Rent to Rent

Jacquie Edwards started out just like everyone else working a 9-5 job in someone else's office. She knew there must be something better to life but didn't know what to do about it. She realised that she was trading her time for money and that this would only get her so far, and she needed to find financial freedom in order to live the life she deserved.

Dedication & Acknowledgements

Foreword by Simon Zutshi

Contents

How to Use this Book

Introduction

Section 1: Rent to Rent Basics
Sub-topic 1.1: Getting Started
Question 1.1.1: What is Rent to Rent?
Question 1.1.2: Why would a property owner agree to do this?
Question 1.1.3: Isn't this sub-letting and isn't sub-letting illegal?
Question 1.1.4: How do I ensure the property owner pays their mortgage?
Sub-topic 1.2: The Paperwork
Question 1.2.1: What contracts should I use with the property owner and what mortgage and insurance implications do they have?
Question 1.2.2: How can I create a contract that would let me out quickly if I am not able to find tenants?
Question 1.2.3: What kind of insurance do the property owner and I need?

Section 2: Choosing Your Area
Sub-topic 2.1: Spareroom Research
Question 2.1.1: Is the house in an area that will make a good HMO?
Question 2.1.2: How do I know if I will be able to find enough tenants?
Question 2.1.3: How do I know how much rent to charge for each room?
Sub-topic 2.2: Rightmove Research
Question 2.2.1: How do I know how much to offer the property owner/agent?
Question 2.2.2: What types of houses are available and will they make good HMOs?
Sub-topic 2.3: Secret Shopper
Question 2.3.1: How do I know what standard my house needs to be finished to?
Sub-topic 2.4: Knowing Your Numbers
Question 2.4.1: Who pays for the maintenance?
Question 2.4.2: What sort of ROI (Return on Investment) should I be looking for?
Question 2.4.3: Who pays to upgrade to HMO standards?
Question 2.4.4: What other costs should I be aware of ?
Sub-topic 2.5: Local Rules
Question 2.5.1: What is Article 4 and what does it mean for my HMO?
Question 2.5.2: What is additional licensing and what does that mean for my HMO?
Question 2.5.3: Does my council have any standards I need to meet or be aware of ?

Section 3: Finding Rent to Rent Deals
Sub-topic 3.1: How do I find prospective deals?
Sub-topic 3.2: What kind of advertising can I do?
Leaflets
Question 3.2.1: Does leafleting work?
Question 3.2.2: What should my leaflet say?
Question 3.2.3: How many leaflets and how often?
Question 3.2.4: Where do I get leaflets?
Newspaper Adverts
Question 3.2.5: What should my newspaper ad say?
Question 3.2.6: Where should my newspaper ad be?
Question 3.2.7: How much should my newspaper ad cost?
Networking
Question 3.2.8: Who do you know who?
Sub-topic 3.3: Other Direct to Landlord Techniques
Question 3.3.1: How do I get direct to the property owner?
Question 3.3.2: What should I say to the property owner?
Question 3.3.3: How can I get the property owner to accept that I would be putting multiple tenants in instead of one family?
Question 3.3.4: How can I answer the question: "What makes you say that you can guarantee the rent for XX number of years?"
Sub-topic 3.4: Using Agents
Question 3.4.1: How should I approach letting agents?
Question 3.4.2: What do I say to lettings agents to secure suitable properties?

Section 4: Managing a Light Refurbishment
Sub-topic 4.1: Standards and Requirements
Question 4.1.1: What legal requirements do I have to comply with (smoke alarms, fire doors, etc.)?
Question 4.1.2: Where do I go to obtain a list of health and safety requirements for HMOs?
Question 4.1.3: Who is responsible for the gas safety check?
Question 4.1.4: Do both the property owner and the Rent to Renter need to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?
Question 4.1.5: How much should I spend refurbishing?
Question 4.1.6: Do I need planning permission?
Question 4.1.7: Do I need building regulations approval?
Sub-topic 4.2: Finding the Right Trades People
Question 4.2.1 Do I need an architect?
Question 4.2.2: How do I find a builder/handyman/tradesperson?
Question 4.2.3: Who do I need on my team?
Sub-topic 4.3: Interior Design Tips
Question 4.3.1: What is the right standard?
Question 4.3.2: I have heard you should dress a house. What does that mean?
Question 4.3.3: What furniture and other items should I include with my HMO?
Question 4.3.4: Where do I get all these things from without spending a fortune?

Section 5: Tenants
Sub-topic 5.1: Finding Tenants
Question 5.1.1: What are the different advertising options to find tenants?
Question 5.1.2: What tips and tricks do you have to remain competitive so tenants take your room?
Question 5.1.3: Should I mix tenant types?
Sub-topic 5.2: Referencing Tenants
Question 5.2.1: What types of reference checks should I do?
Question 5.2.2: Should I do the reference checks myself or rely on another company?
Question 5.2.3: I have a tenant from overseas. What do I do?
Question 5.2.4: Should I charge a referencing/admin fee?
Question 5.2.5: What do I do with the deposit?
Sub-topic 5.3: Tenant Contracts
Question 5.3.1: What contract should I use with my tenants? A licence agreement or an AST?
Question 5.3.2: Who signs the tenancy agreement, the Rent to Renter or the property owner?
Question 5.3.3: Should I include a fair-use policy?

Section 6: Everything Else
Sub-topic 6.1: Systems
Question 6.1.1: How can I make it all easier?
Sub-topic 6.2: Training
Question 6.2.1: This book has been great. What's my next step if I want to learn more?
Question 6.2.2: Which course should I take?
Sub-topic 6.3: Resources

Authors Bio