Letting your first home in the West Country

As the market grows, many landlords have decided to make the most of the lettings Bristol has to offer. With the Bristolian market growing as quickly and firmly as the London one, many have decided to bolster their housing portfolio or make their first steps into the lettings market with homes in the West Country.

So for first-time landlords looking to let a home, what considerations are there to bear in mind before making those tentative first steps?

Firstly, you will need to consider who you want to let your property too. With Bristol being a buzzing, vibrant city for both workers and students, the first consideration should be whether to let to professionals or students.

This decision may be reached by the property you own. If, for example, the house is a five or six-bed townhouse in the centre of the university catchment area, then letting to students will almost certainly be the best option. If, on the other hand, your house has a smaller number of bedrooms or is decidedly more upmarket, then you may wish to rent to professionals.

Next, you will need to decide the terms of the let. There are many different variables to consider when it comes to letting. Will you, for example, want to furnish the flat yourself? Whilst this may make for a big one off payment in the beginning, you may be able to add more to the monthly rent for a property furnished to a good standard. If it is going to be largely unfurnished, will you want to provide white goods or force the tenants to buy or rent the goods themselves?

Lastly, you will also want to consider deposits and insurance. Whilst vetting tenants thoroughly will give you a good idea as to how they will treat the property, you can never be too sure, so getting a deposit and insurance will cover you against any damage that were to occur as a result of something the tenants themselves had done.