Landlords should concentrate on the little things

Landlords who are looking to rent out their UK property this year will be trying to do all that they can to make sure that the home looks decent so that any prospective tenants can have the chance to see an attractive household that they want to live in.

However, according to one property expert, many landlords make the mistake of trying too hard and end up making large improvements that cost them far more money when simply keeping up with regular repairs in the rental homes would be the best way to make sure that the house is ready for tenants to view.

Lee Grandin, director at Landlord Mortgages, said that it is always tempting to make grandiose changes to the home which will improve the way it looks, but he also added that the fact that a home is in a good state of repair can be one of the most attractive aspects to someone looking to rent.

"The majority of landlords are acutely aware that the presentation of a property is paramount but this does not mean a landlord needs to be too critical of his or her workmanship, as detailing can be costly without any uplift in rent achievable.

"General regular maintenance is your safeguard against the property falling into disrepair that will inevitably lead to expensive repair bills."

Some of the most common changes which people can make to houses in a bid to try and improve their value include adding a conservatory or a garage which can help to increase the space that people have when they move into it.

However, it is the smaller changes such as making sure the roof is well maintained and that any plumbing issues are dealt with as soon as they crop up which can be far more attractive to tenants, as well as reducing repair bills in the future for the homeowner.