With high demand for property driving up house prices and rents across the country, now is a great time for new or established landlords to ride the wave by investing. But where should you start, and how can you improve your chances of a respectable return? Read on to find out.
Choose your location
Ideally, it’s sensible to invest in an area within a manageable radius of your current location. This will allow you to visit the property easily, complete any necessary improvements, or keep an eye on contractors. If you live nearby, you’re also more likely to know which streets and neighbourhoods are the most desirable, helping you identify golden opportunities as soon as they arise.
Once you’ve settled on a general area, spend some time researching the current market conditions, including the average local rent and sale price for the type of property you’re interested in buying.
Hint: A trusted local agent like ourselves can advise you on this.
Identify potential ways to add value
While searching for the perfect rental, consider ways you could improve a property to make it more appealing to your ideal tenant. Could you add an extra bedroom or a home office by converting the loft? Is the property worth renovating to bring it in line with more high-end lets? This is where your market research will come into its own.
Other ways to increase profit may include selling off additional land a tenant won’t need or splitting up a building into apartments. Just make sure you obtain advice from a relevant professional before you invest.
Decide on funding
Yes, opportunities are endless for cash buyers, but if you have the minimum deposit (usually 25%), a buy-to-let mortgage can help you achieve your dreams. The maximum you can borrow is linked to the rental income you expect to receive, which should be 25–30% higher than your mortgage payment.
Specialist lenders may also provide a bridging loan to cover the cost of renovations while you get the property up-to-scratch.
