It can be said that buying to renovate has become somewhat of a trend to make some extra cash. But renovating to live in can also deliver some money-saving delights with a property custom made to the vendors’ requirements. However, it is not something to enter into lightly as it is a large commitment, and poor budgeting and planning can lead to unnecessary over-spending.
In our first of many expert interviews we spoke with Tessa Shepperson from landlordlaw.co.uk to help you gain some insight into the legalities and common problems around renting property, from both a landlords’ point of view and from that of a tenant.
If you have any further questions or have an idea for future expert interviews get in touch with RoomBuddies.com
According to an article on the Guardian website, some tenants are seeing big increases in their rent. This is because landlords are pushing prices up (to levels not really seen since the start of the economic downturn).
The worst effected areas seem to be in the south-east where in just one month some landlords have pushed up rents by 2.8%, London saw a 2% rise recently putting the average rent at £961 a month.
Pricing up your room(s) for rent can be a little daunting, you don’t want to under or over charge. changing rent rates down the line can be awkward and end up costing you tenants so you want to make sure you get the price right at the start.
Calculating the rent for 1 or more rooms in a property need not be a chore, it can be quick and easy. All you really need to do is some quick local research on rental prices for rooms and properties, then look at the number of rooms you have, their sizes, their utilities and the cost your property has on a monthly basis (bills, etc) then split the room rents up based on these findings
For more information and examples on pricing up rooms for rent read our article on : How to price up rooms for rent
Be specific in your advert, not just about the accommodation but about yourself and the type of person you are looking to share with. If you are new to the area and/or you want to enjoy the social aspects of flatsharing, then say so upfront. If you just see a flatshare as a place to crash after work and you are looking for quiet and privacy, then you need to be just as clear. Getting into a flatshare with people whose goals are the opposite of your own will not benefit either of you.
Landlords have you ever wondered how you should be presenting your house or flat shares in order to make your available rooms and the whole property more appealing? Here’s some quick pointer’s that may help you: Continue reading
Students are being warned of the dangers when searching for university accommodation online, as fraudsters continue to take advantage of their vulnerability and eagerness to find somewhere to live for the forthcoming academic year.
This comes from a release issued by the Metropolitan Police’s fraud prevention division who have seen a significant rise in the number of students becoming victims as a result of responding to advertisements for rooms, flats and houses for rent, particularly in the London area. The criminals carrying out these acts generally scam people by requesting a holding deposit just to view the property and they typically use free to advertise websites where it is harder for them to be tracked down, but there are also other methods which can be found in our online safety section. Continue reading
As a student you have limited income, and the vast majority have to resort to borrowing, normally through a student loan. But there are means to stretch this money as far as it will go so that you are not left with no money three or four weeks before the end of term.
For your convenience we have broken them down into separate sections:
Pennies are tight, and you want to stay in and have a cheap evening, but not sure what to do? Whether you have housemates, live on your own or with your partner, there are many things that you can do to fill your time.
Here’s our list of things that you can do:
Living with someone can test the strongest of friendships, so what chance do you have of finding a stranger that you will get on with to live with you? Well it can be tricky and dependant on whether you are looking for someone to just rent a room and contribute towards the rent or someone that you can get on with and socialise with too.
Many of us feel awkward about seeking for a specific type of person in fear of not being politically correct or offending someone, but by human nature there are people that we know we will get on with and others that you won’t, so just think of it as setting the rules from the outset and if you are not offensive in your advert, no one will take offence.