Tag: #weloveeccles
What Manchester Landlords Should Do in the Event of a Burst Pipe
If a pipe bursts at your rental, quick action will save you time and money. Here’s what landlords need to know. To steal a quote from Game of Thrones ‘Winter is Coming’. (Well, ok it’s here already.) And the colder weather can bring different challenges for landlords, including burst pipes. Here is some advice for landlords on dealing with (and avoiding) burst pipes at a rental property. What causes a burst pipe? In cold weather water in a pipe can freeze. As it freezes, it expands and can split the pipe. Often a burst isn’t apparent until the ice melts and the water pours out. Where is most at risk? Pipes in habitable rooms that are heated are at less risk of freezing. Pipes in cold places, like attics and cellars, are at greater risk. Outdoor piping, such as in a garage, shed or an outside water tap, is at high risk of freezing. Tips to prevent a burst pipe It’s still not too late to do some preventative work. Protect vulnerable pipework with foam insulation or spiral wrap. Outside taps should be protected with an outdoor tap cover. Dealing with a burst pipe – action plan If you get a call from your tenant reporting a burst, consider doing this: (If you’re a tenant and reading this then check whether you should call your landlord directly or their letting agent. Make sure that you have their number handy.) Refer your tenant to your letting agent – if you have one and if they handle maintenance for you. (At times this, a good agent is worth their weight in gold.) Ask your tenant to turn off the water at the stop tap (also known as a stopcock). It’s a good idea to leave instructions in your property showing where this is and how to use it. Then, ask your tenant to drain the affected pipe by turning on the tap it supplies. This could reduce the damage caused considerably. Call in a plumber or home emergency service. (Although this is likely to be easier said than done, especially at Christmas and New Year.) Make a shortlist of who you can call if you don’t already have a plumber. Try a temporary fix if you can’t get a plumber immediately. If you have DIY skills, try a temporary repair using pipe repair tape, epoxy resin or a burst pipe clamping kit. These are available from DIY stores. Of course, a good way for landlords to avoid the problems caused by burst pipes and other emergencies is to hire a good letting agent who can do this for you. Would someone you know find this article helpful? Why not share it with them?
Manchester Residents: Home Security Tips This Winter
Unfortunately, when the nights get longer, this time of year can be open season for burglars looking to target your home. Now is the perfect time to review your home security and see what improvements you can make. Here are three tips to improve your home’s security. The simplest measures are the best Some of the most effective security precautions are simple and cost very little – apart from a bit of thought and effort. Such as: Make sure door and window locks are in good working order. Upgrade them if necessary. Don’t overlook garages, sheds and outbuildings, as thieves [...]
The Renters’ Rights Bill: Three Things Manchester Landlords Should Know
The Renters’ Rights Bill is a big news story in the property rental world right now. And there are lots of myths and inaccurate information being punted around. In this article, we’ll give you straight answers to three of the most common questions landlords are asking us. Will I be able to evict tenants if I need to? The honest answer is: yes and no. All tenancies will be periodic tenancies. There will be no fixed-term shorthold tenancies as there are now. Tenants will be able to stay as long as they wish. But if your tenants break the [...]
How to Make Your Manchester Property Tenant-Ready in Five Easy Steps
Welcoming a new tenant can be exciting for landlords, but it also requires careful preparation to ensure a smooth transition. A well-prepared property makes a great first impression and can set the tone for a successful tenancy. Here are five key steps landlords should take before handing over the keys. Inspect and refresh the property Begin with a thorough inspection. Look out for issues like faulty fittings, leaks or signs of wear and tear. Addressing these minor problems now can prevent major headaches later. Consider a fresh coat of neutral paint to rejuvenate the space and create a welcoming atmosphere [...]
Avoid These Common Pitfalls as a First-Time Landlord in Manchester
Despite overblown media reports of a wave of landlords selling up due to regulation changes and new government policies, property remains a viable long-term investment for many. For first-time landlords, however, common pitfalls can turn a promising venture into a stressful experience. Avoid these six mistakes to ensure your property investment journey gets off to a smooth start. Underestimating costs One of the biggest errors new landlords make is underestimating the ongoing property maintenance costs. Repairs, safety inspections and void periods (when your property is empty) can quickly eat into your profits. Budgeting for unexpected expenses and having a contingency [...]
Three Helpful Apps for New Homeowners in Manchester
There’s nothing quite like becoming a homeowner for the first time. Stepping over the threshold into a place you can call your own is one of life’s memorable moments. However, as well as coming with a host of benefits, home ownership also comes with responsibilities. Unlike renting, where someone else handles the maintenance and most of the upkeep, these duties now fall to you as the owner. Thankfully, many useful apps are available to make life easier and less stressful for homeowners. Here are three of the best. Centriq This clever home maintenance app means you’ll never have to search [...]
Savvy Styling Tips for Your Manchester Rental Property
Property experts often advise sellers to style their home before they put it on the market. Go the extra mile with presentation, and buyers will be impressed by what they see and smell, or so the theory goes. But do the same styling rules apply to landlords hoping to attract top tenants to their buy-to-let? While there’s a little less scope for creative presentation with rentals (because they tend to be unfurnished), we think basic styling principles can still apply. A well-styled rental sends a clear message to prospective tenants that the landlord is proactive and [...]
How to Reduce the Risk of Fire at Your Manchester Rental
Did you know that a blaze is seven times more likely to start in a rental property than in a home occupied by the owner?* It's a shocking statistic that underlines the need for landlords to prioritise fire safety. So, let's look at how to keep your tenants and property safe. Follow the law Landlords must follow strict rules on issues such as smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, gas and electrical safety checks and the provision of unobstructed escape routes. We won't go into too much detail here as there's a lot of ground to cover** (if you'd like [...]
How Letting Agents in Manchester Support Landlords and Tenants
A good letting agent can make a world of difference for both landlords and tenants. Here are ten things a top-notch letting agent does to provide outstanding service: Tenant Vetting and Screening A reliable letting agent conducts tenant screening (often called referencing) to ensure potential tenants are compatible with the financial obligations and responsibilities of the tenancy. Doing so reduces the risk of payment issues and helps support a harmonious tenancy for both tenant and landlord. Property Marketing Savvy marketing is crucial for attracting quality tenants quickly. The best letting agents use professional photos and accurate descriptions, and advertise on [...]
Three Weird Questions to Test the Knowledge of Manchester Landlords
When it comes to being a successful landlord, it pays to heed the words of Forrest Gump. The slow-witted, kind-hearted fictional character played by Tom Hanks on the big screen uttered a phrase that should serve as a guiding motto for all landlords. “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.” No matter how experienced and diligent you are as a landlord, you never know what unexpected dilemma is going to come your way. And when a tenant throws you a curveball, it’s important that your response falls within the bounds of [...]
The Dos and Don’ts of Deposit Deductions: Advice for Manchester Landlords
When a tenancy ends, there’s often confusion – and sometimes disputes – over what a landlord can claim as a deposit deduction. So, let’s look at what’s reasonable to claim and how to avoid deposit disputes in the first place. A landlord can deduct funds from a tenant’s deposit to cover*: Unpaid rent or bills. Damage caused by negligence or recklessness. (The tenant should return the property in the same condition as at the start of a tenancy.) Anything in the property at check-in that is missing at check-out, such as furniture, appliances and smaller items such as lampshades or [...]
Eleven Things to Do before You Move Out of Your Manchester Rental
As we all know, moving home can be a stressful business. But you can avoid a frantic panic on the big day by starting your end-of-tenancy preparations sooner rather than later. With a little bit of planning and forethought, you can streamline the process and avoid a last-minute scramble. Once you’ve agreed on a moving date with your landlord or letting agent, follow this guide. Check out your check-in report: Review the inventory you received on moving-in day. This will outline the property’s condition at the start of the tenancy. It’s your responsibility to return the property [...]
Creating a Child-Safe Home: A Guide for Manchester Residents
As it’s Child Safety Week*, here’s a handy reminder for Manchester homeowners about how to keep your precious little ones out of harm’s way. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent or guardian, it’s important to ensure your home is child-proof. Babies and children are infinitely curious and love climbing on furniture and grabbing and tasting whatever they can get their hands on. So, here are seven practical tips to reduce the risk of accidents in your home and keep children safe. Secure furniture and TVs: Furniture and TV tip-overs are surprisingly common and can cause nasty injuries and, in rare cases, [...]
How Mortgages Differ around the World – A Guide for Manchester Homeowners
If you’re paying off a mortgage on a property in Manchester, you’ll be well aware of how the mortgage market works in the UK. But how do they do things in the rest of the world? Let’s look at how people in other countries get on the housing ladder. The Netherlands While UK lenders offer the choice of a fixed-rate or variable mortgage, the Dutch do things differently. A Dutch-style mortgage is a long-term deal (typically 20 to 30 years) in which the interest rate automatically decreases as the loan is paid down. This means the [...]
What You Need to Know if You Inherit a Rental Property in Manchester
If you’ve just inherited a rental property, then you may be wondering what your options are. While you won’t need to make any decisions on the spot (it usually takes many months to settle an estate), it’s good to start thinking about the issues you’ll have to address in time. The first is what you intend to do with the property. Assuming you don’t want to move in yourself, your options are to: Continue to rent the property out. That way, you’ll earn a monthly income and have a long-term investment that you could later pass [...]
What Manchester Couples Need to Know before Moving In Together
If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Myhouse Agents, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out relationship advice is a step too far – even for us. So, if you’re considering moving in with your partner, we’ll leave the big decisions and lovey-dovey stuff down to you. However, if you decide to co-habit, we have some useful, albeit unromantic, advice for you. It’s based on insights we’ve gained over the years from [...]
Say Goodbye to Condensation: Quick Tips for Manchester Tenants
In the winter, we’re guaranteed a few things. It’ll be raining when we least want it to. A local postie will still be wearing shorts, no matter how cold it is. And condensation will appear at some point – often in our homes. While you can’t do anything about the weather (or the postie’s clothing choices), you can take some simple steps to combat condensation. We’ve come up with seven quick fixes that can dramatically reduce the risk of condensation, ensuring your home stays fresh and clean. Consider using portable dehumidifiers, particularly in high-moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms. These [...]
Crisis-Proof Your Property: What Every Manchester Landlord Needs
As any experienced letting agent or landlord can advise you, ‘expect the unexpected’ when it comes to rental properties. And that’s why it pays to follow the Scouts’ motto and “be prepared”. Being prepared for any eventuality can mean the difference between a minor hiccup and a full-blown catastrophe if you’re a landlord. With that in mind, we’ve created a Landlord Emergency Kit. Let’s dive into five essentials that can save the day. Back-up keys Locked-out tenants? Spare keys can quickly resolve this common issue. Store them in a secure yet easily accessible place, and always have duplicates for all [...]
Great Storage Tips to Help You Declutter Your Manchester Home
Close your eyes and picture your dream home. What do you see? A home that’s light, spacious and orderly? Or one that’s chaotic and cluttered with objects piled high and shoes and clothes strewn on the floor (along with bits of Lego that you inevitably tread on). The first scenario is the one that most people aspire to – and for good reason. Research shows that when our environment is tidy, we’re less anxious and more productive. In contrast, we feel more distracted and stressed when everything around us is in disarray. But creating a mess-free, [...]
Choosing a Letting Agent: What Manchester Landlords Need to Know
How can you spot a top letting agent from a master of mediocrity? Read on to find out. Landlords use letting agents for all sorts of reasons. Some need help navigating red tape and lettings legislation, while others want a third party to deal with inspections, inventories and disputes. And some just want peace of mind and to know that their investment property is being managed by a safe pair of hands. Whatever your motivation as a landlord, once you’ve decided to use a letting agent, it’s important to choose a good one. Here are [...]
How to Stop Vermin Invading Your Manchester Home
What’s cute, has a bushy tail and could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to a rental property? Unfortunately, as sweet as they may seem, squirrels and their nests can be a nightmare for landlords and tenants. Once those little grey beasts make themselves at home in a property, you’ve got trouble ahead. A report by general insurers LV= found that claims caused by squirrel infestations jumped up by 51% last year. Why do the furry critters do so much damage? Squirrels’ teeth never stop growing, so they chew and chew and chew some more to file [...]
Feng Shui: Could It Bring Harmony to Your Home in Manchester?
The ancient Chinese practice of feng shui literally means ‘wind’ and ‘water’. So, is it a valuable guide for harmonious living or a load of hot air? Even if you don’t know exactly what feng shui is all about, you’ve probably heard LA celebrities and interior designers extolling the virtues of it. So if it works for Bill Gates, Madonna and George Clooney, could feng shui work for you? Here’s a rundown of the basics. History Feng shui is the practice of arranging work and living spaces to create harmony, and dates back to China 4,000 years ago. [...]
Four Ways to Reduce the Stress of Being a Manchester Landlord
Being a landlord is one of those jobs where there’s no middle ground. It’s either low stress with great tenants and affordable mortgage rates, or it’s the total opposite: high stress, broken appliances, tenancy challenges and ever-increasing costs. When a property is vacant, there’s worry about how long it will take to find new residents. When new tenants move in, there’s the stress of managing the rent payments, and then there’s the constant anxiety about a boiler breakdown or major leak. As April is Stress Awareness Month, there’s no better time to look at a few ways you [...]
How to Keep Your Manchester Home Safe
Some days, it’s like your home is a minefield of accidents just waiting to happen. You trip up the stairs with a pile of washing in your arms, you break your favourite mug, and to top it all off, you burn the toast. Not fun. While everyone wants a home that is safe and hazard-free, sometimes little mishaps can cause a whole lot of bother. So, how can we make our homes safer for all? In this quick read, we look at some of the most common accidents that can happen at home and share some tips to [...]
Eight Reasons Why Manchester Landlords Should Refurbish Their Buy-to-Lets
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s the view some landlords take on the question of renovating a buy-to-let. They do the absolute minimum in terms of maintenance and repairs and only manage to meet their legal obligations by the skin of their teeth. The décor is shabby and tenant turnover is high, but hey, they’re saving every possible penny, so they feel rather pleased with themselves. So, is this the best way to get the most out of your property investment? We’d argue that instead of running your buy-to-let down to its bare [...]
Want to Live Happily Ever After? Don’t Fall for This Common Property Fairy Tale
As 26 February is Fairy Tale Day (yes, it’s a real thing), let’s look at the most common property fairy tale and how falling for it can cost you time and money. We love a good fairy tale as much as the next person. Whether it’s a frog that morphs into a prince or a feline in fancy footwear, these stories have stood the test of time for a reason – they’re imaginative and entertaining. But when it comes to helping people make their next big property move in real life, we think it’s best to save the [...]
How to Manage Multiple Rental Properties
How do portfolio landlords deal with the multitude of tasks and mountains of red tape that come with managing several properties? Read on to find out. Owning a portfolio of rental properties can be a great way to earn income and build up a tidy nest egg for the future. But be warned: you can’t afford to wing it. If you’re disorganised with deposits, rent payments, inventories and maintenance, you’ll wind up out of pocket. And if you don’t keep up with the hundreds of rules and regulations that apply to landlords, you could be fined [...]
How Manchester Homeowners Can Take Their Garden to the Next Level
If you’re planning to entertain friends or family at home this summer, check out the latest must-have garden gadgets and accessories. A two-minute read. Spending time in your own garden, be it pottering around alone or entertaining family and friends, is one of the true joys of summer. And there’s a host of products on the market to help you make the most of the experience. Here’s a list of what is proving popular at the moment. Garden fireballs – Fire pits were a hit last summer, but this year, it’s all about the fireball. Like a [...]
All You Need to Know about Double Glazing for Your Manchester home
Before you were a property owner, chances are windows were something you just looked out of to take in the view. You probably didn’t give them much thought and you might have cleaned them occasionally. That was it. Now, as a homeowner, your single, double, or triple glazing means so much more. And if you’re about to renovate a property or upgrade your windows, it’s worth diving into the fascinating world of double glazing to find out more. (Honestly, it’s pretty interesting.) In this quick read, we look at different types of windows and why they matter, especially [...]
🛠️ Repairs and Maintenance – What Are a Landlord’s Responsibilities? 💣
This two-minute read details a five-point plan to help landlords manage their maintenance responsibilities. There’s no quick fix when it comes to maintenance and repairs; to avoid stressful and costly tenant disputes, landlords need to be organised and proactive. Who is responsible for what? Always check your contract, but as a general rule, landlords are responsible for structural features like walls and chimneys, along with windows, drains, stairs, toilets, showers, pipework, the boiler, and electrics. If the property has a garden, the landlord is responsible for things like lopping tree branches and repairing fences. But it’s a two-way [...]
Four Home Security Tips for Manchester Residents
This two-minute read looks at the best way to protect your home and outsmart burglars. With a raft of high-tech home security gadgets on the market, it’s easier than ever to keep your family, pets, and precious belongings safe. Whether installing a completely new system or tightening up existing security measures, Manchester homeowners have plenty of options to choose from. Smart system There’s an app for everything these days – including home security. A smart system wirelessly links alarms, sensors, and cameras to a hub that you can manage remotely from your phone. Some systems can also [...]
