Buy to let landlords - advice needed please

kazd

Hi

We are in the process of buying a brand new property to rent out. It will have carpets but will not have white goods ie fridge and washer. We have been told its up to us, on one hand if we put them in then we are responsible if they break down on the other hand if they put them they could do untold damage to the floors etc

What advice would you give to us complete novices entering the buy to let market.

Thanks

sanfrancisco

I would not rent a house that did not have white goods in. I think you may potentially loose clients if you do not put them in.

I would also stop being so precious about your floors. They are likely to get a bit scuffed with just general day to day living. This has to be expected, unless you plan on renting out your property to fairies.

HTH

mystic_trev

I provided white goods in both my BTL's As the BTL market is somewhat flooded now by the surge of new investors (such as yourself) the tennants have the pick of the properties and will almost certainly rent a place where such goods are provided.

lynzpower

Completely agree with SF there.

personally I wouldnt dream of renting soewhere without the appliances, and certainly wouldnt cough for fitting washing machine eg to someone elses plumbing, lest the landlord try to bill me for the invisible.

Do agree, new flats tend to look "new" for no more than a few weeks, if its a new build the paint finish is likely to be thin and also some of the spec may not be that hardwearing. Be kind to your tenants, the visible wear & tear on "new builds" becomes obvious on light use after a few weeks

black-saturn

Its normal to provide an oven and maybe a fridge but not a washing machine.

lynzpower

Actually, you may want to look at the regs for renting furnished and unfurnished.

There are certain things like fridge/ freezer/ oven curtains that are essential is you are letting "furnished"

kazd

It will be let totally unfurnished ie no curtains either, we are happy for tennants to put up there own choice of curtains.

Personally my own feelings are that you should make the house as an attractive proposition as possible. ie add washing machine and fridge. I also think we should put in neutral curtains as well.

Friends of ours who have several properties went to the expense of putting up blinds only to drive by and find that the tennant had taken down the blinds and put up nets.

We are not too bothered about them drilling holes for curtain poles etc but think life would be a lot easier if we put them up as you don't want each set of tennants drilling there own holes.

Problem is that we are on vacation when the property completes and our management company have said that they will be able to rent it out the day after it completes.

Have to say I am inclined to say leave it for a week after we get back and then plumb in m/c etc.

In addition would you purchase just a bulk standard washer or would you opt for a washer dryer with condenser (I personally wouldn't touch one) the washer would not be connected to an outside wall.

Nervous us no!!!!!!!!:eek:

VickyA_2

We're currently in rented accommodation (can't afford to buy............) and in it was a cooker and curtains. We had to provide a fridge and washing machine. This was no problem to us as all the other properties we've rented have required us to have these.

In our previous house (in a different area), there was no cooker - but we bought the electric one from the previous tenant and then sold it on to the next ones - and no curtains. This was, again, no problem to us. I suppose it depends on where you're buying the house.

My friends in London who rent, wouldn't even dream of renting an unfurnished property. However, it seems to be the norm out in the sticks!

VickyA_2

Just buy a standard washer, if that's what you're going to provide.

bobsa1

We put in cookers and sometimes fridges if people want them, never washing machines. They seem to go wrong too often

VickyA_2

Just to add, my parents rent out a couple of houses (but again, out in the sticks.....) and they only put in a cooker. Considering they're in a rural location in a not-very-exciting part of the world, they still get snapped up - with the nearest pub being 2 miles away, nearest shop 5 miles etc.