Landlord Voice Magazine June 2015 - Bristol | Page 18

Decorate for life
and not for strife
W

ith buy-to-let investors paying higher rates
and fees for mortgages than domestic
borrowers there is can be pressure to
maximise profit and minimise expense and while the
majority of landlords would prefer to decorate their
properties to the standard they would have in their own
homes, the truth is that a buy-to-let is going to see some
very hard wear over the course of its service.
With this is mind, it is fair to say most veteran
landlords would agree that the most sensible goal when
renovating and decorating a rental home is durability.
Practical, tough fixtures and materials, though initially
expensive can save landlords bundles of cash in the long
run, as will the right preventative measures at the outset.

Don’t let mould become a
problem
Damp and mould can unleash no end of financial
hardship for landlords, with serious health implications
for tenants which are enforceable by local authorities
under the Housing Act 2004 and can lead to prosecution
if allowed to escalate.
A few basic steps landlords can take to sidestep the
problem include:
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Using anti-mould especially in high-risk areas such
as kitchens and bathrooms
Installing an extractor fan in the bathroom which
triggers when the light is switched on
Buying extractor fans which overrun for 20 minutes
once they have been switched off
Making sure gutters are cleaned regularly
Not providing indoor plants. The soil can be a
breeding ground for mould
Investing in a PIV loft unit. Although a bit pricey,
it forces dry air from the loft down into the house
and pushes out damp air, preventing mould from
forming in an inherently damp property

Should I use tiles in a buy-tolet?
The answer is yes. Damp can often be caused by
condensation from too much steam inside a property

P18 | June 2015 | Landlord Voice

triggered by cooking, clothes drying or showering, and
anyone who has tried to get rid of it will tell you it is
much easier to wipe off and much less damaging on tile.
Tiles are much more resistant to mould than painted
plasterboard and walls and so a better option.

Do not decorate with light
paints and carpets
Any buy-to-let veteran will tell you that it is very
difficult keeping light walls and carpets clean. If you make
this mistake you will soon find yourself spending most of
your rental profit on fresh coats of paint and replacement
carpets. Experienced landlords tend to use light browns
and greys.

Buy hard-wearing carpet and
use laminate flooring
Carpets in a buy-to-let property take a serious
hammering so do yourself a favour and invest in thick,
durable ones. Most carpet dealers will give advice about
which are suitable for a rental property and will withstand
heavy footfall and stain removing shampoos.
While laminate flooring can expand when wet and
moist – especially during the winter - they can last for
quite some time and are cost-effective as you only need
to replace the ruined areas when they expand rather than
the entire unit, as is the case with carpets.

Invest in a little extra when
buying paint, tiles and flooring
Finding the same shade of paint or tile pattern is
always harder than expected, but buying extra at the
outset will help avoid being hit by a big cash outlay when
the time comes for replacement.

Do not over-estimate your skill
set
Most property investors want to do the work on a buyto-let themselves but if a task is beyond your ability you
must call in a professional. The extra you pay will cover
itself in time – especially when the costs of continuous
replacement and related damage are taken into account.

Landlord Voice | June 2015 | P19