Practical Advice To Help You Profit From Rental Property
Choose Your Type Of Tenant
Part of your consideration in buying an investment property is deciding what market you are aiming for i.e. what type of tenant your
property will cater for. There are several major tenant groups in the UK who are looking for accommodation in the private rented
sector.
Tenants on housing benefit.
The unemployed and those working in low paid jobs get housing benefit without which they would not be able to afford to meet the cost of
rented accommodation. The majority of these rent their home from the local council or from Registered Social Landlords, such as housing
associations but many seek housing in the private sector.
Professional Sharers.
This is a large and quickly growing group who are now responsible for the lion's share of the demand amongst private landlords and
professionally let properties. The three principle drivers for professional sharers renting rather than buying would see to be: Jobs. Many fresh graduates and young professionals are willing to relocate in order to follow their work or to find new
work. Around 250,000 move to London each year to try to get a boost up the employment ladder. If you don't know what or where your next
career step will be, renting can often be the sensible option. Lifestyle. Quite frankly many sharers enjoy the company and social aspects of sharing a house. They might not yet be ready
to strike out on their own and get their own place, for fear of too many nights in alone. Many young professionals are city dwellers.
Attracted by the busy lifestyle and close proximity of amenities, a shared house or flat in the city can be the perfect answer for their
lifestyle needs. Money. Last, but not least, for many young sharers, there are not always many other options. A lot of people now find
themselves priced out of the market in the early parts of their careers and simply can't afford to buy. Others share whilst they save, since
renting with other people is usually cheaper than renting on your own.
Students. Although it is becoming increasingly popular for parents to enter the buy-to-let market by buying a house
for their university-bound child to live in, the vast majority of students live in accommodation that is rented privately or from the
university. This includes the large number of foreign students that come to live in the UK each year and medical and dental students that
live in special accommodation. How to Let to Students
Corporate The corporate rental market is booming, as landlords are waking up to the fact that a whopping
premium can sometimes be gained from leasing your property on a short term let. Major blue chip companies are always looking to house people
in temporary accommodation for the duration of a contract or project. These are people who will rent at the higher end of the market, often
coming to work in the UK from abroad or relocating from elsewhere in the country.
Couples and ex-couples There are three main groups within this category:
Most young couples will usually try living together before they buy a place of their own. It can make sense since buying
with your partner is such a big step. Often, if a couple are serious about buying a place together, they will live in rented accommodation
while they save.
Divorcees and recently separated homeowner couples will often - probably quite sensibly - resist the temptation to
immediately buy a replacement home. Choosing to rent instead is probably quite sensible, as the time after a major break up is definitely a
period of change.
'Living apart together' is something of a new phenomenon amongst modern couples, that can apply to both rented and owned
property. Essentially, each individual of the couple will have their own home, which may or may not be shared with other people. The couple
will split their time between their two places. This allows for a greater level of financial independence from each other and is a choice
currently favoured by around 16% of the population.
Criminals. Like it or not, the criminal fraternity is a recognisable social group that is not averse to renting
property, especially in inner city areas. As our lettings insider tells us, dodgy dealers, pimps, prostitutes and all kinds of creatures of
the night can be found renting the properties of unsuspecting landlords. This is why you should always go through the administrative
procedures that will hopefully weed out at least some of these people.