With 52 per-cent of UK landlords being forced to deal with void periods in the last 12 months, Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield city centre, is offering impartial advice to those faced with this costly predicament.
Although the latest figures from the National Landlord Association indicate that incidences of voids have leveled off, over half of the landlords questioned have experienced voids in the past year, with a staggering 43 per-cent being forced to use personal savings to pay their mortgage repayments.”
Rick Flay, director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, said, “Generally speaking, a ‘void’ period is any landlord’s worst nightmare. The cutthroat market conditions we are now experiencing mean that open channels of communication between agents and tenants is becoming even more important as landlords aim to avoid the dreaded ‘void period’.
As a value add to landlords of our managed properties, Belvoir Sheffield contact tenants over two months prior to the end of their lease to try and find out whether they are intending to stay and where they are not, we start to remarket the property, maximizing the time to find a re-let before the existing tenant has moved out.
Here at Belvoir Sheffield, we are inundated with enquiries from landlords keen to avoid such ‘void periods’ so we are offering our top five tips set to help those most in need.”
With so many new build and newish properties saturating the current marketplace, the need to modernize both kitchens and bathrooms is becoming increasingly important. If you are on a tight budget, it is possible to give a kitchen a mini facelift by merely replacing the kitchen cupboard doors, or by repainting door frames and skirting boards in brilliant white. The same goes for bathrooms. If you are working to a restricted budget, why not repaint the room or invest in some new tiles for an instant mini makeover.
1. Refresh kitchens and bathrooms
2. Make a good first impression
First impressions are without a doubt the most important, so make sure that your property looks great both inside and out. Setting the tone for the rest of the property, the exterior of your property should be neat and tidy. Make sure that driveways are clean, any fencing is freshly stained and that any garden spaces have been looked after.
3. Rental expectation
When landlords ask us to let their houses in Sheffield, we tell them to make sure that they make realistic rental expectations and ensure that their property is on the market for a price which is in line with comparable properties in the area. It is much better to rent your property out at a slightly reduced price than for it to be empty for a month because you are holding our for those few extra pounds.
4. Go Natural
When painting your property in a bid to attract tenants, be sure to use a neutral colour scheme. It is always best to play it safe to avoid putting off any potential tenants, plus using a neutral palette will make the rooms look bigger whilst drawing in more light.
5. Double Glazing
Double glazing reduces heat loss and it will make it much more energy efficient. It can also reduce noise and will give make the property seem much more private, especially if it is based in a busy built up area.
Belvoir Lettings Agency Sheffield are the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances
