Buy to Let Archives | Blue Crystal Property Management

How to be an Effective Landlord

A practical guide to managing your rental property with confidence, compliance, and care Article Summary Understanding how to be an effective landlord goes beyond collecting rent. It involves meeting legal requirements, maintaining your rental property, communicating clearly, and treating tenants with respect. This guide walks you through how to be an effective landlord; the key […]

How to calculate your rental yield

Thinking of purchasing a buy-to-let property? Prospective landlords need to familiarise themselves with the term ‘annual rental yield’, which is the gross amount of rent an owner is likely to receive over the course of a year. If you’re new to buying-to-let, working out rental yield is not too taxing. All you need to do is some straightforward sums.

Is buy to let investment right for you

A buy to let property investment is right for you of you prefer investments that are more tangible than stocks and shares. Are willing to tie up your money for a long period of time You accept that property prices can go down as well as up You are willing to take the risk that you may not earn a profit on your investment You understand and accept the additional risks that go along with borrowing money to buy a property You understand and accept the costs and time involved in owning and running a property and the impact that this will have on your potential return. When you become a landlord, you’re effectively running a small business and this comes with important legal responsibilities.

Points to consider before extending your property

Extensions are a great way to raise a property value or increase rental income though landlords should be careful not to overdevelop or comply with local planning rules. There are points to consider when carrying out an extension at your property; 1. Understand market needs The best time to extend is when you’re changing the property materially for a different demographic or market. For instance, if you have a two-bed house and you know the local market is short of three-bed properties. But be careful not to overdevelop the property so it is bigger than everything else in the street; some areas have a value limit. Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and flat-shares generally make more sense to extend than family homes, because if you add another bedroom the rent increase will be incremental rather than marginal. An extra tenant in an HMO will earn you an extra room's rent, whereas an extra bedroom in a family home is unlikely to increase your rental income by more than 10-20 per cent.

Buy to let mistakes

In this article, we talk about property investment referring to buying and holding for the long-term, as in 10 years or more, rather than an entrepreneurial activity where one buys with a view to renovate and sell. There are many buy to let mistakes you can make when purchasing an investment property. Cash Flow Most […]

Buy To Let Loans: Current Rules

Loan on buy to let property Buy To Let Loans have new lending rules since January 2017. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) introduced them, but they can make it more difficult to get Buy To Let Loans. Changes to buy to let mortgage interest relief Lenders will have to carry out the affordability assessments that will […]

Changes to buy to let mortgage interest relief: how to handle them

Changes to buy to let mortgage interest relief mean that many will see their tax bills rise. Instead, mortgage tax relief was fairly straightforward until it started reducing from April 2017. How to get it right as a first time landlord? The main changes to buy to let mortgage interest relief: The way your tax bill […]

How to get it right as a first-time landlord

Avoid common mistakes inexperienced landlords make Being a Landlord especially with the recent legislation and tax changes has become less attractive and more complicated. Get a good tenant You may want to find a tenant quickly so rent starts to roll in, however take it slow and ensure you carry out credit & referencing before letting your property. Get the tenant to complete an application form that provides you with detailed information to enable you to obtain a credit and referencing report. The credit and refrerencing check may show a history of late payments, many accounts, etc. Take your time to verify references including employers and former landlords references. Even if the tenant wants to move in quickly still ensure you carryout the checks above. Do not feel rushed or pressured into making a decision until you have all the information so you can make the best decision.

How to build a buy to let portfolio: 5 mistakes to avoid as a landlord

Building a buy to let property portfolio If you wonder how to build a buy to let portfolio, here are 5 mistakes you should learn how to avoid as a buy to let landlord. Lengthy void periods Your property is only making you money through rent if there are tenants living in it. Landlords still […]

Buying a property to develop and let it out

Experts in property management know which are the most profitable areas to look for your new property buy, depending on the type of let you have in mind. To explore your options realistically, it is important to start with a clear idea of what your budget is and how flexible you can be with it Great transport links are always a plus, as it is staying away from busy and noisy traffic. But, depending on the letting market you are aiming for, an agent can point you to the areas that may have the right amenities, schools, entertainment, etc., for you to attract the clients that are willing to pay a higher rent in exchange for easy access to those services By employing a Property Management Agency, you automatically raise yourself and your project to the level of many other hundreds of professional property hunters who are also looking for the same great opportunity in buy-to-develop properties you are wishing for.

How to ensure buy to let success with tenant management

How does let to buy work uk In this post, we would like to share with you some basic information on how does buy to let work. Also, you’ll find our top 10 tips to ensure buy to let success. 1. Choosing the right property at the right price Investing in the property market is usually all […]

Do you know the rules of becoming a landlord

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10 tips for buy to let success

1-Buy a property that is not very old and tired This will mean less maintenance down the line. As lovely as a period two-bedroom house sounds, you’re not going to be living in it. Do not get carried away about any purchase as a home. It is a business deal. 2-Buy the type of property that is most “lettable”. Two-bedroom houses and flats are ever popular and appeal to the widest range of potential tenants, especially those who are finding it tough to get on to the property ladder. Avoid large family homes, which appeal to fewer potential tenants. 3-Don’t restrict yourself to your own immediate area Don’t restrict yourself to your own immediate area but research others Remember, you are not purchasing to sell again in a year. You will probably own the property for the rest of your life, so concentrate on getting the best rate of return on your money. 4-Make sure the area has a healthy market for tenants. Be shrewd about the exact location of the property within your chosen town or city. Convenience is a useful factor. Being within walking distance of shops, railway stations, the town centre and so on will ensure that your property is high on the list of desirable places to live for tenants.

10 points to keep in mind before buying a property

1) Keep an eye out for big infrastructure projects Even in a weak market, areas undergoing infrastructure investment will likely still see steady growth - both in yield and in capital appreciation. Look at areas being transformed along both the Night Tube and Crossrail line to identify long-term investment prospects. For example - Forest Gate, Farringdon and Whitechapel are areas geared up for regeneration and a rise in property prices thanks to Crossrail. Blue Crystal awarded Most Progressive Property Management Firm in London 2) Look at the high street as an indicator of an area The high street is a great indictor of the demographic of an area, and whether the area is in decline or has growth potential. Some of the factors you should consider include - have there been many changes recently? Are shops closing down with no sign of opening or are they closing with new names moving in? Is money being spent by the council to smarten it up?

Is buy to let dead? Our views on the Buy to Let strategy

As an income investment for those with enough money to raise a big deposit buy-to-let looks attractive, especially compared to low savings rates and stock market swings. Meanwhile, the property market bouncing back has encouraged more investors to snap up property in the hope of its value rising. Mortgage rates at record lows are helping buy-to-let investors make deals stack up. But beware of the low rates. One day they must rise and you need to know your investment can stand that test.