Sponsored Editorial by Aldo Sotgiu, managing director of Wards

With surging interest rates and falling prices, you don’t have to look far to find plenty of doom and gloom surrounding the property market.

I’ve been around long enough to know (40 years this year in fact – where does the time go!) that adversity always offers an opportunity for creativity and Wards customers are always remarkably resilient in their approach to finding a way to fulfil their objectives.

An example of this is starting to emerge with an increase in customers pivoting their plans from selling their property to renting it out.

Whilst selling is still the No.1 option and still a necessity for some, letting your property can give you a new avenue in investment and either a long-term or short-term solution to your current circumstances. Wards manages thousands of properties, the vast majority are for customers who had never considered letting before but have found that by becoming what is termed as “accidental” landlords, they’ve put themselves in an enviable position.

The allure of rental income is obviously a major highlight, with rental values spiraling upwards.

As a landlord, you unlock a consistent revenue stream that can offset your mortgage payments, cover maintenance costs and even provide additional earnings.

For many, property rental also gives you great flexibility. You can re-evaluate your choices down the line, whether it’s moving back in or eventually selling when conditions are more favourable. We’ve even seen an increase in Let to Buy transactions, again giving you great flexibility without having to sell your home.

So, with all these benefits, why aren’t more people becoming landlords?

Well, to many, becoming a landlord can be a daunting and time-consuming job. Essentially, if you let a property properly, you can quickly find yourself running a small business, with all the responsibilities a landlord is required to take on now, from dozens and dozens of laws and regulations that oversee lettings, to tax implications as well as the natural concerns of the rent being paid on time in order to cover the mortgage and obviously your property being looked after by your tenants.

Becoming a landlord however doesn’t have to become a daunting task.

Lettings agents are able to take the strain out of the process, with anything from a service to simply find you a tenant, all the way through to fully managed services that come with rent and legal protection should the worst happen, and the rent not be paid.

If you feel that letting might be an option for you, it costs nothing to talk, and our team of experts are able to help and give you advice.

Whether you decide to let or not is entirely up to you, but record demand and rents rising as a consequence, this might just be time for you to take a step into the rental market, so why not give us a call.

Find out more about renting a property at www.wardsofkent.co.uk