News & Blog
The latest property news & information from a trusted source.
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Hints & Tips, Student Accommodation
Essentials you need for your student flat
Essentials you need for your student flat Chances are you probably feel like you have spent the majority of your student career going out, attending minimal classes and packing and repacking to go from halls to a flat to another new flat the following academic year. We are here to help cut the amount of […]
HMO Properties, Student Accommodation
Student HMO Lets
Student HMO Lets What is an HMO property? Why do students need them? What do I have to do? These are some of the many questions that are being asked daily so we have created a quick fix to answer all of these questions and help to iron out all of your burning questions. […]
Hints & Tips, Tenants
How to reduce the amount of plastic you are using in your home?
How to reduce the amount of plastic you are using in your home? It has been reported that there is between 4.7 and 12.8 million metric tons of plastic floating around in the ocean currently. This is an astonishing amount of waste which is impacting our climate hugely just now. We have outlined some […]
Estate Agency
Traditional estate agent Vs Online estate agent
Traditional estate agent Vs Online estate agent The big debate currently consuming all property experts, home owners and potential buyers- who do I choose to sell my house with? A tried and tested high street estate agent, or take a leap of faith and leave your most prized possession in the hands of an online […]
Landlords, Legislation, Tenants
Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord
Legislation affecting BOTH Tenant and Landlord It’s no surprise that the rental market has undergone yet MORE changes to legislation from 2017-2019 than ever before. If you don’t already know, The Private Residential Tenancy came into force on the 1st December 2017 and has brought about some big changes. The tenancy system establishes the […]
Landlords
Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property
Top Tips to increase the value of your rental property As all private landlords know, keeping your rental property looking sharp can be a job that falls further down the to do list every time the lease is renewed. So, to help ease this burden, we have pulled together a few top tips on how to get the most out of your rental property: Top Tip 1- Improve the appearance of the front of the property. Whether it’s a house or a flat, improvements can be made to be sure the front of your property is in tip top condition. This could mean spraying some weed killer down your front steps or drive way or even just getting a new door mat for your communal hall. Whatever you do, first impressions count and small changes can be crucial for demanding higher monthly rent from your tenants. Top Tip 2- Clean, clean and clean some more No one wants to move in to a dirty home, let alone pay a premium for it! After each tenant leaves, make sure the property has been thoroughly cleaned. This responsibility normally lies with the tenant however it is always a good idea to get professional cleaners in after the lease is finished, or if you don’t mind and want to save yourself a bit of cash, do it yourself! Whatever you choose, make sure your tenants are moving in to a home where you would be happy to live in. Chances are, they are more likely to keep it that way! Top Tip 3- Rent review Charging too little or too much rent can be a problem. Make sure you are keeping up to date with the value of your property by making a valuation appointment with your letting agent. This is paramount to ensure you are not being undercut. However, it is a risk, so make sure you weigh up all the options before committing. Top Tip 4- Maintenance Check the general maintenance of the property regularly. This can avoid small problems becoming much larger problems, and probably save you some money in the long run. Having regular inspections means that you are more likely to spot issues such as damp or wear and tear which your tenants might not pick up on. Top Tip 5- Add special extras Finally, if your property is in a competitive market, you may want to think about adding that little something extra to add that luxury touch. This can be anything from high spec kitchen appliances like kettles, toasters and microwaves to built-in surround systems like Sonos if you are really splashing out. Whatever you do, remember, the more you put in, the more you get out!
Hints & Tips
Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget
Living A Champagne Insta-Lifestyle on a Lemonade Budget So, you want to live an Instagram-able champagne lifestyle but you’re a student. You’ve got books to buy, rent to pay, bills, food… we get it. It also doesn’t help that on your downtime you scroll through social media to find a plethora of posts from your […]
General
The impact of Brexit on the Scottish Property Market
The impact of Brexit on the Scottish Property Market As things stand, the Brexit deadline has been extended until October 31st, with no clear progress as of yet on what terms the UK will ultimately leave the EU. As might be expected, this Brexit deadlock has made uncertainty the watchword of the day and, much […]
HMO Properties, News
Meet Carolanne Waters: HMO Specialist
Meet Carolanne Waters: HMO Specialist Name: Carolanne Waters Job title? HMO Specialist What your job entails? I arrange House in Multiple Occupancy (HMO) Licences for landlords that want to rent out their properties to 3 or more unrelated persons in the one flat. I liaise with Glasgow City Council, Fire Scotland and Licensing to ensure […]