Table of Contents

Chapter 1
Introduction

Chapter 2
Sourcing, Analysing and Structuring Below Market Value Property Deals
The Significance of Buying Below Market Value
No Money Down
How to Buy Lots of Properties With Only One Deposit
Portfolio Borrowing
Sourcing Properties
Buying from Estate Agents
Buying at Auction
Joining a National Network
Advertising and Marketing
First Contact with Clients
Analysing The Property Deal
Property Valuation
On-Line Research
Hometrack Report
Off-line Research
Structuring The Deal
Extra Fast Sale Required
Client Under Threat of Imminent Repossession
Sale and Rent Back
Option to Buy Back
Option with Buy-Out Clause (OBO)
Sandwich Lease Option
Rent to Buy
Your Option to Purchase
Joint Venture with the Vendor
Profit Share
Retained Equity
Second Contact Call to Clients After Analysing the Deal
Visiting the Vendor at the Property
Being Able to Proceed Quickly
Getting the Property Back Onto the Market

Chapter 3
Planning and Risk Assessment
Planning & Getting Organised
Record Keeping Systems and Software
Keeping Expenses Under Control
Setting a Realistic Budget
What’s Your Modus Operandi?
Lining Up Your Team Of Professionals
Solicitor or Licensed Conveyancer
Accountant
Estate agents
Financial Advisor/Mortgage Broker
Networking with other Property Investors
Risk Assessment & Analysis
Why We Wouldn’t Sell Our Properties in a Market Downturn
The Main Risks of Buying to Let
Current and Long-term Trends in Property Prices

Chapter 4
Money Matters
Using Savings
Using Money from Badly Performing Investments
Re-mortgaging Your Own Home
Personal Loans
Credit Cards
Check Your Credit Rating
The Many Forms of Leverage
The Leverage of Mortgage Borrowing
Compound Interest
The Rule of 72
Gearing
Financing Your Portfolio From Within
How Much Money Can You Borrow for Buy to Let?
Number Crunching
The Gross Yield
How Important is Cashflow?
The Importance of Net Yield
Tax for Property Investors
Should I have a Limited company?
Stamp Duty
Your Will and Use of Trusts

Chapter 5
Choose Your Mortgage and Insurance
Using a Mortgage Broker
Interest Rates
Fixed Rate Mortgages
Discount Mortgages
Flexible Mortgages
Tracker Mortgages
Switching or Re-mortgaging to a Better Deal
Interest Only or Capital and Interest Mortgage?
Mortgage Term: How Long Can the Mortgage Be?
Leverage - It’s What Mortgages Are All About
What Sort of Borrower Are You?
Top 25 Mortgage Questions to Ask
Portfolio Building - Releasing Equity for Further Purchases
Business Plans
Submitting a Business Plan
Choose Your Insurance
Buildings Insurance
Contents Insurance
Rent Guarantee Insurance
Life Assurance
Further Insurance Which May be Considered Where Relevant
Legal Expenses
Public Liability
Personal Accident
Planned Maintenance & Repair or Emergency Assistance

Chapter 6
Choose Your Property
Finding Your Niche
Consider the Location - Where Should You Buy?
What Tenants Want
Target Tenant Profile as Part of Property Choice
Students
Professionals
The Corporate Tenant
Families
Trend Spotting
Buying Ex-Council Property
Considering Different Types of Property
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
Accreditation for Landlords and their Premises
Buying Leasehold Property
Splitting Freehold Properties into Leasehold
Consider Whether to Refurbish
Property Development
Commercial Property
Buy Below Market Value
Finding Motivated Sellers
More Tips and Tricks
Preparing for Property Viewing
Headaches You May Get When Buying
The Buying Process

Chapter 7
Property Management
Decision Chart – Do you want to manage your own property?
Care and Maintenance of Your Property
More Tips from Dave
Painting
Flooring
Service Options of Letting Agents
Tenant Introduction Service
Letting and Rent Collection
Letting and Full Property Management
Letting Agents – A Different Perspective
Planning of Works Prior to Letting
Weighing Up the Decision to Quit Work
Developing the Infrastructure for Maintenance Work
Using the Services of Others

Chapter 8
Managing Your Tenants
Should I become a landlord who manages my own properties?
Lodgers as a training ground
Keeping it local
Setting the Rent
How to Get Tenants
Advertising
Advertisement Respondents - Dealing with Enquiries
Viewers
What type of viewers can you expect?
DSS and LHA (Local Housing Allowance)
Be cosmopolitan
Check references and choose your tenants
Types Of Lets
Short Term Lets
Holiday Lets
Leasing to a Housing Association
HMO Lets
Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements
Taking a Deposit
Energy Performance Certificates
So you have tenants! What can you expect?
Par for the Course
When to make Tenant Behaviour Your Business
Dealing with Complaints by Neighbours
Tenant Warning Letter
Staying on the Right Side of the Law and not Harassing Tenants
When the Rent is Late
Tenants’ Top Ten Excuses for Not Paying the Rent
Non-Payment of Rent
Steps To Evicting A Tenant
Give the Tenant Legally Valid Notice
Section 8 Notice
Section 21 Notice
Applying to the Court for Possession
Accelerated Possession
Non-Accelerated Possession Procedure
When You Need to Get the Bailiffs In
In Summary

Chapter 9
Further Principles of Success
In Conclusion
Appendix I:
Dave’s Diary
Appendix II:
Property Viewing Checklist
Appendix III:
Budget Analysis for Buy to Sell Project
Appendix IV:
Business Plan
Appendix V:
Cashflow Forecast
Appendix VI:
The Buying Process: England & Wales
Appendix VII:
How the Property Buying Process Differs in Scotland from England & Wales
Appendix VIII:
Section 8 Notice Requiring Possession
Appendix IX:
Section 21 (fixed term tenancy) Notice Requiring Possession
Appendix X:
Section 21 (periodic tenancy) Notice Requiring Possession
Epilogue

About the Author

Angela Bryant lives in Sussex with her husband Dave, and has been a property investor since 1995, building a portfolio of over 100 properties, with a total value of £15,000,000 and several million in equity.

Angela works on strategic planning, while Dave focuses on property maintenance and dealing with tenants. She also does admin and accounts and manages the non-local properties, as well as helping with refurbishments. Angela and Dave do not directly employ anyone but work with tradesmen and professionals as required. Additionally, they manage properties for one of Angela’s brothers.