Saturday, 23 November 2013

Expats ‘should use a letting agent

Northern Ireland's property market seems to be turning a corner. Prices remain around half what they were pre-recession, but latest signals suggest property values are beginning to rise.

In this environment, many expats and foreign investors might be looking at buying a property in Northern Ireland to rent out. This offers lots of opportunities, but it's important to make sure someone is on hand to look after your investment while you are thousands of miles away.

That's where letting agents come in. They are perhaps the most important person you will deal with - you will rely on them to make the investment successful and hassle-free.

It's wise to get advice from an agent affiliated to a professional organisation, as they will be trained, offer client money protection and there is a redress scheme in place if things go wrong.

You should also speak to them about tax, with HM Revenue and Customs earlier this year launching a new crackdown on expats who own rental property in Britain and Northern Ireland.

Eric Bowman, a British expat living in Estonia, is one example of how finding the right agent is crucial. Having spent lots of time and effort going it alone, he has now found a letting agent who can look after every aspect on his behalf.

"It requires a fair amount of trust, but my lettings agent deals with everything. I couldn't do it on my own," Mr Bowman told The Telegraph.

He pays a six per cent fee for full management, and does "absolutely nothing apart from answer their emails". It's an arrangement that works very well. Mr Bowman has only been back to the UK twice in nine years and didn't even visit his properties. 

Landlords based abroad can use a currency exchange specialist to set up regular payments to agents to manage their properties.

Currencies Direct could save you up to 4% on the purchase price of your property. If you are buying or selling your property abroad, Currencies Direct have the expertise to ensure you benefit from a maximum return.

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