Being a landlord is hard work, and the period when you are finding new tenants is especially tricky. To ensure you don’t miss anything, we have pulled together a landlord checklist for renting a property. What Should A Landlord Checklist Consist Of? From our experience of helping landlords through this process, we think the ideal renting-out-a-house checklist should include these 20 things to do: 1. Make Sure You Have Permission To Rent Out The Property If you have a standard residential mortgage on the property, you will need consent from your lender. If you are renting out your property temp ..read more

To maximise the rental income of your buy-to-let property, you must understand how to attract tenants who are willing to pay more or find ways to make your property stand out, allowing you to charge a premium rent. Rental properties in neighbourhoods like Primrose Hill and Fitzrovia are highly sought-after, yet house prices are high and as a result, rental yield can be relatively low. Market forces of supply and demand dictate the rent you can charge. However, as a local estate agent we know that there are simple things you can do to justify charging a higher rent than your competitors. You’l ..read more

Here’s a consideration for landlords with buy-to-let properties in central London. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in limited company ownership of rental properties, primarily attributed to tax changes. The high value of buy-to-lets in Mayfair, Primrose Hill and Marylebone, naturally appeals to landlords. However, rental properties in these desirable areas can also attract a significant Capital Gains Tax bill. Should you transfer your buy-to-let properties to a limited company? The rather irritating answer to this question is: it depends. A buy-to-let property in a limited ..read more

Samuel Johnson put it somewhat bluntly when he wrote: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” For a bona fide city dweller, the prospect of selling up and moving out of the Capital is usually out of the question – until the reality of life gets in the way. For others, living in London has a natural time limit, where a move out to the suburbs or countryside is at some stage inevitable. Many young professionals and families move out to commuter-friendly towns for more space and a large garden. But they don’t necessarily want to leav ..read more

If you sell or rent your property, you will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). This shows your potential buyers or tenants how much your property will cost to heat and light and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be. No one wants to buy or rent a property that is expensive to run and is not environmentally friendly, so improving your EPC rating can make your home more attractive to prospective buyers or tenants. Additionally, landlords must meet a minimum EPC rating of E or above to legally rent out their properties. London’s new-build properties tend to score highly ..read more

Buy-to-let property can be an excellent investment, and rental demand in London remains high. However, the rules and regulations on buy-to-lets can be overwhelming. If you want to invest in a property in Marylebone, Camden, Fitzrovia or Mayfair, we can help you learn the ropes. In this guide to rental property investment, we offer essential advice on how to get into buy-to-let property, critically assess your potential investment and ensure a healthy profit. What Is A Buy-To-Let? Buy-to-let is the term for buying a property you will rent out rather than living in yourself. Buying properties t ..read more

If you decide to take your first step onto the property ladder, you may feel apprehensive and confused by the process ahead. This guide answers our most frequently asked questions from first-time buyers. What Is A First-Time Buyer? A first-time buyer is an individual who has never owned a residential property in the UK or abroad. You can check with your mortgage provider whether their policy considers you as a first-time buyer. You won’t be regarded as a first-time buyer in some instances, for example, if you have never owned property but are buying with someone who has. In these cases, you wo ..read more

According to Barclays, three in ten buyers don’t try to negotiate on price when buying a home, with the result they are potentially missing out on huge savings. Potential buyers’ reasons for not haggling on price when buying a house include the possibility of losing their dream home or awkwardness about asking. They may simply want to get the buying process over and done with. If this sounds familiar and you are wondering how to negotiate house prices, remember that haggling on property is expected. In this article, we share tips on exactly how to do that – to ensure you manage to negotiate t ..read more

It is a legal requirement for landlords in England to check their tenants’ right to rent in the UK. Checking the right to rent means checking the immigration status of all potential tenants. This process must take place before a new tenant takes up residence and there are stiff penalties if you don’t follow the law. While the rules apply to all tenants in England, people renting out property in central London need to take particular care. As a leading world city which draws people from across the globe to work, study or just visit, London attracts tenants from diverse nationalities. A key thi ..read more

Capital gains tax (CGT) is payable when you sell or dispose of a residential property that is not your main home. Read on if you are wondering when you would pay capital gains tax on your central London property. Homes in Mayfair, Maida Vale and Soho are valuable assets, so you’ll need to consider the effects of a sale on your capital gains tax. We also look at how to calculate capital gains tax rates and how you can reduce your bill. Capital Gains Tax On Your Main Home If you sell a house in the UK, you may need to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on your profits. Usually, you don’t have to pay a ..read more