I’ve been living and working as a real estate agent in Accrington all my life and I’m very well-informed about the local property market. One area that offers good returns and regular income is renting out property to students. Accrington has a lot of students and they create a strong market for landlords who target them. But renting to students is very different from other types of renting and needs a special approach and detailed knowledge. This “Landlords’ Guide to Renting to Students in Accrington” is a great tool for landlords who want to tap into this lucrative market and gives useful details, expert advice and ways to manage the student rental area effectively.

Being a landlord in the student rental market in Accrington can be challenging. Students have specific needs that are different from families or people in employment. You also need to know about the local laws, how to find and check student tenants, and how things might change over time.

You need to learn about the laws that govern the student rental market. Places in the UK, including Accrington, have many laws that protect both landlords and tenants. Make sure you understand licensing, health and safety laws, and other rules that apply to student letting. Check out your rights and responsibilities under the Housing Act and other local laws to make sure your student letting is legal.

When you prepare your property for students, think about what they need. They generally prefer cheap, close to school, good internet, and necessary facilities. So, make sure your property is attractive to students.

Screening potential tenants is critical to being a good landlord. Most students get money to pay rent from their parents, part-time jobs or student loans. So, asking for a guarantor or co-signer can help avoid late or unpaid rent.

You should also make sure you have the right insurance. Normal landlord insurance may not cover student letting. Ask your insurance broker for advice.

Good communication is also important in managing student lets. Make sure you have clear lines of communication and ground rules to avoid conflicts later.

Lastly, while there are landlords who worry about renting to students because of damage, it’s important to know that not all students are problem tenants. If you manage things properly, renting to students can offer high returns and low vacancy levels which should be more than any potential problems.

To conclude, renting successfully to students in Accrington involves good knowledge, preparation and effective management. Despite unique challenges, the student rental market can provide significant opportunities for landlords willing to adapt. Understanding student-specific needs, staying on top of legal issues, taking good care of your property, and efficient management can help. If you apply the advice in this guide, any landlord, whether experienced or new, can profitably tap into Accrington’s student rental market.