Showing posts with label guildford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guildford. Show all posts

Saturday, 23 March 2013


2 Bed Flat in Town centre offers Good Yield

Here's a good property that's just come onto the market. It is marketed as an ideal investment and I would say the selling agent is right.

Front

Below is the link to right move:

http://tinyurl.com/dypvq43

York Rd is prime "renting" location in Guildford as it is next to the London Rd station and only a few minutes walk to the main Guildford station and the Town centre. Now, I don't normally recommend 2 bed flats as they are slightly harder to let than the 1 beds or 2-3 bed houses with more space and garden etc.
However, this has come to market at a good price of £185k and should comfortably achieve £1000pcm, so around 6.5% Yield. We have just let a 1 bed on the road for £800 which is probably not presented as well as this 2 bed seems to be.

Due Diligence on this one would be:
  • Leasehold - what is the length left and the ground rent / maintenance charges and who manages the block. Sometime these flats in York Rd have poorly maintained communal areas which will deter the higher quality tenants.
  • Get the electrics and boiler checked out!
  • Meet the neighbours - are they renting or do they own their flats.
  • There is no EPC attached to the details at the moment, again it might not be double glazed.
  • Consider the fact there is only a shower - this will affect re-sale value and prevent families with kids renting it. So be prepared for professional sharers - possible even a couple witha friend - then it becomes an HMO. Your tenants are unlikely to stay above the average 19months of a tenancy here, but voids are unlikely due to location.
If you want any other advice please call me on 01483 537200, we continue to offer free Buy to Let advice for potential investors in the Guildford area. We are not Estate Agents, we only do lettings so we can give impartial honest advice.

Saturday, 23 February 2013

2 Bedroom flat with 6.5% yield



Kitchen



This recently modernised flat has just come on the sales market. I assume it has been done up by a developer as there is another flat similar, also new to the market, on for £165k. The marketing details don't currently show a floor plan so hard to gauge exactly but it states 2 double bedrooms. So I would assume a rent of £850pcm with no work to do to get it ready for lettings. In fact there is a tenant already in there, so best check the details of the current tenancy. Not sure why the current rent isn't shown???
 However, when properties have been done up, sometimes it can be done on the cheap so make sure you get a trusted plumber and electrician to service the boiler and check the electrics. Electrical Inspections cost as little as £110+VAT and a plumber call out should be circa £65. Bearing in mind what one pays for a survey it is money  very well spent.
Obviously the location isn't perfect as it is a bit further from the centre and there is no mention if it is freehold or leasehold. Grrr!
However, it looks a pretty straight forward no hassle investment.

Right move link below - pictures and details courtesy of Karltons.

http://tinyurl.com/asmsslz

Tuesday, 5 February 2013




Excellent investment property.
This is the type of property that landlords in Guildford should be drooling over if they are looking to let to students. It is well located to the University (10-15min walk if you cut across the A3 at the fish and chip shop on Southway) and has the ideal layout to convert to a 4 Bed student house if you put a wall between the dining and living room. It is on the market at £250K , the sales particulars state it needs updating. Although hard to tell from the photos I suspect the kitchen will be OK for students and the main job will be new carpets (or laminate flooring) and repainting - probably c£2k. However, check closely when viewing.
Furnish it with a sofa, armchair, coffee table, whitegoods, beds, drawers, wardrobe (if not built in) and maybe desks and you are ready to go.
I urge due diligence on getting the boiler and electrics checked out and then allow for correct smoke alarms / heat sensor for an HMO - but it looks a great opportunity. Should let for £1600-£1650. £1650 vs a sale price of £250k is as good as 8% yield! Obviously you will try to get it for less than the £250k especially if the kitchen needs work, so your yield could be even higher.
You just need to get the timing right as the student market is seasonal but once set up on that regular annual cycle this would let quite easily.
For any advice regarding buying to let in Guildford or general lettings help, please feel free to call me on 01483 537200.


Picture No.02



Right Move link:
http://tinyurl.com/ac6ret9

Floorplan

Please note the photos and floor plan and sales marketing details are via Mann Countrywide

Friday, 21 October 2011

Home owners Occupiers become Tenants and Landlords in one move!

There is a new trend gaining momentum in the residential lettings market – and it could be taking a foothold in Guildford over coming months.

“Double renting‟ is springing up all over the country – where home owners struggling to sell are taking up the option of letting out their existing home to provide an on-going income stream, whilst moving into another - lower cost – rental property themselves.

This has created a curious situation in which a home owner becomes both a landlord and a tenant. But for many it is the ideal solution if they are struggling to sell their property for the desired asking price. It means they can make alternative arrangements without playing the “waiting game‟ for a sale.
In this current market, with rents rising and very strong tenant demand, “double renting‟ offers a new and ideal solution for many people.

It is particularly suitable for owners and their families who are looking to move to another town or city because of a promotion or new job – or for families re-locating to a new area for a particular school. It is very lifestyle driven.

Changes in the family structure – such as parents deciding to downsize, or move to a different area once they have raised their children – are also factors.

With double renting, there is no stamp duty or associated legal costs, as there would be in a selling and buying situation. The process is instantaneous and it also enables home owners to stay “invested‟ in the property market. With property prices at an all time low, they can become renters themselves elsewhere and wait for the market to pick up and sell at a profit.

On the face of it, it is a perfect solution for certain people who need to re-locate quickly, but do not necessarily want to let go of their own family home.

But ,”double renters‟ need to ensure that they attract the right kind of tenant for their property; carry out detailed referencing and also conform with the wide range of insurance, legislative and health and safety requirements related to private property rental.

Here at Belvoir Guildford, our team of property specialists can provide expert guidance and assistance and ensure that the whole process is handled both professionally and efficiently, leaving property owners safe in the knowledge that their home – and investment - will be expertly managed and maintained whilst they are away from it.