The Complete Guide to Letting Property

Liz Hodgkinson is a prolific author and journalist. She writes regularly on property matters for the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail, and also contributes to The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph and various magazines and websites. She is the author of The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad and The Complete Guide to Renovating & Improving your Property, both published by Kogan Page.

Introduction 1Is letting for you? What it takes to be a landlord 2Finding the right property Could I live in it myself?; Location, location, location; Keep your eye on the market; Service charges 3Working out the numbers Cash buyers; Finding a tenant; Landlord action; Buying at auction; Buy-to-Let; Tax; It's worth it! 4Decor and renovation To furnish or not?; The essentials; Furnishings; How often should you redecorate/renovate?; Letting out your own home; Preparing for corporate or company lets; Students; Some general points on letting; Complying with regulations 5Finding suitable tenants Advertising; Deciding on the sort of tenant you want; Before they move in; Using an agency; Company lets; Short lets; Students; DSS and Housing Benefit; Housing associations; Problems with social tenants; Holiday lets; Letting rooms in your home; Bedsits; Adapting your own home; Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs); Buying a property with existing occupants; Your relationship with your tenant(s) 6Rights and obligations Tenancy agreements; Common problems 7Becoming a portfolio landlord The multiple landlord; Money; Working with agencies; Other things to bear in mind; Two voices of experience; Landlord associations 8Buying and letting property abroad Beware!; Buying to let; Making your choice; Fitting out the property; Marketing your property; Finance 9Mostly for tenants Who are the tenants and what do they want?; The inventory; References; The tenancy agreement; Moving in; Now you're a tenant; Moving on; The Tenancy Deposit Scheme 10Resources Contacts Publications The Property Investor Show