Posts with tag: interiors

Should You Let Tenants Decorate?

Published On: August 17, 2017 at 8:12 am

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The question of letting a tenant decorate their rental property can be a dilemma for landlords. On the one hand, you want them to feel at home and personalise the property in the hope they’ll stay longer and look after the condition. But, on the other hand, you don’t want to be stuck trying to re-let a property that has been decorated with questionable taste! We asked Upad landlords if they let their tenants decorate a property; this is what they had to say:

Should You Let Tenants Decorate?

Should You Let Tenants Decorate?

“I would as long as there were no material changes to the property. I think it shows commitment on the part of the tenants and that they have pride in the property.”

“We once had a tenant and when she left, we saw the bedroom ceiling painted in a mish mash of blue and white. Then we realised when you lay on the bed she had painted clouds crossing a blue sky! We allow tenants to spruce up decor but now agree colour schemes beforehand.”

“Of course! If they make it their home, they will probably stay longer and have a better relationship with you. Although, make sure they let you know what colour they are going to paint it beforehand, make sure it’s all in keeping! And make sure they are using a professional, if it’s not good their deposit will be paying to rectify it!”

“Yes, because it will make them feel more at home and they’ll probably stay longer, but put some restrictions in e.g. no black walls. And if they don’t do it to a reasonable standard, you reserve the right to get professionals in when they leave to redecorate at their expense.”

“A resounding no. I had a tenant a few years ago who pleaded to personalise the house she lived in. She assured me the colour scheme would be tasteful. When she left I could not believe it! The palisaded Victorian semi had deep purple original coving; the dado rails and skirting boards, which were previously stripped and waxed, were white glossed and had smatterings of purple emulsion on them. I was horrified, that work had taken so long to do and the man-hours involved originally outweighed any deposit, but after all said and done, I had agreed. Never again.”

“We always allow tenants to redecorate. It is their home after all and we’ve found that tenants who decorate often look after the property and are better payers than others. They also tend to stay longer and that gives us greater continuity and fewer voids. We do prefer it if tenants decorate with pastel shades and paint rather than wallpaper because it’s easier to cover up when they leave, but we don’t really mind. We always freshly paint properties in magnolia, with white woodwork, ready for new tenants to move into.”

The overwhelming majority of landlords surveyed said they do let tenants decorate a property, but protect yourself with these top tips:

  1. Agree on the type of colour paint if you want it to be in keeping with the rest of the property. If this isn’t an issue for you, ask for the walls to be painted back to the original colour, or a neutral colour, before they leave. And make it clear that if it’s not returned as such, you will need to deduct the cost from their deposit.
  2. Make sure it’s written in the tenancy agreement, particularly if you’ve agreed a certain colour or paint type. If they do return the property with a bright green living room, you need written evidence to prove this wasn’t agreed. If you’ve agreed a décor change during the tenancy, create a signed addendum to the original agreement.
  3. Make sure you have a thorough inventory before they move in, as this will document any changes when they subsequently move out and will back up anything you’ve agreed in the tenancy agreement or addendum.
  4. Make it a condition that they use a professional to do the painting. A bad paint job will be time-consuming to rectify.
  5. Wait until the tenancy has reached six months and you are confident the tenants will be staying. Again, make sure anything agreed has been written and signed by both parties.
  6. Work with your tenant, agree as long as you buy the paint and brushes to ensure it will be a quality job. Help them pick the paint colours, or offer a range that you would be comfortable with but they still have the choice.

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Create a Glorious Garden Party with these Top Tips

Published On: April 24, 2017 at 8:14 am

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Spring is in the air and National Gardening Month is officially upon us. To help get your gardens ready for the summer, these top tips will help you create a glorious garden party for May Day and beyond…

Create a Glorious Garden Party with these Top Tips

Create a Glorious Garden Party with these Top Tips

If you plan to host a garden party with your friends this spring/summer, it’s time to get your outside space in order. These tips will also be handy for those trying to let/sell their properties at this time of year, as they’ll help your garden stand out from the crowd:

Bring the outside in 

In terms of interior design, the lines between outdoor and indoor space are becoming more and more blurred. To really make the garden feel like an extension of your property, select elegant outdoor furniture that wouldn’t look out of place inside the home. If your property benefits from patio doors, leave them open during your garden party to allow the guests to spill from the outside in.

Follow fashion 

Colour blocking has long been a fashionable trend, so it’s no surprise that it’s entering the garden world. To get the trend right, look at a colour wheel and pick two to four contrasting colours. Mix and match these shades in your outdoor furniture, accessories and plants to radically update your garden décor.

Flower power 

No matter how big or small your outdoor space, adding flowers in pots or beds will bring your garden to life and provide a talking point for your summer garden party. For those seeking low maintenance florals, plant daffodils, tulips and crocus. These delicate flowers come in a range of colours, and are able to withstand the chilly spring weather and shade.

Light it up

Under-lighting is a huge trend in interior design, as is sustainability. Bring these two trends together to create the ultimate evening ambiance. Place solar under-lights within flowerbeds to create a magical atmosphere. If your property boasts a pool or pond, put rechargeable floating solar lights in the water, which will create a subtle but effective setting.

We hope these tips encourage you to get outside and spruce up your space or throw a perfect garden party this spring!

The Front Door Colour that Could Help you Let your Property

Published On: March 22, 2017 at 9:20 am

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Competition in the lettings market becomes particularly fierce at this time of year, as tenants often look to move home during the spring. If you’re thinking of ways to better your chances of letting your property, it could be as simple as your front door colour.

The Front Door Colour that Could Help you Let your Property

The Front Door Colour that Could Help you Let your Property

It turns out that property viewers can sometimes be just as picky about the exterior of the home as they are about the interior, so making a good first impression with the front door colour is essential.

If you’re struggling to let your property or need to make some updates, simply giving the front door a fresh lick of paint could do the trick.

With the front door often being the natural route into a property, it is one of the most important external features to a prospective tenant, and one that they are likely to notice.

So which front door colour is the most popular choice?

According to a study by Westbury Windows & Joinery, painting your front door white could boost your chances of letting your property quickly.

As expected, stained and varnished finishes came in as the second most popular choice, with classy black in third.

Other popular front door colours include Oxford blue, post-box red and racing green – all very tasteful and timeless.

However, if you want to go for something more fashionable and on trend, paler tones such as grey, duck-egg blue and celadon green were also highly rated.

So which colours should you avoid? Painting your front door yellow, pink or lilac may well put potential tenants off!

When deciding on a front door colour for your rental property, remember to stick to classic colours or neutral shades – if in doubt, go white.

The research arrives following news that many first time buyers believe that it’s only possible to buy a home with a partner, meaning that around half of young people are living in rental homes.

Spruce up your front door colour in time for new tenants now!

How You Can Add £200,000 to the Value of your London Property

Published On: March 15, 2017 at 9:12 am

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Two architects have added £200,000 to the value of their London property by completely overhauling the former bedsit. And although they don’t advise anyone to live in the home while transforming it, it could be a good project for landlords…

Gary and Claire Tynan found it difficult to save for a home of their own while renting in north London, and originally planned to build their own property on a plot of land. However, this option was beyond their budget, so they decided to do up a flat instead.

The Canonbury bedsit they remodelled is 1,000 square feet and part of a 1870s historic building.

Having transformed it into a modern masterpiece, the pair has added £200,000 to the value of their home.

So how did they do it, and how can you too?

Open plan 

The biggest change is the open plan living room, which now takes up half of the whole flat. Divided by a huge partition, the space includes a living, dining and kitchen space.

The design is stylish, smart and practical, with lots of ideas on how to split the space and encompass storage, which is always a winner with tenants/buyers.

Although the building had a quirky warehouse feel that the couple liked, the kitchen was tired and old-fashioned. Reworking the living area into a spacious and practical space with monochrome finishings completely altered the feel of the home.

The bathroom 

The bathroom was particularly bad when the pair bought the property – the grout was mouldy and the joists were rotting. But the couple acknowledged that it was light and had potential.

Sorting out the plumbing was particularly important, as the pair moved into the home while they were working on it. After sorting out the bedrooms, they tackled the “revolting” bathroom.

Ensuring a property has a contemporary, clean and practical bathroom is essential – it is almost as important as the kitchen when adding value to a home, so it’s worth investing in some quality fixtures and fittings.

Bedrooms

Although the flat is in a conservation area, you don’t need planning permission for most internal work (although you must check!), so adding in another bedroom was an easy decision.

The Tynans purchased the property in January 2016 and were already expecting a baby. This made having a third bedroom a priority, so they added a small nursery off one of the two main bedrooms.

Generally speaking, the more bedrooms you can offer a potential buyer/tenant, the more money they are willing to spend. But you must ensure that the space is actually big enough to be a bedroom and will be financially viable for you.

Design features

With a keen eye for detail, the architects have created a completely modern and metropolitan feel. Predominantly black and off-white, the property is a blank canvas that can be adapted as their family and tastes grow.

The most important aspect of the design to incorporate into your own investment is the simplicity. Not only is simple design currently very on trend, but it is also timeless and elegant – and shouldn’t cost too much money.

Taking the couple’s key themes on board, you can make essential changes to your property investment that will prove lucrative – both in terms of the rental income you can receive and capital growth potential.

Have you been inspired?

The Home Seller/Landlord Spring Clean Checklist

Published On: March 14, 2017 at 9:23 am

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Spring is a busy time in both the property sales and lettings sectors. If you’re selling a property or are looking for new tenants at this time of year, this spring clean checklist will ensure that your home appeals to all guests…

Online estate agent eMoov.co.uk has highlighted which spring cleaning jobs to tackle first based on the importance placed by prospective buyers. The agent surveyed UK homeowners and asked them to rank six property features on their importance when making a good first impression:

  1. Interior rooms, walls and ceilings 

Despite the exterior of the property being the first thing a buyer/tenant will see, the interior was ranked the most important aspect of the home and should be the first place you tick off your spring clean checklist.

Jobs such as making sure the property is de-cluttered, filling any holes in the walls, stripping or repainting the walls, and generally having a good clean took president over any other feature of a property.

  1. Exterior walls and roof

Once the inside is looking its best, the exterior of the home was the second most important factor when making a good first impression amongst viewers.

Make sure that the roof doesn’t have any leaks, the walls are showing no cracks and the grouting is smooth.

  1. The front door and porch

The front door and porch are the gateway to the property and are often the first things a potential buyer/tenant sees up close.

Ensure there are no old shoes or bikes cluttering the porch, strip any peeling paint and give the door a fresh lick of paint, as well as making sure it doesn’t stick.

  1. The Home Seller/Landlord Spring Clean Checklist

    The Home Seller/Landlord Spring Clean Checklist

    Windows and window sills

Although they are only small features, windows and window sills were ranked the fourth most important aspect of a property.

The quality and appearance of windows can play a huge role in showcasing your home, so make sure there are no cracks, they have all been well cleaned, peeling paint has been removed and a fresh coat applied.

  1. The garden

The garden can often be neglected throughout the winter, so bringing it back to its full potential is the fifth point on your spring clean checklist.

As with the interior of the home, remove all clutter and rubbish, mow the lawn and trim the hedges to showcase the full size of your outdoor space. Repair any loose or broken fence panels or paving stones, and give them a good clean.

  1. The driveway and garage

The driveway and garage were voted the least most important factors for potential homebuyers. They can be big, time-consuming jobs, so leaving them till last can better help manage your time.

These external features are more of a bonus rather than a necessity, so buyers/tenants will view them with varying degrees of importance. Knowing they have space for a car or additional storage is more important than the state of those areas.

The Founder and CEO of eMoov, Russell Quirk, comments: “This research goes to show that first impressions do count, but where housing is concerned, the initial judgement of the exterior comes second to the internal appearance of a property.

“Where buyers are concerned, it would seem they prefer to be underwhelmed by the outside of a property and pleasantly surprised by the inside rooms, rather than visa versa.”

He explains: “It makes sense as, when we look to move house, the internal rooms are the places we will actually be spending our time. You are immediately sat within them and so, if they aren’t up to scratch, it can be a put-off. But if there are aspects of the exterior you aren’t necessarily keen on, then not only can these always be changed, but you have a bit more breathing room in terms of settling in and unpacking before tackling them.

“A buyer will always view through their own personal lens, and there will be plenty of things they will change, but providing them with a solid, clean, neutral foundation can go a long way in securing a sale.”

Quirk continues: “It is interesting to see that the small details, such as the front door, the windows and window sills rank much higher than larger areas such as the garden and driveway. Again, it is these little touches that can stand out to a buyer and make all the difference to your sale.

“My wife has been on at me for a few weeks now to get our kitchen ready along with a few other jobs, so it is getting to that time of year when these things come to the forefront and buyer activity in the market also starts to heighten. Hopefully, this checklist will help the UK’s sellers prioritise appropriately when deciding which area to tackle first and aid them in making a sale.”

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

Published On: December 13, 2016 at 10:14 am

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The office has been named the least used room in British homes, knocking the dining room off the top spot, according to new research conducted by Ocean Finance.

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

The Office is the Least Used Room in British Homes

The study found that the office sees less action than any other room in British homes, with more than a third (37%) of respondents admitting that their family spends the least time in there.

Previously consistent at the bottom of the tally, the dining room now ranks as the second least used room in the home. Once a place where families would enjoy quality time together each evening over dinner, use of the dining room is still dwindling. However, with Christmas now less than two weeks away, more families may be making use of the room yet again.

When it comes to spending time together, households are more likely to do so in front of the television. Almost seven in ten (68%) said their family spends the most time in the living room.

Landlords should take the research into account when renting out a property – it may be worth converting an office into another bedroom, knocking the kitchen through into the dining room to create a more open space, and focusing on making the living room as comfortable as possible.

The spokesperson for Ocean Finance, Ian Williams, says: “An office in a house is a favoured attribute when buyers are looking for a new home, however, the reality is that it is more than likely to be used as a large storage cupboard, barely entered into, than its original purpose.

“The same could be said for the dining room. Not that long ago, the dining room was the main place the family would assemble, to enjoy a meal as a family at the end of the day or to eat a hearty family breakfast at the weekend. However, today, this space has fallen into disuse in many homes across the UK.”

He adds: “Christmas could be the one exception to the rule, as families usually decide to celebrate the festive occasion by eating together in a more formal space than the kitchen-diner or living room – will there be a revival in your home?”

Remember that many British homes are being rented from private landlords, so focus on what families are looking for to secure happy and reliable tenants.