There are landlords and there are landlords. Some are what we call “accidental” landlords, who decided to let their property as an alternative to selling. Others are somewhat inadequately regarded as “amateur” landlords, who have a single investment property.
However, it is “portfolio” landlords who make up the majority of our clients. A portfolio landlord is one who owns more than two properties and/or receives a significant proportion of income from their property investments.
These people are serious about their investment. While some investors are focused on capital appreciation, many are more interested in maximising their annual yield. Capital appreciation derives from a combination of clever purchase decisions, appropriate improvements and market uplift. But annual yield requires a much more hands-on approach from a dedicated managing agent who understands the market. These agents form good relationships with local employers, tradespeople and tenants, and importantly, they, like us, regard themselves as investment manager, not just letting agents.
Our mission is to ensure that your return on investment is higher than could be achieved by any other managing agent in the area. Our reputation relies on it! That’s why our landlords typically expect an annual ROI of at least 6%; some substantially more. We often accompany landlords when viewing a potential investment, helping them spot latent opportunities, such as creating a clever extra bedroom to widen the property’s market appeal. We also have creative ways of minimising void periods and maximising annual rent increases, both of which maximise yield.
With over 120 pieces of legislation of which to fall foul, it also helps that we make it our business to keep fully informed of the latest regulations, helping our landlords comply with the law, whilst maximising their profits.
Are you serious about the performance of your portfolio? If so, it might be worth a chat. – please feel free to call your local branch without obligation. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Neil Newstead, FARLA MNAEA MIRPM
Chief Executive Officer