Becoming a landlord, whether commercial or residential, can be a rewarding experience and an excellent long-term investment. However, it isn’t always the smoothest experience available.
Management Can Become a Full-Time Job
You might start with one property. Yet even a single home or office can take up a lot of your time. Especially if you have a full-time job or a family. But if funds are adequate and you can afford to, it almost always pays to use a residential lettings agent or a commercial real estate management company. These services offer experts who can take care of the things you don’t have the time, resources, or skills to do yourself, and you can usually cancel any time you wish.
Inspections Are Necessary
As the property owner, it is your job to take care of it. So, having your property checked on a regular basis will help you find problems before they get worse. For example, if you see too much moisture in the shower room, you could tell your occupants to leave the window open for a few seconds each day to prevent mold. You can also keep an eye out for evidence of damage that could mean your tenants aren’t taking care of the property as well as they should.
Remember Becoming a Landlord is a Business
No matter how small your portfolio is, if you own property and rent it out, you should think of it as a business. You bring in money, spend it, and pay taxes. The whole point is to make money while giving people a safe place to stay. But, as with any business, this is not a sure thing, and 50% of landlords lose money. But you can increase your chances by running your portfolio like a business instead of giving tenants who don’t pay too much leeway, which will probably cost you.
You Will Learn a Lot on the Job
Property is hard to understand at first. And when you become a landlord, you will be surprised by some things. Expect small problems to bother you for a while and then big problems to suddenly take up most of your time when you’re awake. The longer you do this type of work, the more likely it is that you will be able to spot potential problems. After some bad experiences, you’ll also know what red flags to look out for and what kinds of situations lead to trouble.
You Have Many Safety Obligations
Landlords must ensure that appliances are maintained in a safe condition. This includes gas, electric, and emergency features. To do this, you need a gas safety check each year, PAT testing (and EPC certification in the UK), and fire alarms. You are also required to install carbon monoxide detectors in properties with gas boilers and fireplaces. Failure to do this will result in your license being revoked. But at worst, it could mean someone dies from your negligence.
Summary
When becoming a landlord in homes or offices, there are some things you must be aware of. First, it can take up a lot of your time. Also, it’s better if you run it as a business. And, of course, there are many safety obligations, much of which are heavily regulated and vary by country.
