Upad Blog

Tenancy deposits

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:39 +0000

A tenancy deposit is a sum paid by the tenant that must be legally held in an officially recognised deposit scheme for the duration of the tenancy. It is used to guard against: damage to the property, unpaid rent and other unpaid costs that are the tenant’s responsibility. Top Tips: Register your tenants deposit or you could be fined 3 times the deposit amount. Get an inventory of... Read more

Avoiding void periods

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:54:47 +0000

Void period are one of a landlord’s worst nightmares: a property vacant with no sign of a new tenant. However there are ways to make sure this doesn’t happen; all it takes is a little know-how. Top tips Make sure your property is clean and tidy (absolutely essential for quick lets). Have great photos – they can increase tenant interest by up to 400%. Ensure your property is... Read more

Tax: the basics

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:44:08 +0000

As a buy-to-let landlord, it’s likely you’ll want to find ways to slice your tax bill. So how do you go about doing this? With buy-to-let the way to keep your tax bill down is by deducting expenses from your rental income. If you have several UK residential lettings you pool the income and expenses together. (Furnished holiday lettings and overseas lettings profits need to be calculated... Read more

What you should know: landlord & tenant rights

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:13:11 +0000

These are covered in the tenancy agreement, but here are the main ones in a nutshell: Landlord rights To repossess the property if the rent remains unpaid for 14 days or more, or where the tenant breaches the terms of the tenancy. To exercise the break clause if one is included in the contract. To access the property after giving reasonable notice (usually 24 hours). To seek possession... Read more

Vetting tenants

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:01:31 +0000

Finding a long-term responsible tenant who respects your property and pays promptly isn’t all about luck. There’s a science to it too. Key tips Ensure you meet tenants personally before letting to them. Professional comprehensive tenant referencing is essential. If you have any doubt about tenants, secure a guarantor. Showing tenants around your rental property is your chance... Read more

Case study – how to present your property: South Ealing, W5

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:28:33 +0000

Our case study property of the week is a PassivHaus in Ealing, West London. PassivHaus properties are extremely energy efficient with a typical energy consumption of under 15kWh. This could mean for an average size PassivHaus, an energy cost of just £25 per year to heat the property. The landlord has used this unique selling point well in their listing. As a result tenants were found within 5... Read more

The perfect listing

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:41:14 +0000

In the world of property advertising, bad first impressions don't just last, they ensure that second impressions are never made. The aim is to grab the tenant's attention so they click on your listing to see a more detailed view. Here's how to go about that: Make sure your summary description (the part that appears in tenants' search results) is right on the money, as this will be the... Read more

Only 15% of tenants want to meet agents when viewing properties

Simon @ Upad — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:53:51 +0000

Landlords who do not handle their own property viewings could be missing a trick according to our new research. Following the long held simple belief that landlords are better than agents at showing tenants around their properties, we asked 382 tenants from across the UK if they agreed and discovered that a mere 15% would rather meet an agent for a viewing than deal directly with the... Read more

Case Study – how to present your property: Halifax, HX4

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:49:25 +0000

About the property… It is a beautiful 4 bedroom house situated in the West Yorkshire countryside. At £975/month it is an expensive property for the area, but because of its character, luxurious interior and close proximity to major road links, it should attract a good amount of tenant interest. The borough of Calderdale is not particularly affluent with 17% of residents experiencing... Read more

Legal and safety requirements

Simon @ Upad — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:59:26 +0000

What you need to know to keep tenants safe, and yourself on the right side of the law: EPC Since 2008, it has been a legal requirement to have an Energy Performance Certificate, or EPC prior to letting your property. This certificate, which costs £70+vat, tells prospective tenants how economical it is to heat and light the property, with an “A” grade being most efficient and a “G”... Read more