UK Landlord Forum / Life

Anyone can share the positives as landlords ? I am a new landlord and feeling really anxious, worried, and thinking too much about everything !

Thought if I can gain positives from everyone, it will make me more confident ..

Reading your threads, you come across as a worrier and lacking confidence. While preparation is key and understanding your obligations is necessary, at the end of the day it's a people business... if you can get on with people and not become adversarial at the slightest thing, then you should get on fine. Do your research, do all the stuff that is required of you, then engage. I don't mean smother your Tenants, people like to be left alone, but just do everything professionally. What are the benefits / positives?

The benefits are simple... a semi-passive income if you set things up correctly and don't let out complete dives. At the same time as receiving that income you, I do hope, also get someone to pay off the debt on a very large and valuable asset that, over time, will pay you back handsomely.

The positives are also simple... if you are called upon to engage by your Tenants, it's usually to fix something or remedy a situation - that means, unlike some of our day jobs, that when you do something it actually has a material and manifest impact (hopefully positive) on someone's life.

Try not to fall into the trap of thinking you're some kind of charity, you're not. Don't pretend. Don't go out of your way to become friends with your Tenants. Some Landlords love this... Tenants are not dependants, they're not children, they're not pets, they're people who need a home over their head. Show them respect and hope that it becomes a 2-way street, but don't become too familiar, one day you may have a dispute and at some point, certainly, the tenancy will come to an end.

We can't make you more confident, that's for sure. Landlords are not known for their caring behaviour, right? A number of members on here, including me, would advise that you need a thick skin to be a Landlord... if you don't, if you are overly meek and a doormat, then there's a chance you could be taken advantage of.

As always... ask away, but do prepare yourself for a roasting from us here, it'll prepare you well for the future as a Landlord. We can't have you curling up into a ball and crying yourself to sleep... Landlords don't do that.

OK, some do, but we don't talk about those Landlords.

Lastly, as a Landlord you need to practice "tenting your fingers"... like in a "I've got an evil plan" kind of way. It's mandatory.

The Housemartins sang:

Why's that man rubbing his hands, looking at me writing down his plans?

This 'man' is a Landlord... the singer is a Tenant.

Hi there.
I am not really one for commenting alot on here. But I do pop on here every now and then to read a few questions.
I am also a landlord and have been doing it only for a few years now.
Obviously it has its rewards but my advice is to do lots of research.

When I started out I read loads and I have found this forum really helpful. The guys and girls on here I cannot speak more highly of.
Hippogriff you are a regular for replying and your words of advise have always been helpful and appreciated.

Like anything in life there will be ups and downs and you will learn alot along the way.
Don't feel bad about asking questions I have probably asked a few crazy ones in the past.
Good luck with your new adventure.