Cleanliness at the start of the Tenancy

When the tenants move in to a property it is essential that the property is clean and fresh. Sometimes a previous tenant has vacated and left the property in a less than acceptable condition. Carpets are a source of dispute,  professionally cleaned at start then you are within your right to expect them to be professionally cleaned at the end of the tenancy. Nobody wants to move into somebody else’s dirt. We will advise you that the works need to be done to ensure a smooth tenant/agent/landlord relationship is started.

 How you view your investment

You may be an accidental landlord; the property was left to you by a relative or was indeed your former home this may mean that you have an “attachment” to it or it may be an investment and looked at as purely an asset. Whichever it is it should be looked at gardens with clipped lawn and manicured bushes, but to a tenant it is usually just a garden, lawn to be mowed so the children have somewhere to play and bushes cut back. You paid a fortune for that floral carpet 15yrs ago and there’s plenty or wear left!! A pub style carpet even if it has got life left in it, could be the difference between a let or tenants rejecting the property all for the sake of a new carpet.

Avoid Requests

To be a good landlord it is essential to be seen as fair and as an experienced letting company we strive to work at that relationship, keeping it professional but approachable. Keeping a positive relationship with your tenant is key, even if that means spending a bit of money to keep them happy even if some requests may be unreasonable in your opinion. If your tenant is happy with their home, as a landlord you will benefit from this.

Realistic expectations

When you live in a house there is maintenance to be done to keep the property in good order,clearing the gutters every few years, painting the exterior, updating worn or broken items. We will explain to our landlords that some house maintenance is not the tenants responsibility. As we manage your property is our responsibility as your agent to ensure your investment is not only working for you but is being kept in good condition.

                                            Are you using the right agent ?

Does your agent look after your investment? Are they approachable and keep you up to date? Do you have a dedicated contact who know you and your property personally? Is your agent earning the commission you pay them? Are they fully transparent? If you want to say YES to these questions and more call us on 02393 954 111.

Pets in properties have always been an issue in the Lettings industry.

With almost half of the UK’s population owning a pet and industry experts predicting 1 in 5 homes may be privately rented by 2018, more ‘pets considered’ rented homes are desperately needed. There is a government proposal for a series of Animal Welfare measures would mean that landlords would not be able to advertise their properties as “no pets allowed”. They would also have to show evidence that the pet would be a nuisance in order for the applicant to be refused on the ground of having a pet.

Reasonable Refusal

Consent can be withheld if it is considered to be reasonable. Landlords have many legitimate reasons for not wanting a pet in their property. Some properties are not suited to certain pets, and there are concerns around the higher risk of damage, flea infestations, and severe allergies to pet hair with possible issues for future tenants.

High Demand for Property that Allow Pets

• Tenants are often willing to pay more for pet-friendly properties, so you may be able to charge higher rent.
• Since so many people own pets, marketing your property as pet-friendly opens it to a much bigger pool of potential tenants.

Once you have decided to rent your property to a tenant with a pet you should include a pet clause in your tenancy agreement. This should include, type and breed, no of pets.  You may also want to include a clause related to damage and cleaning of the property at the end of the tenancy and the tenant undertakes and agrees to remedy and pay for any damage caused by the pet. For the avoidance of doubt any such damage shall not be deemed to be fair wear and tear. The Tenant agrees to pay for the professional cleaning of the property at the end of The Tenancy including the cleaning of all carpets and treating the property for fleas and mites.

With all this in mind Landlords should consider accepting pets, not all pets cause damage, just as not all tenants are angels!

Are you a landlord? ………..we have had a busy few months and have clients looking for properties in all areas, especially 2 & 3 bedrooms. All areas have been requested from Waterlooville through to Fareham, Portsmouth, Emsworth and Havant. All clients are full referenced and screened by our experienced staff. We have a bank of clients looking for long term lets, professional people working at some of Portsmouth’s main employers such as QA Hospital, Navel Dockyard, Portsmouth University to name a few. We also are asked for Company Lets which can be discussed.

First time Landlord?

We can guide you through the legal side of the property business, making sure you are compliant and also ensuring you are using the property to its best advantage.  We can advise you on the best way to present your property and can even help with recommending reliable tradesmen.

We can offer a fully managed service for 7% currently NO VAT.

If you currently have your property managed my an agent but you are not happy with the service you are receiving, then we will fully explain our services and we can tailor a package to suit you. If your property is being advertised with out much feedback then we are happy to work alongside your current agent to ensure that you have the smallest void time possible. We want to help make your property work for you.

Call us on 02393 954 111 to discuss your requirements.

Portsmouth, the Next Investment Hotspot

According to research by the inventory company NoLettingGo Portsmouth is No 11 in the top places to invest in property in the UK, this is based on the average rental yield.

Portsmouth comes in at No 11 with 5.81%  –  Average Property Price  £221.041  –  Average Rent  £1100pcm

Out of 68 cities the closest to us in the table is Brighton and Hove at No 24 with 4.79%. In 1st place is Bangor with 9.24%.

This doesn’t surprise us at AJ Knight, we have been watching the increase in demand over the last few years. With a strong economy and demand outstripping supply, external research has forecasted that house prices will rise 17% in the next 5 years, which is ahead of both UK (13%) and London (11%) forecasts.

But, why invest in Portsmouth?

• The M27 corridor, and Portsmouth offers a very compelling investment case.
• A local economy that is growing stronger than the national average.
• A housing demand/supply imbalance.
• A left behind market that is due to catch up and is forecast to see price growth faster than UK and London.
• Extremely high rental yields (6-7%)

As one of the UK’s best-connected waterfront cities, with unrivalled links to Europe and the South East of England, Portsmouth is a wonderful place to work. It is home to leading companies such as BAE Systems, Pall Europe and a large regional hospital with not only local staff but a large influx of foreign health workers all requiring accommodation in the city.Portsmouth is a university city and has a large student population, and as such HMO properties are popular. Portsmouth remains a relatively cost competitive locations for investors with a fast-paced market.

If you’re looking to invest in the area, we can help you find the right property for your needs.

Feel free to call us on 02993 954 111 to discuss your options.

Call us to find out what we can offer you. We have new properties coming on and we can registrar you for immediate property alerts. Call us on 02393954111 or email info@ajknightproperty.co.uk.

We also sell your property and if you are looking for a family house, first home or an investment property, we can help you with your search.

AJ Knight wish all our clients a Happy New Year.

Here’s an interesting article on what you can do to improve your rating:http://ow.ly/PfIW30bobLu