4 tips for landlords decorating their rental property

4 tips for landlords decorating their rental property | H is for Home

You may have moved in with your partner, inherited a house from a family member or invested in a buy-to-let property. However you arrived at the position of having a spare house, it would be advantageous financially to make the property work for you. If you decide to let it out to provide you with an income, there are a few practical things that you, as a landlord, need to consider when decorating your rental property.

Sitting room decorated with white walls and neutral coloured furniture

Keep it neutral

Paint the walls the same colour throughout – easier to touch up when the tenant moves out. You can buy decorator’s sized tubs of magnolia, brilliant white or similar. This is particularly economical and time-saving if you have more than one rental property – you can decorate them all in the same colour and brand of paint. Not only is a simple, neutral interior good for a landlord, potential tenants would rather move into a house or flat that is bright and light with a fresh lick of paint.

Similarly, if you’re renovating the bathroom, a plain white bath suite and plain white tiles are not only more economical, they’ll be preferable to a renter too.

Laying a laminate floor

Make it hard-wearing

Landlords should be realistic and expect some degree of wear & tear on their property. This is especially so if the house will be lived in by students or children.

Lay vinyl or wood-effect laminate flooring in heavy traffic areas such as hallways and kitchens. In bedrooms and sitting rooms, install carpets that are stain repellent and are easy to clean. Where possible, choose paint for walls and doors that is scuff-resistant and can be easily cleaned with hot soapy water.

Unless you’ll be leasing out a luxury apartment or manor house, don’t leave any furniture, fittings or accessories that are of considerable worth or have sentimental value. Just think, is it worth the risk of them getting damaged or destroyed?

Checking a fuse box

Ensure it’s safe

There are stringent health and safety regulations that you need to adhere to when you let a property. Avoid the possibility of gas leaks, faulty electrical wiring and other fire hazards. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and regularly check that they are in working order. Ensure that any electrical appliances provided such as kettles, toasters and microwaves have been PAT tested.

Fitting something as cheap and simple as anti-overflow sink and bath plugs will avert leaks that can lead to costly repairs. stairs/bannisters

Also, be security-aware – check that locks on doors and windows of the house, garage or out-buildings are secure and comply with your insurance policy. Check here to compare landlord insurance plans.

Flat-pack furniture

Make it practical

Will your property be marketed to potential tenants as furnished or unfurnished? If it’s to be the former, provide simple, economical yet robust furniture. Invest in flat-pack beds, tables & chairs and storage solutions from retailers such as IKEA, Argos and Habitat. Opt for a sofa or suite with removable covers that can be removed and laundered. When buying mattresses, spend a little extra and include mattress protectors.

Remember to provide basic details and practical items such as kettle, toaster, cutlery, tin opener, shower curtain and ironing board. Related to this, it’s important to conduct a thorough stock take prior to the tenant moving in; it will avert problems when it comes to their moving out day.

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Getting your deposit back

Getting your deposit back | H is for Home

Most young people today rent the homes that they live in. Very few of us can afford to buy as soon as we’re ready to live without our parents, and for many, renting is the only option if they want to live with a partner or friend, move closer to work, live in a new location or gain some independence. Many of us rent more than once, moving from short-term rental to short-term rental until we’re able to settle.

Renting gets a bad reputation, but it’s not all bad. It’s a great way to live more flexibly. You’re not stuck with a long-term financial commitment, and you can move on when you are ready. You don’t have to be responsible for repairs and maintenance, and your landlord is ultimately responsible for the safety of your home. It can be ideal for many.

However, that financial freedom doesn’t mean that renting is cheap. Most landlords will ask for a security deposit or bond when you move in, as well as a month’s rent upfront. This can be a substantial amount of money and is certainly a fee that you’ll want to get back if you ever leave, especially if you need to pay another deposit and lot of rent on the home that you are moving into.

These deposits are taken to ensure that the home is returned in good condition. Any repairs or other work needed will be taken out of your deposit when you move out, decreasing the amount that you will get back. While fair wear and tear are allowed, if your landlord needs to hire a cleaner or repairman (they won’t do it themselves to save you money!), you can suddenly find that most of it has gone. So, what can you do to make sure you’ll be getting your deposit back when you move?

Perform a full inspection before moving in

Perform a full inspection before moving in

Your landlord will compare the state of the property when you moved in, to how it looks when you leave. If something was broken when you moved in, it’s certainly not your responsibility to fix it or to lose money from your bond because of it.

Don’t trust your landlord to be thorough. Before you move in, perform your own inspection, making notes and taking photos of all of the rooms and any damage or unclean areas. Send a copy to your landlord and keep a copy for your own notes.

Report any issues during your tenancy

Report any issues during your tenancy

If there’s a problem with your home during your tenancy, report it to your landlord as soon as you can. It’s their job to fix it, as long as it wasn’t your fault, but they can only do this if they know about it. If you fail to tell them, you may be charged for the repairs when you leave.

Keep a little spare paint

Keep a little spare paint

You could lose money from your deposit for something as small as an oily mark, where you’ve stuck a poster to a wall, or a mark from dirty fingers. Keep a spare tin of paint, and touch up before you leave. You may need to quickly paint a full wall to keep it even, but it will be substantially cheaper to do it yourself.

Get handy with some filler

You might worry about holes that you might have made with picture hooks, or by securing large furniture to walls, which is, of course, essential if you have young children. But, this isn’t usually cause for concern. If you remove any nails or plugs from the wall, you’ll probably be able to fill it yourself with a little filler from your local hardware store. Then, gently sand it down and add a lick of paint to finish. Good as new!

Invite your landlord round when you decide to move

Invite your landlord round when you decide to move

When you decide that you want to move, it can be a good idea to invite your landlord around for a preliminary, off-the-record inspection. They might give you some ideas of things that you should do before you leave, giving you a great head start.

Hire a cleaning team

Hire a cleaning team

You might think that your cleaning standards are pretty high. But, if you don’t leave the property in a condition that someone new could move into, your landlord may decide to hire a cleaner or cleaning team and take their fee out of your deposit.

It can be easier to hire an End of Tenancy Cleaning service yourself. You might get a better price, and at least you have peace of mind. Just make sure you keep a record of the cleaner that you’ve used, in case your landlord tries to charge for further cleaning services.

Read your tenancy agreement thoroughly

Read your tenancy agreement thoroughly

One of the best things that you can do is read your tenancy agreement thoroughly. Do this before you sign it, so that you know if there are any restrictions, and ask your landlord if there is anything that you are unsure about. Then, reread it before you move out so that you know what is included in fair wear and tear, and what you might need to do before you leave.

Keep cleaning to a high standard

Keep cleaning to a high standard

To make things easier, keep your cleaning efforts to a high standard throughout your tenancy. Clean regularly, and make sure things like your oven and windows are cleaned often.

Don't be defeated by damp or mouldcredit

Don’t be defeated by damp or mould

Damp can grow easily, spread quickly, and be hard to remove. We often find patches when we move furniture away from walls, and it is common in humid rooms like your bathroom and kitchen. Get into good habits, like opening windows when you shower and turning on extractor fans, and the risk of mould and damp is much lower. If you do find a patch, treat it quickly before it has a chance to spread.

Don’t leave anything behind

You might not think that leaving a few things behind will matter. But, if your landlord has to pay for any removals, however small, you will foot the bill.

Question any issuescredit

Question any issues

If your landlord takes money from your deposit, ask why and question anything which you think may be unfair.

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Home cleaning 101

Home cleaning 101

In this post, we’ll be taking a look at a number of tips and advice for effectively cleaning your home.

Illustration of an oven with its door open

Easy ways to keep your cooker clean

Cleaning the cooker is a task which most of us evade. Most people tend to put off their oven cleaning for months and months out of sheer dread. Eventually, you’re left with a monumental cleaning task on your hands. As a result, it can take hours and hours on end to get your stove to a point where it’s barely passable. However, you’ll be pleased to know, there are a few tips & tricks that can make the task of cleaning a cooker a lot easier. Read on to discover what these are and hopefully you won’t find tackling the oven such a nightmare again.

The first thing you need to do is recognise that your stove needs cleaning regularly. It can be very tempting to simply shut your oven door and forget about it. However, the longer you leave it, the worse it becomes. Simply take the time every time you use it to give your cooker the quick once over. All you need to do is use a damp cloth to wipe and clean the surface. You can then use an oven cleaner to give the inside of the oven some attention as well. If you do this routinely, you’ll manage to stay on top of your oven cleaning. You won’t need to spend loads of time making the oven sparkling clean because you’ll have already put in the groundwork. It’s amazing the difference a regular quick wipe can make.

Of course, the point just mentioned doesn’t relate to a thorough blitz of your cooker. It was merely a general tip to make life a lot easier for you from now on. Nonetheless, if you want a pristine oven, then one of the ways you can achieve this is by using bicarbonate of soda. Combine bicarb with a little water so that it has a thick consistency, then completely coat the inside of your oven with the paste. To achieve the best results, leave your oven like this overnight. The following day, simply wipe off the hardened paste. Use a scourer and some water to help remove it all. Once this is done, your oven should look as good as new.

If the task of cleaning your oven still seems too daunting, why not hire a professional company? There are lots of cleaning companies based in the UK that offer an oven cleaning service. You can arrange it as a one-time job to help you get on your way. Once your oven is gleaming, you can use the tips above to continue looking after it properly yourself.

Illustration of roof gutter with downward drainpipe

Gutter cleaning services

Guttering is an essential aspect of every house; It collects rain water and diverts it away into the drainage. It’s hugely important as it prevents structural damage and ensures that a house is maintained to a high standard. In fact, because the gutter is a property feature that’s often not in plain sight, it’s something that can easily be overlooked.

It’s vital that you get your gutters cleared and maintained on a regular basis; they need to be inspected frequently to ensure that they function effectively. If you don’t, debris such as leaves and moss will collect and the likelihood is that the gutter will become blocked. Therefore, the importance of maintenance is something which simply shouldn’t be underestimated.

There are no hard and fast rules regarding how often you should clean your gutter. Annually, after all autumn leaves have finished falling, is a good schedule to initiate. Checking & cleaning it regularly can be the difference between having a functioning gutter and having to replace it in addition to spending money on tackling a damp problem or leaky roof.

When it comes to tackling this task, it’s advisable that you engage a gutter cleaning service, rather than trying to do it alone. After all, it can be a highly specialised, not to mention, dangerous task. It requires certain tools, products, knowledge and insight to be executed properly. A property maintenance company will have all the apparatus and experience necessary for the job.

When selecting a company that offers gutter cleaning, you should consider your choices. First and foremost, it’s advisable that you read the testimonials on their website. The reviews and feedback that previous customers have left can prove to be invaluable. It’s the best way to gain an honest and genuine insight into the company that you’re considering employing for the job.

Moreover, ensure you get a quote before you go ahead and employ a company for the guttering task ahead. After all, you need to make sure it’s something you can afford. You don’t want to be hit with any extra, unexpected charges when the job is completed and you’re given the bill.

Basically, if you can’t remember when last you had your gutter cleaned, it’s advisable that you get it seen to sooner rather than later.

'Cleaning service' illustration

The importance of employing professionals for end-of-tenancy cleaning

As we all know, when renting it’s absolutely crucial that the property is handed back to the landlord in the same condition as it was found in when you moved in in the first place. If it isn’t, there’s a huge risk of losing the deposit that you initially put down on the property when the contract was signed. For this reason, it’s recommended that you hire professionals to clean the property when it’s been vacated.

Many people attempt to tackle end-of-tenancy cleaning themselves, and most regret the decision. It’s a much harder challenge than anticipated. It’s nowhere near as quick & simple as the cleaning job you’d do on a regular basis. There are so many extras that need to be considered; from degreasing the extractor fan in the kitchen to removing dust and debris beneath the fitted units. When you attempt to clean the property yourself, you’re bound to overlook tasks of which you probably never even thought.

This can obviously have damning consequences. As previously mentioned, you run a serious risk of losing your deposit or at least a significant proportion of it. Don’t expect landlords to go lightly on you; in fact, many landlords can be fault-finding and will scrutinise every minute detail in the house. Ultimately, if something isn’t fully cleaned, a renter will have to pay for it to be done properly. The owner needs their property to be in tip-top condition for their next tenants.

“Little but often” is the practical alternative; rather than needing to arrange a one-time, top to bottom, home cleaning operation when you’re already busy trying to organise a stressful move. There’s the sensible option of regular, recurring house cleaning services in Houston, TX.

The benefits of using a professional end-of-tenancy cleaning service are obvious. However, there are some advantages which people don’t consider. For instance, it will save the person renting the house a lot of time and effort. Chances are, if someone is moving out then they’ll already have a lot on their mind and on their plate. There’s no need to add to the stress by trying to take on such a momentous cleaning task. Firstly, seek out a company like Mr Cheap Rubbish Removal to get rid of all the things you no longer need, and then let cleaners get the property sparkling.

The main reason people seem to avoid employing someone to clean their rental property is because it will cost them money. Of course, this is true, but it will prove to be a lot more cost effective in the long run than if the security deposit is kept by the landlord and little or nothing is reimbursed.

The importance of putting an end-of-tenancy cleaning job in the hands of professionals is clear; don’t run the risk of losing your precious deposit!

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Easy ways to make money from your spare space

'Space to let' sign in a green window

If money’s tight, it can be very worrying. Fortunately, it’s possible for you to use spare space in your home to make a bit of extra cash. As you’ll see if you read on, doing so is not hard. In most cases, you can do it quickly without having to spend too much money to get things up and running.

Audi with headlights on in a garage

Rent out your garage space

Perhaps the fastest way to make a little cash is to let people store stuff in your garage. If yours is currently full of junk, why not clean it out and swap it for someone else’s unwanted items. You can potentially make some money by selling your unwanted gear, and get some rent from somebody else.

If you do decide to do this, vet your clients well and draw up some sort of written contract. Include what happens to the person’s stuff if they don’t pay the bill. Always take a deposit that covers at least a month’s rent in advance, and don’t accept anything that will be difficult to dispose of should the owner not pay the rent.

Looking up a driveway through a

Rent out a parking space

If you have a driveway, consider renting it out as parking spaces. You can find out more about doing this here. It is a very quick and easy way to make some extra cash, and there’s huge demand for this service. You can do this even if you don’t live within walking distance of an airport, railway station or shopping centre. Some people own classic cars or sports cars that they need to park up somewhere safe.

Single bedroom

Rent out a room

For those who don’t mind sharing their home, renting out a room is a good option. Of course, you may need to redecorate your room to bring it up to a standard that will allow you to get a good rent.

Paint doesn’t cost much and you can easily pick up cheap soft furnishings. This approach, combined with using laminate flooring, makes it easy to spruce up your spare room. All you need now is some good quality furniture. There are several ways to get your hands on what you need. You can renovate what you already have, pick some up from your local re-cycling network, or buy some second-hand items.

All of these approaches work, but if you want the best finish possible, it is well worth using a service like like rent furniture UK. Doing so will allow you to lease what you need. The furniture will be new, so will look great, and be sure to be a draw for prospective tenants.

A few things of which to be aware

If you like the sound of any of these ideas, we suggest that you do a bit more research online. You’ll need to understand what your legal responsibilities are and understand how much of what you earn will be liable for tax. It’s important to go into this with your eyes open, and do the maths to make sure that it’s going to be profitable for you.

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