It's a question you may not have thought about before. If you have your first response would probably be long the lines of "Who cares as long as they pay the rent." And if you're a landlord with dozens of properties in your portfolio and staff to manage them for you it's an understandable answer. After all, you're only going to be concerned with the numbers in the profit and loss columns. But for most private landlords it's a question which deserves a little more thought 

Choosing to become a private landlord is a big step. There are plenty of things to think about. Not least the financial aspects. But, if you're thinking about letting your home here's the most pressing things you should consider before taking the plunge. 

Contrary to the opinions of some tenants’ private landlords are human. And like anyone else they make mistakes. This is only natural. But if you're a new landlord or about to take the plunge there are some errors which are easier to make than others. In this article we'll take a look at the five most common mistakes new landlords make. And how to avoid them. 

Student landlords should already be planning for the next academic year. Here's our top ten tips for getting your student property ready for a new intake of tenants. 

Are you thinking of buying a property to let for the first time? Or perhaps you're already a private landlord and are considering increasing your portfolio? Either way there are plenty of benefits to taking the plunge. Even in these times of political turmoil and the regular chipping away of landlord benefits by the chancellor.  

Letting a property and installing the tenant as quickly as possible is hugely important for any private landlord. After all an empty property doesn’t generate income but the mortgage ... 

There’s a stereotypical image people have of 'dossing' students. Happily living in condemned student houses as portrayed in sit-coms like The Young Ones. But it is just a stereotype. In reality students are as discerning as any other tenant. I'm sure all private landlords realise this. But what do students really look for in a rental?  

You've decided to become a private landlord. You have a property you're ready to rent out. Now you need to take the next steps to install a tenant. Fortunately, the process of renting out your property is a fairly clear one. That's not to say it's easy but you do have a well-marked path to follow. In this article we'll take a brief look at how you can rent out your property and begin collecting rent from your first tenant. 

Whether you should allow your tenants to set off fireworks may not be a question you've ever considered. And to be fair it may not even occur to your tenant to ask for permission. Yet it's something you should definitely think about. And, depending on your thoughts, you may want to amend your tenancy agreement.  

Whether you should allow your tenants to set off fireworks may not be a question you've ever considered. And to be fair it may not even occur to your tenant to ask for permission. Yet it's something you should definitely think about. And, depending on your thoughts, you may want to amend your tenancy agreement.  

Private landlords must look at budget announcements with dread. In recent years the chancellor's battered red briefcase has held some nasty surprises. Cuts to mortgage interest relief and the loss of the wear and tear allowance just two recent hammer blows felt by landlords. Changes to stamp duty were an even bitterer pill to swallow. That knocked the stuffing out of many private landlords.  

There's nothing worse to a private landlord than an empty property. Void periods hurt you financially. After all there's no rent coming in and you still have your expenses to pay. But the only way to reduce void periods is to let your property as quickly as possible.