Political uncertainty doesn’t have to mean property uncertainty – sell on your terms

News surrounding Keir Starmer’s resignation and speculation over whether Andy Burnham could become the next Prime Minister have left many landlords asking what comes next.

Discussions about Andy Burnham’s previously proposed land tax paid by property owners rather than tenants that could see landlords paying 0.96% of their property value annually have reignited concerns across the private rented sector, with some landlords questioning whether now is the right time to reduce their portfolios or leave the market altogether.

For a landlord with a property worth £250,000, a land tax would mean an additional annual tax bill of £2,400 and, under the new rules introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act, strict limitations of their ability to pass on the charges.

After years of tax changes, selective licensing, the Renters’ Rights Act and increasing compliance costs, many landlords are no longer waiting to see what happens next.

As one Property 118 landlord commented “This land tax on its own has pushed me over the edge which will be worsened by a simultaneous rent freeze. After 27 years, I’m out and have started planning my exit now.”

The problem is that many tenanted properties can be difficult to sell through traditional estate agents, leaving landlords feeling trapped when they simply want a straightforward exit.

A Derby landlord approached us looking for a fast, certain sale of multiple properties. He wanted a clear route to a clean exit. He knew he wanted to sell without having to wait for his tenants to leave or having to evict them and run several empty properties indefinitely while he waited to find buyers and for the property sales to complete.

All he needed to do after that was choose the best way to sell his properties for the highest price.

Estate agents take too long and he didn’t want to sell in dribs and drabs. Auction houses are fast and certain but the sale price they typically achieve is too low because only cash buyers can bid.

The property buying companies he spoke to offered too little and most fast sale companies charge too much in fees and costs, don’t get involved in solving any problems or confirm their offer in writing at the start of the sale leaving him worried that they would drop their prices further down the road.

He chose us because we do more to make sure we get the best price possible for the properties we sell and our offers are locked in from the start. 

By securing full tenant cooperation, we protect the value of the properties we sell by allowing us to position the sale landlord-to-landlord and owner occupiers who push other offers up through competition.

The result speaks for itself. We sold four of the landlord’s six properties to a cash buyer with no searches and no survey, avoiding what could have been a nine-month court delay. Even better, the final price came in £30,000 higher than is typical for the investor market.

Another landlord, Ali, shared his experience after struggling to find an agent willing to help with a tenanted property.

“Many other agents were not interested, as I had a tenant in situ, but these guys reassured me they would sell this place and contribute towards costs to help make this transaction as smooth as possible.”

He later described Landlord Sales Agency as a “5-star” company that “goes above and beyond to help.”

We understand the challenges landlords face because Landlord Sales Agency was founded by landlords for landlords.

Our team specialises in selling tenanted properties, problem properties and portfolios that can often prove difficult to sell through traditional routes.

Whether you own one property or a large portfolio, we can help you explore your options. We specialise in selling properties in all conditions, including those affected by disrepair, enforcement action, costly maintenance issues or long-standing tenants.

Or whether you have pristine properties in excellent condition and just want to sell for the best prices without having to wait for tenants to leave or having to evict them, we can help. No matter whether you’re selling property with a single tenant, with multiple tenants, or even complicated sub-tenancies we can make sure you get the best price possible for your property.

Whilst landlords still need to be realistic on price, we typically achieve between 85% and 90% of vacant possession value. Our specialist approach often delivers significantly better results than auctions while providing greater speed, certainty and flexibility than many traditional sales methods.

Whatever happens politically over the coming months, landlords still have choices – but being ready for the next challenge is key. Do not wait until new taxes or further regulations arrive before reviewing your portfolio.

Whether you want to sell one property, several, or your entire portfolio, Landlord Sales Agency can help you achieve a fast, hassle-free sale while your properties remain tenanted.

If you’re wondering whether now is the right time to sell, there is no obligation and nothing to lose by having a confidential conversation. You may be surprised at what your portfolio is worth and just how straightforward the process can be.