When it comes to profiting from rental property, the most important thing is to buy the RIGHT property at the RIGHT price.
However strong the local rental demand and general availability of good quality tenants, it will all be to little use if your investment property is poorly located or unattractive and/or of the wrong type for the local market. So time spent surfing the net, building relationships with good local agents, and actually viewing properties yourself will be time well spent!
Concentrating on yield
For years, property investors have been concentrating on potential capital growth and being prepared to accept fairly unimpressive net yields of 3% or 4%. Obviously, in a property market where there is little inflation, this will no longer do. Investors must look at what sort of yield a property might realize, while still of course, regarding the property as a long-term capital investment Owner Business.
The problem will be that you will need fairly serious amounts of capital to capitalize on this developing situation. There will still be mortgages available, but only to people regarded as a reasonably good credit risk. The days of the 90% and 100% mortgages are generally over for the foreseeable future, and in the end, that will not be a bad thing.
When the current boom began back in the ‘gold rush days of the late nineties, it was relatively easy to profit from buy to let. Landlords with the right properties could achieve as much as 15% yield along with phenomenal capital growth, and even a ‘so-so’ property could be profitable.
That is no longer the case. With the huge increase in property prices and the increasing competition between landlords for tenants, it’s become hard to get more than a 5.5% Net Yield, so more than ever; it’s essential to buy the ‘right’ property.
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Buying investment property Do’s and Don’ts
I suppose these do’s and don’ts are not really hard and fast ‘rules, and there are always exceptions, but you would do well to follow these practical guidelines to profit from your properties.
1. Don’t get too personal
Don’t buy an investment property just because you personally would like to live in it. Always look at it from potential tenants’ points of view.
Also, try to avoid spending too much refurbishing the property. You may fall in love with a fantastic £20,000.00 kitchen and a £10,000.00 bathroom with taps costing over £200.00 each. Still, unless yours is an extremely up-market apartment, you will be wasting your money, as there tends to be a ‘ceiling’ rent for a given size flat or house in any given location.
2. Do research the market. Who will be your tenants?
Where and who are your potential tenants? Are there businesses and organizations with an ever-changing workforce locally, such as hospitals, universities, and even TV studios where people are usually employed on short-term contracts?
Flats and houses conveniently located for this kind of place should usually be let easily.
3. Do be well connected
The adage, ‘Location, Location, Location’ is paramount for suitable buy-to-let property. It is always helpful for the property to be no more than 15 minutes walk from a station if in a city like London, or at least close to other travel links such as motorways, bus routes, etc. Also, look for handy shopping facilities, bars, and restaurants, as these are always attractive to tenants.
4. Don’t fool yourself!
If you’re buying a leasehold property, always remember to factor in ALL the costs.
Here is a useful checklist:
Check the Service Charges
Check the Ground Rent
Check the Buildings Insurance (usually included in the service charge)
Remember that you may well have void periods, possibly up to two months in every 12 during change of tenants, etc.
Remember repairs and renewal costs.
Gas and possibly electricity safety checks can cost up to £150.00 a year, although you can probably spend less if you shop around.
5. Do pay attention to things you can’t control
If you are buying a flat, pay particular attention to the common parts, it’s no use ending up with your very own ‘palace’ set in a ‘slum’! This can often be an issue in converted property, where there can sometimes be no formal or, at best, an ill-defined responsibility for maintaining and cleaning common parts such as hallways, drives, and gardens.
Finding the ‘right’ property
So what is the ‘right’ property? Although it may be blindingly obvious, first of all, the right property is one you pay the right price for! Successful buying to let is all about return on investment, whether capital appreciation over the long term or rental return. If you pay too much, no one is going to pay you more rent to compensate you.
This does not mean that you should always opt for the cheapest property. I once saw a two-bedroomed terraced property in Manchester on the market for about £12000.00. I mentioned it to someone who knows that city very well, and she asked me the name of the street. When I told her, she said the house was overpriced!
Generally, it’s better to look for good buy-to-let property in urban or suburban areas rather than rural ones, simply because there are likely to be far more people looking for rented accommodation in urban and suburban areas. The countryside and the shires are more attractive for people nesting, older people settling down or retiring – these folk usually choose to purchase rather than rent.
For example, someone I knew used to rent a two-bedroomed property worth around £270,000.00 in a semi-rural location and was paying around £800.00 per month in rent. Many properties that were costing less than this within inner London were returning over £1200.00 per month in rent.
What about Ex-Local Authority Property?
Ex-local authority property, originally purchased under the right to buy scheme, can be a good investment, but you must do your homework and a lot of legwork. A few council estates are run down, poorly managed, and have significant problems of anti-social behavior. Still, most are OK and have no more problems than other private inner-city areas.
Check out the property, walk around the estate a bit. Is there much graffiti? Is the place generally litter-free? How does it feel? If it’s a high-rise block, what are the lifts like?
In general, it’s best to be a bit flexible. Offer the property furnished or part furnished and be prepared to accommodate the wishes of a tenant you feel is worth it.
New Build or Old Build?
Be careful when buying a brand new one. Bright shiny city center apartments are seductive with designer kitchens and bathrooms, but they are not always good value for money. Very often, the developer will have set a price that is not really a true market price.
Property Clubs
City center developments are also favorite of ‘Property Clubs’, who profess to negotiate bulk deals with developers and pass on a so-called discount to their members. No doubt there are bargains to be had occasionally by buying in this way, but I personally would avoid them like the plague!
If you must buy new, it’s sometimes best to buy the last flat in the block as the developer wants to move on to the next project and may be open to lower offers.
Where is the best place to look for a suitable investment property?
As I have already said, for the best rental yield and minimum void periods, it’s usually best to purchase in urban areas, cities, places with universities, hospitals, good employment opportunities, etc.
But should you consider buying a property a long way away, in another part of the UK? It is certainly true that some cities and areas of the UK are better than others when renting out property.
For various historical, cultural, and employment security reasons, apart from London, many northern and midlands cities offer good opportunities for rental investment, with very healthy rental yields.
