Background

Buy To Let – Landlords & Tenants

Buy-to-let is a complex field and the law around the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants is constantly changing. If you are investing in property as a landlord, you need advice from experienced buy-to-let conveyancing lawyers who know the challenges and potential problems and who understand the investment buyer’s unique legal and financial position. Our award-winning team will help you to navigate the complexity and make your investment a success.

Coodes’ buy-to-let conveyancing specialists can advise on every aspect of buy-to-let, from the initial property purchase to tenancy agreements, while our Disputes team can assist with any problems that may arise in the future. Our buy-to-let conveyancers are part of a large, award-winning residential conveyancing team: we know the market in Cornwall and Devon and have helped clients all over the South West to make the most of their property investments.

What is buy-to-let?

Buy-to-let is an investment where an individual buys a residential property to rent out for a profit. Some firms will treat a buy-to-let client in the same way that they would any other residential buyer. Not Coodes. Our expert team understand the changing requirements and pressures put on buy-to-let purchases, including the rules that lenders will impose. Whether you are looking to build up a portfolio of investment properties or are just exploring the possibility of buy-to-let, it is important that you take professional legal advice from expert landlord conveyancing lawyers.

Because we sit on most of the lenders’ panels, we know what lenders expect and can advise you on the conditions applied to buy-to-let mortgages, which are often quite different from those for other mortgages.

Your responsibilities as a landlord

Our specialist buy-to-let team can advise on all aspects of renting out your property, whether you intend to be a hands-on landlord or employ a managing agent to handle the running and maintenance of the property for you. Whatever you decide, ultimately, you, as the owner of the property, will remain responsible for complying with the relevant legislation so it’s important that you understand your obligations – and the potential consequences of non-compliance. You may be buying a property that already has sitting tenants and a tenancy agreement in place. We will advise on your responsibilities and highlight any issues you should be aware of before you make the purchase.

Our specialist buy-to-let conveyancing team have advised buy-to-let landlords throughout the South West and beyond, helping them to meet their responsibilities and turn their purchases into successful investments.

Of course, buying the property is just the beginning. Landlords have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for anyone in their property, whether they are tenants, employees or visitors. We will help you understand your responsibilities as a landlord and provide expert support if you encounter any issues with your tenants and their occupancy. The law surrounding buy-to-let is constantly changing and, as the only Association of Residential Letting Agents-affiliated (ARLA) firm in the South West, we are up to date with all the requirements placed on Landlords and have valuable insight into upcoming and proposed changes that may affect your investment.

Getting your buy to let property ready for tenants

Buy-to-let properties vary widely, from rural cottages to town flats and, like any other kind of property, they vary widely in condition and amenities. Our buy to let conveyancing team can advise you on any changes you need to make and certificates you need to acquire to ensure your property is ready for tenants. For example, you may need to secure planning consent if the property is to be used for multiple occupation; you may need to consider disabled access. As the legal requirements for rental properties are constantly changing, we will take you through a checklist and explore the main points you need to consider when starting to let your property, during the tenancy and when the tenancy ends.

Preparing assured shorthold tenancies

Preparing the tenancy agreement is just about the most important task for any buy-to-let landlord – get this part right and you have a much better chance of a successful investment. But get it wrong and you could be exposing yourself to a host of problems and expenses. For example, you need to be sure that your property and agreement are compliant with Section 21 of the Housing Act, or risk being unable to take possession of the property at the end of the contract. So, it’s important that you take advice from experts in drafting tenancy agreements. Our buy-to-let experts will ensure your tenancy agreement is structured in the best possible way and contain all necessary protections for you and your tenants in order to help to make your investment a success.

Team

Laura Noble

Associate

Kate Bayley

Partner

Sarah Cowley

Head of Residential Property

Kathryn Shaw

Associate

Kerry Tresidder

Associate

Laura Vanstone

Associate

Michelle Hawkins

Associate

Sophie Jones

Associate

Teresa Scoular

Associate

Kerry Hodgson

Conveyancing Executive

Lianne Priest

Solicitor

Mary Wright

Chartered Legal Executive

News & Events

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Key contact

Laura Noble

Associate

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We have a very clear pricing structure and ensure that you have a very clear idea of what your move will cost from the outset.

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