Rooms To Let Can Give You A Useful Second Income
If you have rooms to let that are bright, clean and furnished with appropriate beds, wardrobes and desks then you will be able to charge slightly more than other properties that appear dark and unappealing due to old fashioned or unsuitable furnishings.
Most people looking for rooms to let will be on a tight budget but will still be looking for a place that feels comfortable and safe at the end of a working day. The more comfortable the house or flat is, the more likely you are to be able to rent the room out faster.
Try thinking about what will appeal to different potential tenants, workers who are in the area on a short term contract and go home at the weekends will probably not be so concerned about cooking facilities, whereas students who will be spending a whole term at the property will want to be able to have use of a fully equipped shared kitchen area and also have space for a desk in their room.
A man or woman in their twenties living on their own who have a job locally will actually consider the room their home and will usually be very keen to relate to your house or flat in a homely manner.
For your own convenience laminate or wooden floors are a worthwhile investment, rooms to let often have a quick turn around and being able to mop the floor with disinfectant floor cleaner rather than wasting time and expense cleaning carpets is a real bonus.
The same principle applies to bathroom and washing facilities - simple fittings that are easy to clean and do not need specialist cleaning products will be cheaper to fit and easier to maintain than designer fittings and fixtures.
Be careful to make sure that you have considered the implications of renting your property in this way - if you have a mortgage on the property then your lender may need to be informed that you have tenants. If you intend to continue living in the property yourself, make sure that you are comfortable with the fact you will be sharing your space with a stranger.
You may also find that there may be tax liabilities involved as in the UK, where the state has capped the limit of profits you can earn from letting out rooms in your home.
Please bear in mind that if living in the property you will need to make arrangements for paying the additional bills which the room incur, these include gas, electricity, water, telephone and internet/broadband bill.
The cost of these bills can be added to the rent otherwise if you are an external landlord you may choose to let out rooms on a non inclusive bill rental. This method does have its drawbacks as someone needs to be appointed to manage the bill payment process which will usually be the property owner.
Advertising has never been easier - the internet has opened up a whole new media outlet for anyone who has property or rooms to let.
New sites including The Lettings Mall offer easy to use listing facilities and provide descriptive technology and multimedia access to your property descriptions. This include the ability to use photos and videos to showcase your room primarily because it has been proven that being able to show case photographs of properties will not only help to promote your property, but it will actually ensure that you rent out the room faster.
Rooms to let are a booming market in some parts of the uk and can be a useful second income for any homeowner.
About the Author
Max Caravaggio writes flatshare and room to let/room to rent articles for the Lettings Mall whenever he believes there is some knowledge he would like to share with everyone.
The Lettings Mall currently offers facilities for rooms to let, rooms to rent, flatsharesand flatmates. Pop over to the Lettings Mall and find a room to let, a flatshare, a flatmate or advertise your flatshares to let.