Property Investing All-In-One For Dummies, UK Edition

Melanie Bien is an Associate Director at Savills Private Finance, and formerly the Personal Finance Editor for The Independent on Sunday. Melanie is a regular commentator on rental property for national newspapers and magazines.

• Introduction 1Book I: Housebuying Basics and the Law 7Chapter 1: Step One: Getting the Most from Viewings 9Chapter 2: Making an Offer 19Chapter 3: Going, Going, Gone: Buying Property at Auction 37Chapter 4: Conveyancing for Buyers and Sellers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland 49Chapter 5: Buying a House in Scotland 69Chapter 6: Researching European Markets 81Book II: Finance, Tax, and How to Organise Them 97Chapter 1: Getting a Mortgage 99Chapter 2: Financing with a Buy-to-Let Mortgage 129Chapter 3: Saving Tax on Your Bricks-and-Mortar 139Chapter 4: Using a Company to Hold Your Property 151Chapter 5: Recordkeeping and Financial Management 157Chapter 6: Financing Abroad 165Book III: Renovating a Property 175Chapter 1: Renovating Wrecks: Property In Need of Work 177Chapter 2: Dealing with Damp 189Chapter 3: Installing Kitchen Cabinets 195Chapter 4: Installing Worktops and Sinks 209Chapter 5: Out on the Tiles: Tiling in Kitchens and Bathrooms 231Chapter 6: Heating, Ventilating, and Insulating Your Property 237Chapter 7: Flooring: Keeping a Leg Up on Foot Traffic 245Chapter 8: Painting and Finishing 269Book IV: Becoming a Buy-to-Let Landlord 287Chapter 1: Decision Time: Managing Yourself or Hiring an Agent? 289Chapter 2: Preparing a Property for Tenants 301Chapter 3: The Big Three: Rent, Deposits, and Tenancy Agreements 315Chapter 4: Advertising and Showing Your Property 333Chapter 5: Safety, Security, and Insurance 369Book V: Managing a Tenancy 387Chapter 1: Selecting and Screening Your Tenants 389Chapter 2: Moving in Your Tenant 415Chapter 3: Collecting and Increasing Rent 441Chapter 4: Sweet and Sour: Keeping Good Tenants and Dealing with Problem Ones 453Chapter 5: Moving Out Tenants 467Book VI: Selling Up at a Profit 483Chapter 1: Selling with a Pro: Getting the Most from Estate Agents 485Chapter 2: Going It Alone: Selling Your Property Privately 495Chapter 3: Creating the Right Impression 515Chapter 4: Negotiating a Successful Sale 523Chapter 5: Selling in Scotland 535Index 545