The Milton Keynes Property Blog

Last chance to book onto the Buy to Let Seminar

2016-11-01T09:38:00.000+00:00

Belvoir and Stefanie Price Wealth Planning are pleased to invite you to the Milton Keynes Buy to Let seminar on Wednesday 2^nd November 2016. The event is free and numbers are limited but there's a last chance to book your place now.

Click here to book your ticket now.

Learn how to get the most out of your Buy to Let property

2016-10-28T13:31:00.000+01:00

Belvoir and Stefanie Price Wealth Planning are pleased to invite you to the Milton Keynes Buy to Let seminar on Wednesday 2^nd November 2016.

Learn how to get the most out of your But to Let property
What is the real future of Buy to Let?
Ask the experts and find out everything you need to know about investing in Buy to Let
Meet industry leading key note speakers

The event is free and numbers are limited so please book to reserve your place. All you need to do is follow this link.

Click here to book your place now.

Landlords and Tenants are a Working Partnership

2016-10-21T11:05:00.000+01:00

Old style conflicts between tenants in rented properties and their private sector landlords are largely the stuff of fading legend these days.

In the real world, no-one achieves anything that old fashioned way, the modern approach is more about tenants and landlords cultivating partnerships. Both have interests to protect and they can both achieve that better by working together. If they can’t, then something is wrong – and mismatches do happen - but good relationships are more the order of today.

The truth is that a rented property may be part of a landlord’s livelihood but it’s also home to the tenant and the ideal situation is for them to work around each other. A professional lettings and management agency, such as Belvoir, will always look after the interests of both parties.

Methods of creating perfect harmony include:

· Agreeing on periodic visits so the landlord can see how a property is being looked after. That also gives a chance to see if there are any repair jobs or maintenance issues that need attention. And it gives tenants an opportunity to discuss anything that is bothering them.

· Tenants letting landlords, or their agents, know if they are planning a holiday and the property is going to be empty. Occasional visits can be made to ensure the property and the tenant’s possessions are safe.

· By mutual agreement neighbours can have the agent’s or landlord’s phone number so they can get in touch if anything seems wrong, e.g. a burglary, fire, flooding, intruders or unusual behaviour.

· Along with a tenancy agreement Belvoir provides new occupiers and landlords with a comprehensive inventory to record the state of decoration, furnishings and fittings. An honest, upfront, practice like this creates a precise record of contents and condition that is beyond dispute, And that can save a lot of arguments later – especially over returning deposits.

· Important communications should be done by e-mail or letter - which creates a paper trail of any problem that arises. This gives both tenant and landlord a firm record instead of trying to rely on half-remembered conversations.

Past conflicts in rented properties have swung from the serious to the comic. According to official statistics, two years ago, the number of housing tenants growing commercial crops of cannabis was sufficiently large to lead the national Crimestoppers charity trust to publish an eight-page leaflet highlighting the issue. While another recorded case outlined how a tenant caused irreparable damage to a washing machine at his furnished flat because he put in a house brick to “stonewash” his denim jeans. Whether it’s a laughing matter or an indictable criminal offence, the relationship between a tenant and a landlord is at the heart of today’s private rented sector. Closer relationships obviously work better for both parties and, thankfully, that’s the way things are moving. With over the last 20 years experience and by carefully selecting and managing tenancies we see relatively few cases of conflict or dispute.

The current housing crisis has turned the private rented sector into a major home provider with nearly two million landlords renting to some 10 million tenants and for them, working together means making it work.

If you are one of the hundreds of Buy to Let investors reading this blog daily and would like advice about what to buy next, where to buy it and what to pay, then call us now on 01908 562582 or pop into our offices on London Road in Stony Stratford for impartial and friendly advice, and speak to us about how we can keep you appraised of the latest opportunities before the rest of the pack.

miltonkeynes@belvoirlettings.com

Bradwell Village, 2 bed End of Terrace home, £205k with a potential 5% yield

2016-10-20T12:19:00.000+01:00

Properties in this area usually attract long term tenants and this one should be no exception.

Located within the historic village of Bradwell, this 2 bedroom home would appeal to the London commuter being within a short distance to CMK Rail Station. Having a good local primary school nearby and enclosed garden it would equally appeal to a young family just starting out. The house comprises an open plan lounge/diner, well presented kitchen and bathroom, a garage and off road parking. With an asking price of £205k we think there would be some room for negotiation and you should be able to get this for slightly under £200k. From the photos it looks in reasonable order and all it would likely need is a little redecoration to get it ready to let. We would always advise a gas safety inspection as a health check of the boiler and associated heating system, as it could be the best £150 you will spend.

With a rental value today of around £850 PCM, the return of 5.1% here is quite good given that you will also an average capital growth on such a property over the coming years. Previously we have had 3 consecutive years of very close to 10% annual growth, and a recent report of 13% on last year. If this were to continue it would mean your asset would be worth nearly £230K by summer 2017 - could you get that sort of return from a savings account at your bank?

miltonkeynes@belvoirlettings.com

If you struggling to find anything decent on the property market and need a little help finding potential bargains like the one above, speak to us about how we can keep you appraised of the latest opportunities before the rest of the pack. For more information about other potential investment properties that we could introduce you to (such as ready tenanted properties for sale by our existing landlords), or to ask about our thoughts on your own investment choices, call us now on 01908 562582 or send us an email.

3 Bed house in Stony Stratford with a potential 5.0% yield

2016-10-18T09:46:00.000+01:00

This is a fantastic opportunity for an investor to acquire a remodelled and refurbished 3 bedroom property situated within a two minute walk of the vibrant and historic High Street in Stony Stratford.

Stony Stratford is a market town with lots of local pubs, bespoke shops and restaurants. This popular location has good access to Wolverton railway station and Centre MK. Being modern and extended this property, offers spacious accommodation for a young family or professional couple alike. In this highly desirable location this property will easily let. You could get this property for around £270,000, and with a likely rental of at least £1125 it will give a comfortable 5% gross yield. But don’t hang around as we don’t think this property will be available for long.

If you are thinking of getting into the property rental market and don't know where to start, speak to us for impartial advice and guidance to get the best return on your investment. For more information about other potential investment properties that we could introduce you to, or to ask about our thoughts on your own investment choices, call us now on 01908 562582 or pop along and speak to us in person at our offices in Stony Stratford.

miltonkeynes@belvoirlettings.com