Introducing The LHA Expert for Landlords – @TheLHAexpert

-By Guest Columnist John Paul- Part 1 of an 8 part series

Welcome to the first in a series of eight articles giving you top tips for renting your property to tenants in receipt of Local Housing Allowance (LHA).

I have personally built a successful portfolio by letting to LHA Tenants and the profits and cash flow exceed those I could have achieved with working tenants. In some areas rents are as much as 30% higher than market rents in the private rented sector. I think you’ll agree that’s a premium that makes some additional administration worth the effort.

I am also Managing Director of Castledene Property Management and we specialise in managing properties with LHA Tenants and believe that, with the right information, the opportunity is there for shrewd investors to increase their rental yields often in areas where property is cheaper to purchase.

There are over 4.89 million people receiving housing benefit in the UK, with 2.57 million people unemployed. With many more people in jobs which are under threat, the chances are that even a working tenant might need to claim Local Housing Allowance at some point. These tips will help you understand the system and be prepared so that you are ready even if you become an LHA Landlord by accident.

As a reader of Property News you may already be experienced in managing all types of tenants in which case please share your knowledge in the comments which is a great way to add to the value of these articles for all readers. If you are new to property investment or have never considered LHA tenants then I hope this brief guide will give you food for thought.

Buying a property and then renting it for a profit is a simple concept. What can make things complicated is the relationship between landlord and tenant. Many landlords avoid tenants in receipt of Housing Benefits, also referred to as LHA Tenants, because they perceive that such tenants represent a greater workload and greater risks to property condition and rent arrears.

My aim in this set of articles is to give you guidance on how to get the best out of the investment opportunities offered by LHA Tenants. How to maximise rewards and reduce the risks.

Wishing you every success.