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Do's and Dont's

Home > Buy to Let > The Do's and Dont's of Buying to Let
DO
Think of buying to let as a medium to long term investment.
DO
Seek advice from an ARLA letting agent on local market demands.
DO
Get your sums right. Will the rent cover borrowings and costs, after allowing for void periods?
DO
Decorate, fit out and furnish to high quality standards, especially kitchens and bathrooms, to attract the best tenants and let quickly every time.
DO
Use an ARLA member as your letting agent. They have Client Money Protection, hold Professional Indemnity Insurance to required standards, have staff trained to ARLA's competency standards and are kept up to date with the latest legal and regulatory requirements.
DON'T
Let personal taste cloud your judgement. Be sure the property you choose meets market requirements.
DON'T
Purchase anything with potential maintenance problems like a lot of woodwork or large gardens. It will add nothing to the rental value and cost a lot to keep up.
DON'T
Think that the running of an investment property to let can be left to friends or relatives in your absence. Tenants require a full management service.
DON'T
Use off-the-shelf tenancy agreements from HMSO or law stationers, or forget to issue the right notices or fail to have a proper inventory and condition report made before a tenant moves in. Leave all documentation to a professional agent.
DON'T
Furnish with second hand furniture or cast-off soft furnishings. These will probably contravene the Furniture and Furnishing Regulations.

Agents

Differentiate yourself and uphold our professional high standards. Membership of the ARLA is a distinguishing factor but only if you tell your clients and the public.

Join the UK's leading professional body for residential letting agents and get a range of benefits including:

  • Enhanced Credibility
  • Business Support
  • Free Legal Support
  • Professional Development
  • Industry News
  • Discounts
 Join today

Members

Professionalism & integrity are of utmost importance and your membership of ARLA will help maintain and raise industry standards.

Membership gives access to:

  • Free services such as PropertyLive.co.uk who offer competitively priced marketing tools such as: mobile apps, print solutions and social media products.
  • Additional revenue streams such as: Mortgage Services, Conveyancing Services and Lease Extensions

Association of Residential Letting Agents - Arbon House, 6 Tournament Court, Edgehill Drive, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6LG - Tel: 0845 250 6001
ARLA: Part of NFOPP | Estate Agents Bristol

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