is now more aware of green issues and considers the energy efficiency of a property when it comes to looking for a place to live.
For over two years, landlords have had a legal duty to show all […]

Making a tenancy agreement that is clear and compliant

Posted on 4th January 2011

How to remain compliant and without terrible tenants
Along with having landlord insurance, one of the first things that a landlord needs to do is create a tenancy agreement. One way of doing this is using a standard form and these are very easy to find in stationers or they can even be downloaded from appropriate online sites.
It is vital to make sure that the correct type of tenancy agreement is made out, especially if the landlord is going to be living in separate accommodation in […]

Landlords with unoccupied properties between tenants

Posted on 22nd December 2010

 
Typically, when a tenant moves out, there is likely to be a period when the property is empty before a new tenant moves in. Every landlord wants this empty period to be as short as possible because each day will be costing money. This empty period means there are some jobs which a landlord needs to do.
Additional costs to the landlord
As soon as a tenant leaves, it becomes the responsibility of the landlord to pay council tax on his property. However, any property that remains […]

Avoid the renting pitfalls to secure a happy home

Posted on 14th December 2010

Thanks in some part to the mortgage shortage, the residential rental sector is now booming. It seems that everyone, young people, older age groups and families are holding off buying a new property or are unable to, and are instead opting to rent a new place.
There is no obligation for anyone to go through a letting agency to find a place to rent, but most potential tenants do. It is best to visit as many agency websites as possible, as they will have up to […]

First time landlord advice from Property Quote Direct

Posted on 10th December 2010

The pros and cons of being a landlord
A landlord is someone who owns a property and then rents it out to a tenant. When things are going right it largely consists of collecting rent on time, doing all safety checks and maintaining the property. However, at its worst it can involve dealing with nuisance tenants who may damage the property, filing insurance claims and even paying out bills on a property that is empty.
Becoming a landlord for the first time requires careful consideration. Before buying […]

Having good tenants can avoid a lot of trouble

Posted on 6th December 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 […]