A series of six video ‘shows’ – ideal for agents to promote to would-be investment buyers – has been launched by buy to let expert Kate Faulkner.  

The first was Is Buy To Let A Wise Investment? and looks at the pros and cons of letting property compared the various ways of investing and stressed the importance of diversifying a portfolio.

In the second show, Financing and Insuring a Buy to Let, Faulkner explains that when it comes to mortgages and insurance policies, landlords need to get guidance from experts to understand the difference between financing and insuring a home and a let property.

Rupert Swetman, head of lending for Which? Mortgage Advisers, explains why buy to let investors are expected to pay bigger deposits than homebuyers, how the lending criteria differs and the importance of using an experienced broker.

As insuring a buy to let property is much more complex than insuring your home, Christina Dimitrov, business manager at Direct Line for Business, talks through the main features of specialist landlord insurance, and some of the ‘optional extras’ available, such as rent guarantee and cover for malicious damage.

Also appearing in the show are Carrie Alliston, head of lettings for Hunters estate agents, who explains how a good maintenance schedule can save landlords money in the long term, and Tim Bishop, of Bonallack and Bishop solicitors, who warns of the dangers of trying to cut corners.

“Whether you set out to invest in property, or become an ‘accidental landlord’ and let out your own home, you need to be aware of the specialist products buy to let providers. In this episode of the Buy to Let Show, I and a team of trusted experts guide you through what is available, highlighting those which are essential to be a successful landlord and prevent potential heartache” says Faulkner.

Future episodes in the series will cover Choosing a Buy to Let, Letting Legally and Safety, Buy to Let Problems and, crucially, How to Plan an Exit from Buy to Let.

Each show is accompanied by an eBook which covers the subject in more detail; the eBooks are free to download as the shows are released.

Both the show and eBooks can be accessed here.