Buy-to-let traps...
Take a look at what you can do to avoid falling into common buy-to-let traps.

Be realistic when planning what you can afford. Make sure you will be able to cope if there is an unforeseen rise in costs such as your mortgage repayments, or extra expenditure on repairs. A fixed rate mortgage will help you to plan financially.

Don't rely on there being no fallow tenantless periods. There may be gaps when you have no income from the property. Plan for this eventuality. It might be worth employing a letting agency: the fees charged may be offset by the flow of tenants it can generate.

Don't stake everything on making a profit by selling the house at a particular time. It might fall at a very bad time to sell. So make sure you have the funds to sit out a slump in property prices.

Location, location, location. Take advice and do your research. A letting agent can recommend good areas to buy within, and the type of property that is easily rented out.

Bad tenants - the landlord's nightmare... Take care who you lend to, by meeting face to face early on and taking up and cross-checking references. Again, a letting agency is experienced in vetting tenants. Let your property on an assured shorthold tenancy, which affords you the right to evict a tenant on two months notice.

The National Association of Estate Agents
The NAEA is the UK's largest organisation for professional estate agents. It has getting on for 10,000 members. Check that your estate agent belongs to the NAEA: to be a member the estate agent has to adhere to a code of practice and rules of conduct, so you can be sure that you will receive certain standards of professionalism and integrity in their service to you.
National Association of Estate Agents >

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