Successful Property Letting 
  by David Lawrenson

Do you want to know how to let property successfully?

Whether you are new to letting property or more experienced, this book is for you.

David Lawrenson has 20 years’ experience as a landlord. He will tell you what you really need to know to make money in buy-to-let. Packed with facts, his book will explain how you can:

• Buy the right type of property in the right location – whether you buy at auction, through an estate agent, privately or “off plan”;
• Get the best deals from builders, developers, architects, surveyors and solicitors;
• Decide whether to use a letting agency or do it yourself;
• Prepare the right form of tenancy agreement and comply with all the laws on letting;
• Reference your tenants thoroughly so you don’t get the tenant from hell;
• Keep your tenants happy and your property let at all times;
• Buy and let abroad with confidence;
• Let your property free of income tax and capital gains tax.

Follow David’s advice and keep the rent rolling in!

Reviews

"a valuable contribution to the savvy landlord's bookshelf"

  Make Your Will The Right Way 
  by Joyce Bennell

Have you made a will? Or have you ‘somehow’ not got round to it yet? If the latter, you need this book.

All of us aged 18 and above should make a will to ensure that our property is shared out according to our own wishes after our death. If you don’t leave a will, your property will be divided up according to the laws of intestacy - which probably won’t be what you want!

Solicitor Joyce Bennell shares her 28 years of experience of will-writing to show how to make a valid will, including choosing appropriate executors and making sure that the will is properly witnessed.

If your affairs are relatively straightforward, you’ll need no other help and will be able to base your will on one of the sample wills included at the end of the book. However, if your circumstances are more complicated, Joyce Bennell’s guide will prepare you for seeking more detailed legal advice.

  First Time Tenant 
  by Patricia Barber

Renting your first property? Then this book will tell you everything you need to know for a problem-free tenancy.

You will be taken through all the steps from finding the right property at the start, moving in and all the way through to, finally, moving out. Along the way, you will find out what to look for in the tenancy agreement and what it’s all going to cost. Learn about the tenancy itself - what to expect from your landlord and your responsibilities as a tenant. You will also learn how to protect yourself from unscrupulous landlords and - most importantly - preserve your deposit.

Every aspect of renting is covered, with useful tips and case histories from Patricia Barber’s wealth of experience in the lettings industry.

Reviews

"An invaluable source of information for first time renters, student or non-student, First Time Tenant is packed with everything that you could ever want to know about getting your own pad" Student Direct

"a must-read if you are thinking about renting!" Daily Record

  Getting the Builders in
  by Paul J Grimaldi

Everyone's heard the horror stories. Rogue contractors. Shoddy workmanship. Ballooning costs. Endless delays. Excuses and prevarication.

Getting the Builders in can put an end to that. It is a clear, comprehensive guide to employing a contractor. It covers conversions/extensions, double glazing, fitted kitchens and other household projects. Here you will find expert advice on:

• Selecting contractors, and getting the right price;
• Overseeing works, and knowing when to intervene;
• Legal matters, including planning permission and advice on contracts.

This book puts you firmly in the 'driving seat', improving your chances of getting a first-class job - without being ripped off!

Paul Grimaldi has worked for 30 years in construction project management. His book distils the best of his vast experience.

  Divorce:
  The Things You Thought You'd Never Need to Know
  by JM Black & ER Auckland

Nobody marries with divorce in mind. So, if our marriage breaks down, we are disillusioned, upset and unprepared. But we have to face difficult decisions. Jill Black QC and Elizabeth Auckland steer us calmly, sympathetically and in the right order, through what can be a 'minefield'. On the way they transform the awful legalese and officialese into plain English.

Case histories and a broad insight into how courts make their decisions - especially regarding the children, the home and finances - help us appreciate what to expect in our own circumstances. Tax considerations are dealt with fully.

The authors hope that, by giving readers a greater grasp of the overall picture, their book may short-circuit difficulties and at the same time complement the work of solicitors. Jill Black sits as a high court judge dealing with family law cases. Elizabeth Auckland is a barrister practising in family law.

  The Law in Brief 
  by Michael Heneker

Books about the law are normally long and complicated. As its title suggests, this book is the opposite. The triumph of Michael Heneker’s approach is that he depicts English law accurately in its historical context, properly defines the principles that underlie it, and describes how the legal system works to deliver justice for everyone. The style is readable, clear and easy to understand.

This is not designed to be a textbook for lawyers, or even for law students (though it will be enormously useful to anyone who is considering whether to join the legal profession). It is expressly written for non-lawyers, that is, for all of us, who are bound to come into contact with some aspect of the legal system in our daily lives, and want to know more about what it is, how it works, and what it can do for us.

Michael Heneker is a practising solicitor.