Letting your property is a proper business and to be a profitable landlord you need a business plan and procedures in place that you will need to complete, in order to rent out your property successfully, such as: a proper application and screening of prospective tenants, a carefully drawn up tenancy agreement, regular maintenance of the property, and an up-to-date knowledge of housing regulations, etc.

Top Tips on how to be a good landlord:

Treat your tenants as you would like to be treated.

Some landlords like to carry out inspections, usually every 6 months, but many tenants find this invasive and feel it suggests that they are not considered trustworthy. Inspections also make the property feel less like theirs, which is not ideal as people tend to take more care of their own homes. If you feel happier inspecting your let, make sure you give your tenant plenty of notice - always at least 24 hours - and offer different times to fit in with their lives. If problems are arising the tenant should be notified in writing that this is likely to incur them added costs for cleaning or repairs.

Tenancy Deposit Scheme

The deposit now has to be lodged with the custodial scheme, in case of any dispute at the end of the tenancy agreement.

The main thing to remember is that you may own the property, but for the rental period it is the tenant’s home.

Fiona Howard specializes in writing for the financial and business market, and is a well-respected city analyst. She currently advises Loan-Loans-Mortgage, one of the leading UK online sites for finding a fast Business Loan or Buy to Let Mortgage and advice for landlords and tenants.

Tenant Screening
The first and maybe the most important step is that you properly screen applicants before they become your tenants. It is always worth the time and money to obtain a credit report, an eviction history report and perform a criminal background check on your applicants. This can all be easily obtained on the internet. Take the time to also call the current and/or previous landlord(s) for a reference; you may be very surprised at what they tell you. Another great screening method is to go and visit the property where the applicant is currently residing, take note of the condition of the property and how clean the tenant keeps the property. And after all of this screening, don’t end up settling for tenants that did not meet your qualifications. Take the time from the start to find a qualified applicant and save a lot of time, money and headaches in the future.

Rent collection
It is important for the landlord to be consistent right from the beginning of the tenancy. Explain to your tenants in detail, the terms of payments and the consequences for paying the rent late. Send out a late notice the day after the rent is due, don’t wait until your tenant incurs a late fee. This will all help to enforce what you told your tenant from the beginning, that late rent payments are unacceptable.

Precedent must be set from the beginning, as soon as the rent is late. If you start to accept excuses from the tenant, you will loose footing. This will give the tenant the assumption that paying the rent late is ok if they had some kind of problem, or a came up with a good excuse. The next time the tenant is short on the rent, they will expect you will accept the situation, which is not a pattern you want to create. This will set the tone for the tenant and reinforce that late rent is unacceptable and will eventually lead to a legal matter.

Keep all communication in writing, either sent through the mail or email in order to avoid the “he said, she said” scenario. Send a letter out as soon as rent becomes late and the very first day after any grace period (late fee) specified in your Lease. Include the late charge if there is one and do not make “deals”. As soon as you negotiate with your Tenant on late charges or fees, the tenant will tend not to take a Landlord seriously and will likely try to push things farther.

It is a good idea to send a sequence of notices. Mark on a calendar when you will send these notices out, if need be.

Check with your local jurisdiction to find out the regulations for eviction. Each state, county and/or jurisdiction may institute requirements for how many days may pass before legal proceedings can be brought against the Tenant. There may be certain notices required such as a “Notice to Quit,” before you may even file in a local court. If after several attempts are made to collect the past due rent, follow your jurisdiction rules as soon as possible. Eviction can be a lengthy battle, especially in larger cities.

Be sure and remember it is important from the beginning of the Landlord/Tenant relationship to set an example in your collection efforts. Do not get emotionally involved. Keep it business, after all you invested in order to make money not lose money.

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The first meeting or telephone conversation with your prospective tenant is the beginning of the screening process to find a good tenant. If they are viewing the rental property - are they on time? Are they smartly dressed? Is their car well mantained? Do they wipe their feet before entering the property? Small details like this can give you an insight into what type of tenant they are likely to be. When you question them about such things as employment, references or rental history are they happy to provide the answers? If both parties are keen to proceed with the let, you will need to put things in writing. At this stage the prospective tenants may decide to pay a holding deposit, while you go through the screening process necessary to complete the tenancy agreement.

Tenancy Application

It is strongly advised that as a first step you get any prospective tenants to complete a full application form. This needs to include: identity evidence, income and credit history, past accommodation and full employment details, references and other details, such as: any children, pets, car owner, smoker or non-smoker, the intended number of people living in the rental. The application should also specify the length and type of letting, the basic terms and the rent and deposit required. The application should also inform the tenant that credit checks and references checks will be made in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Reference Check

Don’t ever be tempted to not check the prospective tenant’s credit or identity history, and do take up the references before deciding to enter into any tenancy agreement. Consider asking for a guarantor if you are not 100% sure. All these steps are much easier than having to evict a problem tenant. However ‘nice’ your prospective tenants seem don’t be lulled into taking chances - your screening process is your insurance.

Tenancy Agreement

When you decide to let your property your new tenant will need to sign a Tenancy or Letting Agreement. This can be drawn up by anyone (and some landlords prefer to have it checked over by a solicitor) - the signing should be witnessed by an independent witness. This should be accompanied by a full inventory and statement of condition of the rental property. If you are arranging a let for more than three years you will legally need to get a Lease by Deed arranged by a solicitor.

What makes a Top Tenant?

Fiona Howard specializes in writing for the financial and business market, and is a well-respected city analyst. She currently advises Loan-Loans-Mortgage, one of the leading UK online sites for finding a fast Business Loan or Buy to Let Mortgage

Once upon a time, if you were looking for executive office space, you got four plain walls and a rug on the floor. The rest was up to you.

Then someone had an idea. Why not take a prestige office building, divide it up into separate offices and provide everything necessary for a business. Thus was born the concept of shared office space or, as it is also called, ‘executive office space’.

They outfitted the offices with furniture and even tastefully decorated them. They also installed a full battery of business machines throughout the building so that anyone renting shared office space would have easy access to the equipment they needed.

Then they threw in the kitchen sink…along with the rest of the kitchen. Also fully equipped conference rooms.

But here was the real brilliance behind the concept of shared office space:

Did executive office space become popular?

Absolutely. You can now find shared office space in cities all over the world. Just type either of the two terms, ‘executive office space’ or ’shared office space’ into an Internet search engine. Add the city you are interested in and you’ll probably end up with a number of executive office space options.

Remember, if you want temporary prestige office space, want to conserve on your capital outlay, or just want the convenience of moving into an ‘instant’ office…do a search for executive office space or shared office space. They provide everything…including the kitchen sink.

Cheree Dohmann, an internet marketing consultant, works with Premier Business Centers promoting their services. For details visit Premier Business Centers-Long Beach Shared Office Space

The answer is simple. Executive suites are not expensive when they are not executive suites.

Does that sound confusing? It is to a lot of business people. But you need to understand what the terms ‘executive suites’ or ‘executive office space’ really mean.

This is particularly true if you are:

Why executive suites are inexpensive

Consider the enormous expense of setting up and staffing a traditional office. You have to buy furniture, buy or lease business machines, decorate the space and pay for movers. But none of this is necessary with executive office space.

You won’t even need someone to greet your visitors or answer your phone. They walk into a beautifully decorated lobby and are greeted by a friendly trained receptionist, just like in traditional high-priced executive suites.

And here’s the best part. Executive office space doesn’t require a long-term lease that you need a lawyer to review before signing. They traditionally use only a simple rental agreement.

Further more, executive suites don’t lock you in for a set amount of time. If you outgrow your space, you can move without hassles or delays. You may not even have to change your address or telephone. Executive office space providers can often make larger facilities available to you in the same building.

When you add up all the savings and conveniences, you will understand why executive suites only sound expensive. Plus, you will find them in cities all over the world. Just do an Internet search for ‘executive suites’ or ‘executive office space’.

Cheree Dohmann, an internet marketing consultant, works with Premier Business Centers promoting their services. For details visit Premier Business Centers-Irvine Executive Suites

Sometime one of the most stressful aspects of vacation planning can be where to stay. How do you find the kind of accommodations that will suit all family members, meet budget constraints, and oh yes, be comfortable? There are online property managers or local agencies within the cities and towns of Costa Blanca that can assist you in finding and booking the right property for your vacation.

A Look at Costa Blanca Towns

The first decision to make in planning your villa vacation is about where to stay. All along the coast there are tourist towns and working cities that just happen to be strategically located along beautiful white beaches and scenic marinas. All of these cities enjoy plentiful sunshine all year long and a temperate climate. The mountains to the west create a barrier to harsh weather while the warm sea to the east brings its refreshing breezes gently to shore.

Central to the Costa Blanca is Alicante. This is where the region’s major airport lies, so getting to cities to the north or south is equally as convenient. To the North and on the coast are the cities of Calpe, Altea, and Benidorm. At northern most part of the region is Javea. South of Alicante is the resort town of Torrevieja. Here there is plenty of exciting nightlife and miles of inviting beaches.

How to Find a Costa Blanca Villa

You can approach your search for a Costa Blanca villa in two ways. One is to look for properties in the region and see which you like, then make that the final destination. The other is to select a city in the region, knowing that you are just a short driving distance from most of the other sights and events, and then look for available villas in that city. Either way, online property management companies will be able to best assist you, especially if you are booking from abroad.

One of the biggest benefits to online booking is that you can see photographs of the villa, learn about all the possible amenities and also see what dates are available and at what rates. This is all in front of you in one screen shot and with side-by-side comparisons to other properties.

An example of the kind of holidays you can book online, would be similar to the listing below. Here in this sample is the name of the property with a brief description. You can quickly see if it is to your liking before clicking over to see available dates:

Moraira Villas: A fishing village turned family-friendly resort this property boasts exceptional water sports and summer entertainment

Javea Villas: Boutiques and bars line this costal villa property giving way to narrow streets filled with quaint cafes.

La Nucia, Altea Villas: Here, nestled among citrus groves and pine trees, you can find peace and serenity and some of the world’s best sausage.

Las Ramblas, Torrevieja Villa: Known for its world-class golfing complex, this villa is a short drive from the city centre.

Denia Villas: This ultra traditional Spanish town has been the resort spot of choice for the rich and famous for generations. The fast-paced port is overlooked by a 12th Century castle.

Calpe Villas: The exciting place to be with restaurants, bars, shops, and nightlife, Calpe villas have a truly cosmopolitan feel.

No matter what kind of villa you are looking for, there is something to be found along the Costa Blanca. Costa Blanca villas are not just perfectly situated, but have luxurious bedrooms, baths and private pools. It’s the best way by far to enjoy the proximity of entertainment with the ultimate in luxury and privacy.

Concentrating on informating about How to Find a Costa Blanca Villa, the columnist works mainly for http://www.alicante-spain.com . Writing for detailed writings, the columnist demonstrated his expertise on themes associated with Costa Blanca and How to Find a Costa Blanca Villa.

There’s 3 ways a tenant can terminate their legal obligations to the lease during its term:

(1) You can terminate due to legal misconduct on behalf of the landlord

(2) When the landlord legally replaces you with new tenants

(3) And by an agreement with the landlord and the tenant

An example of legal misconduct would be if the landlord does not maintain the premises it could be considered as legal misconduct. Some local/state laws give you the right to terminate any lease obligations if you (the tenant) have problems accessing his/her premises or if your premises have code violations you didn’t know about you could terminate your lease legally.

An example of number two when a landlord replaces a tenant with new tenants would be; if another tenant moved in and pays the full amount of the rent the first tenants obligation is terminated, ended, over.

It’s against the law for a landlord to collect rent from more than one tenant for the same premises. The landlord and tenant could at anytime end their lease obligations by a mutual agreement.

It’s not advisable to pay a deposit unless you’re signing the residential lease agreement form at the same time. Unless they refuse you based on race, color, age, sex, they can legally refuse to allow you to move in and take your deposit if you haven’t signed a residential lease agreement form already.

“Repair and deduct” what’s that?

If the landlord hires a professional to repair damages on your home he/she can deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent paid to the landlord. It’s against the law for the landlord to charge more than 1 month’s rent for repairs.

What is “constructive eviction?”

Constructive evictions are when the inhabitable condition of your premises makes the property unsuitable to live.

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Finding the right apartment can be tough. There are so many apartments out there, and there are so many factors that go into your decision in choosing which one to call home. The key is to look for the best value – not just the actual monetary value of the apartment, but the personal value to you and your lifestyle. While the overall value of an apartment will differ from person to person, there are several categories that should be considered by everybody looking for a new apartment.

Location, Location, Location

When determining the value of an apartment, location is a huge factor. How far away is it from work or school? Is it close to grocery stores? Do you really want to live in a busy downtown area, even though the price might seem right? Although that apartment with the swimming pool and the really big bedrooms might seem like the obvious choice, but if it takes more than an hour to get to work, is it really worth it?

How Much of that Apartment Are You Going to Use?

One of the best ways to determine the value of an apartment is to compare how much space you get versus how much space you will use. How big are the bedrooms? How much storage space is there, and more importantly how much storage space do you actually need? If a massive walk-in closet is just going to go waste, you’re not getting the most value as possible out of that new apartment.

Going beyond your own apartment, what else is there inside the building? Does the apartment have a laundry room or a convenience store onsite? Are there any extra perks, such as swimming pools, saunas, party rooms and squash courts? And if there are, does it cost anything to use them, or is this cost built right into your rent? If it is, and you don’t plan on actually using any of these services, you might want to look elsewhere.

Management and Tenants

The structure of the building must be taken into account when trying to figure out the value of an apartment. For example, does it have concrete walls between apartments to block out noise? As well, what is the overall cleanliness of the building? Don’t just look at your apartment, either – take a close look at the common areas such as laundry rooms, lobbies and elevators. The upkeep and maintenance of these spaces is perhaps the easiest way to evaluate the building’s management team.

The level of service provided by the apartment’s management team is perhaps the biggest factor in determining its value. Is there an onsite property manager? What about an onsite security, or a superintendent who can deal with emergency calls any time of the day? The most valuable apartment to live in is the one where you can trust and count on the management to serve and help you when you need them.

You might also want to consider the demographics of the apartments you look at. What sort of people do you want to share a building with? Each apartment has a different feel to it, whether it’s populated by a lot of young families, university students, seniors, etc. If you value fitting in with the rest of the tenants and looking for social opportunities in your building, the demographics could weigh heavily on your decision to rent there.

The Bottom Line

Of course, the actual monetary value of an apartment is hard to ignore when assessing its value. How much is the rent? Is parking included? What about utilities? With rising gas and hydro costs, knowing how much you’ll have to pay each month on top of the rent is vitally important.

These are just a few of the guidelines that you can use when determining the value of an apartment. Ultimately, the decision of where to rent is not only based on which one has the cheapest rent or the most onsite amenities, but on your own personal tastes and lifestyle as well. Getting the most value out of your apartment is a balancing act, as you have to weigh all of the positives and negatives of the entire package before reaching your final decision.

Looking for an apartment in Ottawa? Paramount Properties is Ottawa’s second largest residential property management company. With more than 4,500 Ottawa apartments for rent in some of the city’s finest locations, we’re your #1 choice for apartment rentals in Ottawa.

When you are considering investing in a Buy to Let property you first need to decide what your rental income is likely to be, how much capital you intend to invest in the property and for how long you want to invest.

Finding a Buy to Let mortgage
Lenders tend to approve a buy to let loan on the expected rental income from the property, as opposed to the applicants’ income. The mortgage company will also consider the location of the property and how comfortably the rent will cover the mortgage payments, and also the experience of the landlord. You need to be a homeowner and have a minimum 15% deposit.
When working out the figures for your Buy to Let loan your monthly rent should be at least 130% of your mortgage repayment, and give you an annual yield of more than 8% of the mortgage.

Choosing your Rental Property
The top landlords are those who do extensive research to find the right location with plenty of tenant demand. Make enquiries as a prospective tenant in the area - this will give you a real insight into potential rental income. The location can also affect whether you are going to offer a short-term or long-term let, for example, seaside locations are most popular in the summer months.

Top Rental Tips
Choose a property in a location:

There are many reasons why people opt to rent than buy their own homes. Location and accessibility to work may be one thing. Convenience is another reason allowing them more time for leisure and not tied up to home maintenance. Still another reason may be they want to keep their finances flexible. But whatever the reason may be, the most important thing to learn is the rental process.

Anybody who wishes to rent a property needs to have a rental agreement with the owner. A rental agreement serves as a contract between the two parties and should be written. It is often known as a lease when real estate is rented. The agreement should specify the parties involved, the property, the term of rental and the amount of rent. Under this agreement, the property owner may be referred to as the lessor while the lessee is the renter. In addition, the terms of the contract should follow state rental statutes and ordinances.

Real estate for rent may cover an apartment, house, building, business office, land, farm or any space. Access to other common areas may also be included. A rental agreement can go into other details like the present condition of the property and how it should be used and who can use it.

For a housing lease, the agreement may state whether the renter is living on his own or with family and children or with friends. The rights and obligations of both parties are likewise specified. A renter, for instance, may have rights against intrusions by the owner or landlord except during emergency cases.

The usual term of the rental is either monthly or annually. It can be on a fixed term meaning the renter will occupy the property for a specific period of time. This type of contract should be strictly followed because if not, the renter could be held liable. The agreement may also be renewed automatically if a renter stays beyond the agreed term.

A more flexible term is the periodic agreement which allows renters to terminate the contract for any reason and in any month. Landlords can also increase the rent any month they want. Before terminating the contract, notice should be given at least 15 days before the end of the month.

Payment terms may be monthly, yearly or in advance. Normally, renters are asked to pay the first and last month’s rent and a security deposit. The security deposit serves as an escrow deposit and held by the owner or landlord until the property is returned in good condition.

To ensure the proper maintenance of the home or property as well as safety of the renters, owners and landlords can set rules and regulations. Apart from the property itself, the rules may cover shared areas and facilities like the laundry rooms, storage areas, swimming pools and parking spaces.

If you’re planning on renting a home or apartment, be sure that the agreement you make with the owner is written. Read the details of the contract carefully before signing it. If you don’t fully comprehend the terms and conditions, seek advice as much as possible particularly from a real estate lawyer. Keep in mind that the contract is a legal document that should contain the terms you agree to follow.

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