Property ownership is not a passive investment. Maintenance spending is not optional, and the only real question is whether it happens on your timetable or on the boiler's.

In this episode Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler work through the 20 questions landlords ask about maintenance: the difference between reactive and planned, which is genuinely cheaper over a full ownership cycle, why reactive is not always the wrong call, which parts of a property should be planned for and which are better handled as they arise, how often a property should be inspected, the costs landlords most consistently underestimate, and how much of your annual rental income to set aside.

Simon gives a working figure for that last one, with the caveat that it moves with the age of the property.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham with over 17 years in property management. Get in touch at prefprop.com.

CHAPTERS 
0:00 Cold open 
0:22 Welcome 
1:19 What is reactive maintenance? 
1:52 What is planned maintenance? 
2:28 Which approach is cheaper in the long run? 
4:15 Why do landlords tend to favour reactive maintenance? 
5:16 Is reactive maintenance always a bad thing? 
6:17 Is planned maintenance always the best option? 
7:39 What benefits most from planned maintenance? 
9:03 Boilers and heating systems 
9:41 Gutters and roofs 
10:16 Does planned maintenance reduce emergency callouts? 
11:13 How are tenants affected by maintenance? 
11:58 Can good maintenance reduce void periods? 
12:22 The costs landlords most often underestimate 
13:19 How often should a property be inspected? 
13:50 Do inspections actually save money? 
14:16 How does maintenance affect property value? 
15:34 What happens if you don't do the repairs? 
16:05 Maintenance and keeping good tenants 
16:53 How much should you set aside each year? 
18:05 The biggest mistake landlords make with maintenance 
18:59 The 5 key takeaways

#PropertyMaintenance #UKLandlord #BuyToLet #LandlordAdvice #PropertyPodcast #PlannedMaintenance #RentalProperty #PropertyManagement #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #UKProperty #LandlordTips

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Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

In this episode Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler work through the 20 questions landlords ask about presenting a property for rent: what tenants notice in the first thirty seconds, whether to redecorate before letting, why neutral decor still wins, whether to furnish (the answer depends more on where the property is than most landlords realise), how much energy efficiency now matters to tenants worried about running costs, what makes photographs work, and what move-in ready actually means in practice.

There is also one small operational habit Simon's agency has adopted that almost nobody talks about, and which quietly prevents a lot of first-week complaints. It is in the move-in ready answer.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham with over 17 years in property management. Get in touch at prefprop.com.

CHAPTERS 

0:00 Cold open 

0:18 Welcome 

1:30 Does presentation really affect how quickly a property lets? 

2:21 What is the first thing tenants notice? 

2:51 How important is cleanliness? 

4:05 Should the property be redecorated before letting? 

4:57 Is neutral decor still important? 

5:44 How important is the kitchen? 

6:22 How important is the bathroom? 

7:06 Do all fixtures and fittings need to work? 

7:36 Are small repairs worth doing? 

8:07 How important is storage? 

8:41 Should I furnish the property? 

10:11 How important is energy efficiency to tenants? 

12:01 Do tenants pay attention to the EPC rating? 

12:04 Why is professional photography important? 

13:36 How to prepare a property for photographs 

15:07 How important is pricing? 

15:45 What does move-in ready actually mean? 

17:14 What are tenants comparing my property against? 

18:18 The biggest mistake landlords make 

18:43 The 5 key takeaways

Subscribe for weekly, practical property guidance for landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers.

#RentalProperty #UKLandlord #BuyToLet #PropertyPresentation #LandlordAdvice #PropertyPodcast #LettingsAgent #TenantDemand #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #UKProperty #PropertyPhotography

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Most landlords choose a letting agent on fee percentage and a gut feeling about the person who turned up to the valuation. Both are the wrong place to start.

In this episode Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler work through the 20 questions landlords should be asking before they hand over their property: what a letting agent actually does day to day, the real difference between let-only and fully managed, why the quickest tenant is rarely the right tenant, what a proper referencing process includes, how to judge fees against value, and the one warning sign that should end a conversation with an agent early.

Simon runs a lettings agency, so he has an obvious interest in this topic and says so on air. The answers are given straight anyway, including an honest take on whether agency fees are worth paying and why letting agent reviews are often read the wrong way round.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham with over 17 years in property management. Get in touch at prefprop.com.

CHAPTERS 

0:00 Cold open 

0:24 Welcome 

1:31 What does a letting agent actually do? 

2:44 Let-only versus fully managed 

4:47 Why accurate pricing matters 

5:26 How to tell if an agent understands tenant demand 

6:11 How important is communication? 

6:48 What to expect from a good agent when problems arise 

7:47 Why compliance knowledge matters 

8:22 Can compliance mistakes really be that serious? 

9:17 Is finding a tenant quickly the most important thing? 

10:03 What a good referencing process includes 

11:04 How maintenance issues should be handled 

12:55 Why systems and processes matter 

13:33 Should I choose the cheapest agent? 

16:04 How important are reviews and reputation? 

17:48 What to ask about property inspections 

18:11 How rent arrears should be dealt with 

18:47 How do I know if I'm getting value for money? 

19:13 The biggest warning sign when choosing an agent 

19:53 The most important quality in a letting agent 

20:35 The 5 things every landlord needs to know

Subscribe for weekly, practical property guidance for landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers across North Birmingham.

#LettingAgent #UKLandlord #BuyToLet #PropertyManagement #LandlordAdvice #PropertyPodcast #TenantReferencing #RentersRightsAct #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #UKProperty #LettingsAgent

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Every privately rented home in England and Wales needs to reach EPC Band C by 1 October 2030, with a cost cap of £10,000 per property. If you own one rental or a portfolio, the planning window is open now.

In this episode Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler take 20 questions on EPCs and answer them in plain English: what the minimum standard is today, what to do if your property is rated D, E, F or G, how the cost cap and exemptions work, which improvements actually move a rating, whether a tenant can refuse access for works, and the timing question most landlords miss, which is whether to renew your EPC early and lock in a C before the assessment methodology changes.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham with over 17 years in property management. If you want to talk through what EPC C means for your property, get in touch at prefprop.com.

CHAPTERS 

0:00 Cold open 

0:24 Welcome 

1:45 The minimum EPC rating to let a property today 

2:12 Can I let a property rated F or G? 

2:40 Do I need an EPC to market my property? 

3:17 How long does an EPC last? 

3:42 Do I need a C rating right now? 

4:18 Has the government confirmed EPC C for rentals? 

5:24 Should I start improving my properties now? 

6:28 Is EPC C already law, and when does it take effect? 

7:48 My property is rated D: what now? 

8:47 What if it's rated E? 

9:18 Rated F or G: the urgent cases 

10:01 The current cost cap 

10:34 The £10,000 cost cap explained 

12:06 Which improvements raise an EPC rating most? 

13:20 Already a C: do I need to do anything? 

14:55 Should I renew my EPC early? 

16:35 Access, tenants and improvement works 

17:37 Exemptions under the new regime 

19:00 EPC C is coming: the summary

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Can your landlord still evict you? Does your tenancy have an end date any more? And what actually happens if you challenge a rent increase?

Last week Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler answered the 20 questions landlords are asking about the Renters' Rights Act. This week the microphone flips: the 20 questions tenants are asking, answered calmly and in plain English. How rent increases now work and the £47 route to challenge one, the new rules on pets and inspections, what notice you give when you want to leave, and the 5 things every tenant needs to know under the new rules. Whether you rent your home or rent one out, this is the other half of the conversation.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham with over 17 years in property management. Landlords and tenants alike can get in touch at prefprop.com.

CHAPTERS 

0:00 Cold open 

0:21 Welcome 

1:06 Can my landlord still evict me? 

1:48 Does my tenancy still have an end date? 

2:39 What notice do I give if I want to leave? 

3:21 Can my landlord increase my rent? 

3:47 How often can the rent go up? 

5:32 Challenging a rent increase: the tribunal and the £47 fee 

7:10 Can I request permission to keep a pet? 

9:58 How does a pet have a rental history? 

10:12 Can my landlord still inspect the property? 

12:43 What happens if I pay my rent late? 

13:55 Can my landlord sell up or move back in? 

14:37 Can the rent rise because the landlord's mortgage went up? 

15:03 The biggest change for tenants 

16:08 The 5 things every tenant needs to know

Subscribe for weekly, practical property guidance for landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers across North Birmingham.

#RentersRightsAct #TenantRights #Renting #UKLandlord #PropertyPodcast #RentIncrease #TenancyLaw #Section21 #PetsInRentals #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #UKProperty #RentersRights

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Section 21 has gone, fixed-term tenancies have been abolished and the rules on rent increases have completely changed. So what does that actually mean for your rental property?

Since the Renters' Rights Act went live, the same questions keep landing with us. In this episode Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler answer the 20 questions landlords are asking most, in plain English: what happened to existing tenancies, how Section 13 rent increases work, which possession grounds you will actually use, whether you can still refuse pets or take a guarantor, and the one habit that protects you more than anything else under the new regime.

Simon Bacon is the owner of Preferential Properties, a lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham. If any of these questions apply to your property, get in touch at prefprop.com for a no-obligation conversation.

Chapters

0:22 Welcome: the 20 Questions mini-series 

1:11 Can I still ask for a 12-month fixed term? 

1:40 What happened to my existing AST? 

3:06 Do I need a new tenancy agreement? 

3:17 How do I increase the rent now? 

5:32 Challenging a rent increase: the tribunal and the fee 

7:14 Selling up: ground 1A and notice periods 

8:20 Moving back in: ground 1 

8:52 Has Section 21 definitely gone? 

9:27 Rent arrears and persistent late payment 

11:33 Guarantors and pets 

12:28 The National Landlord Register: has it started? 

14:40 The biggest risk for landlords under the Act 

15:16 The biggest misconception about the Act 

16:41 Other grounds and their timescales 

20:50 The 5 grounds that will matter most 

 RentersRightsAct #Section21 #UKLandlord #BuyToLet #PropertyPodcast #LandlordAdvice #LettingsAgent #PropertyInvestment #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #TenancyLaw #PropertyManagement #UKProperty 

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Welcome to another episode of The All Things Property Podcast with Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler. Today, we’re diving into a topic that sits at the heart of every successful tenancy but is often misunderstood or overlooked: property inventories. Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, understanding what a property inventory is—and what it isn’t—could be the difference between a smooth deposit return and a costly dispute.

In this episode, Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler break down what makes a thorough inventory, why detail counts, and how the right documentation protects everyone involved. They’ll reveal real-world mistakes, debate who should compile inventories, and highlight the pitfalls of cutting corners. Join us as we unpack the practical tips and hard-earned lessons that turn a property inventory from an afterthought into your tenancy’s best insurance policy.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding property inventories

06:18 Using inventory clerks for property

08:30 Inventory management mistakes

10:49 Preparing rental property documents

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

ost deposit disputes don't start at the end of a tenancy. They start on day one. In this episode, Simon Bacon of Preferential Properties and co-host Ian Sadler walk through the complete move-in and move-out checklist that protects landlords and tenants from end-of-tenancy disputes.

Simon draws on 17+ years of lettings management across North Birmingham to explain what should be in place before a tenant ever gets the keys: a photographic inventory and schedule of condition, key records, utility details and meter readings, and why the signed inventory is the single most important document in any deposit dispute.

They also cover what tenants should be doing during the tenancy, how a proper final inspection works, where cleaning expectations sit against fair wear and tear, and why communication and negotiation resolve most disputes before they ever reach arbitration.

Chapters

0:00 What's coming up
1:00 Move-in day essentials: inventory, keys and meter readings
5:48 The signed inventory: your proof of condition
8:06 Preparing for move-out day
11:14 The final inspection
12:24 Cleaning expectations and fair wear and tear
16:59 Deposit return timelines
19:16 Resolving disputes without arbitration

📋 Get our free Move-Out Checklist: email [email protected] for the resource.

🎧 Listen on the go: Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/65pvM5PsStLWf6zGyEjgjE?si=6146a80b38d64e1b Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-all-things-property-podcast/id1852833218

Preferential Properties is a personal, independent lettings and sales agency serving Sutton Coldfield and North Birmingham. If you'd rather hand the compliance side to someone who does this all day, get in touch: www.prefprop.com

#DepositDisputes #Landlords #LettingAgent #UKProperty #PropertyPodcast #Tenants #BuyToLet #SuttonColdfield #Birmingham #PropertyManagement #LandlordAdvice #Renting

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

What Really Happens During Tenant Referencing and Why Applications Don’t Always Pass.

Welcome to this episode of The All Things Property Podcast, where the conversation focused on the all-important subject of tenant referencing. The discussion explored what referencing actually involves, looking closely at how suitability for a tenancy is assessed beyond just ticking boxes. Several points were raised, including affordability calculations, credit history checks, the value and reliability of landlord references, and the nuances for self-employed applicants. A key theme that emerged was the balance between thoroughness and speed in the referencing process, as well as the evolving role of technology and data protection. The episode also considered how landlord caution is increasing in response to changing legislation and whether current referencing practices are robust enough to meet the challenges of the modern rental market.

Chapters

00:00 Tenant reference checks explained

03:36 Understanding Tenant Credit Checks

06:51 Addressing undisclosed credit issues

09:55 Choosing the right referencing company

15:34 Landlords verifying tenant information

17:28 Wrapping up the episode

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

Welcome back to The All Things Property Podcast with Simon Bacon and Ian Sadler. In this episode, the spotlight is on guarantors, a sometimes misunderstood but crucial part of the rental process. 

Simon and Ian  cut through the jargon to explain exactly what being a guarantor means, who is eligible, and the true extent of the responsibilities involved. 

They tackle common misconceptions, the impact of changing regulations, and why clear communication between landlords, tenants, and guarantors is more important than ever. 

If you think being a guarantor is just a formality, think again this episode is an essential listen for anyone navigating rental agreements in today's property market.

Timestamps

00:00 Understanding tenancy guarantors

03:17 Understanding tenant guarantor responsibilities

09:17 Explaining rent affordability checks

10:48 Understanding guarantor responsibilities

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244

______________________________

Get in touch with Simon for all your property needs. 
www.prefprop.com

E: [email protected]

T: 0121 2402244