It can be quite time consuming to find tenants, collect rent and deal with routine problems. Therefore many landlords enlist the help of professional letting agencies. However these can prove to be a major setback in your profits. This is because letting agencies can charge anywhere between eight to fifteen percent of your total gross rental income. Therefore you might want to think about alternative and practical solutions especially if you do not live near the property you have given out on rent.



The figures have to be worked out carefully once you have found the right property and the project seems profitable. You need to consider costs that have to be covered such as letting agency fees, fees of solicitors, landlord insurance, furnishings or furniture charges, life cover, ground rent and other service charges (especially if the property is leasehold) in addition to the mortgage repayments. The periodic costs of repairs and maintenance also have to be added to these. You must not forget to make provisions which ensure that mortgages are paid evenly in case of rise in interest rates or during the time the property is empty.

Insurance cover specifically designed for landlords needs to be arranged by you. It is not a good idea to go in for household policies meant for normal residents because these are not suitable for landlords. There are various types of policies that cover not only the buildings and its contents but also the risks that might be associated with renting out a property. These might include factors such as legal advice and protection, emergency repair assistance, malicious damage by tenants, liability of landlords and rental guarantee.

You have to ensure that your tenants understand what possessions they have to insure themselves.

Becoming a landlord means that there are several types of taxes that you are liable to paying when you acquire a property to rent out. These taxes include income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. If the total income acquired by you is greater than your personal tax allowance in a tax year then you may have to pay income tax. Capital Gains Tax has to be paid on the profit you make when you sell the property. In case the property is left to someone else on your death, then that person has to pay an inheritance tax. The amount for this will depend on the personal circumstances and value of the estate. It is advisable to get a recommendation from a professional tax adviser prior to purchasing a buy to let property. This will enable you to understand and figure out the best ways to lower any potential tax liabilities.

If you understand all the above mentioned factors properly then you can work around them in order to make the maximum profits when you think of becoming a landlord.