Prospective landlords 'should do their research'

Investors looking to buy into the UK residential rental property sector "should do their research first", it has been claimed.

Coming on the back of the buy-to-let boom seen in Merseyside following the announcement that Liverpool was to be the European Capital of Culture, the region's leading landlord group has revealed that it is still seeing inexperienced investors moving into the market.

While there are profits to be had in the sector, the Merseyside and Wirral Property Landlords Action Group has stated that those property investors that fail to follow the appropriate rules and regulations or who fail to heed professional advice such as the need to take out buy-to-let landlord insurance could find themselves in trouble.

"They should read up on tenants' rights, health and safety regulations and other laws," group secretary Richard Globe told the Liverpool Daily Post.

"Many don't do this and when they end up before a judge because they have broken a law they cannot plead ignorance – it is not a defence."

Meanwhile, new regulations due to come into effect in 2010 will require landlords renting to council tenants to assume greater responsibility for safeguarding the peace and quiet.

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