Blog: Landlord

Furnished or Unfurnished?

Perhaps you’re thinking about renting out a property but are unsure whether to rent it out as furnished or unfurnished? Let us talk you through what these really mean and the benefits and...

Property Visits

Conducting regular property visits are a crucial part of our fully managed service. At SJM Properties we undertake an initial inspection three months after a tenant has moved in and (provided everything is...

Are HMO’s trending in 2023?

HMO is an abbreviated term for ‘House in Multiple Occupation’, specifically it is a house or flat shared by a number of tenants who rent their rooms and shared communal space (e.g.,...

Is there a shortage of rental properties?

Yes, from our experience the shortage is very apparent from a supply and demand perspective. This can be explained by the higher interest rates making it more costly to obtain a...

Legislation you need to be aware of pre-move in!

It can be tricky to keep up to date with the ever-changing legislation so please find below a brief checklist of legislation to consider before you can rent your...

Landlord Insurance

Landlords, if you have been keeping up with our blogs, you’ll know we recently explained Rent Guarantee Insurance and the benefits of it but while we are on the subject, we thought it important to...

What does a ‘fully managed’ service consist of?

Have you bought a buy to let property and found yourself debating whether to have it fully managed or not? Perhaps you are wondering what ‘fully managed’ really...

How to Add Value to Your Property

With current rental values being almost at peak, its unlikely landlords will reap the benefits of costly renovations so we thought we could suggest five simple ways of maximising rental...

What do applicants look for when renting in Taunton?

In general, our properties have had a record high volume of interest, this could be put down to the dramatic hike in interest rates making it so expensive to obtain a...

Happy Spring everyone!

The season is nearly upon us and after those chilly winter months its finally time to open the windows and get outside to enjoy the daffodils and smell of fresh cut grass! And why not take the...

Local Things to Do in Taunton

Hestercombe Gardens - Famous for its four century old gardens across 3 acres, Hestercombe is a beautiful place to explore for walks or attend events. They have anything from arts and...

Rent Guarantee Insurance Defined

Rent Guarantee Insurance is a form of landlord cover whereby in the event a tenant defaults on their rent, the insurer will pay it instead. In addition to providing up to 15 months...

10 steps to preparing your property to rent

1. Ensure all structural repairs are completed.

2. Use ‘tenant friendly’ décor. It is advisable to source neutral, plain or light-coloured paint/wallpaper as it...

It has been a long time coming but I am excited to annouce our very first newsletter for SJM Properties, please click on

At the beginning of 2022, I was looking at how to take SJM Properties to the next level and gain more exposure in the hope of attracting more landlords and subsequent business. I explored several advertising options and soon...

Why Choose an Independent Letting Agent?

You might be wondering why using a smaller local letting agent is so much more beneficial than going to a bigger (perhaps more familiar) company, well, allow us to...

Causes of Damp and Mould

Did you know that condensation is scarcely a building fault and is actually caused by how we live inside our homes?

Mundane tasks such as washing/drying clothes, taking a bath or shower,...

INTERNET SAFETY WARNING

Sadly, due a recent scam attempt we are writing this to warn you to stay safe online!

A few days ago, a man falsely posed as a landlord for one of our advertised properties in order to...

Where are we now?

So, the big question is where are we now? Well, two and a half years later and we are still here so that’s a good start! Despite opening during an uncertain time, we are pleased to announce that SJM...

What is normal? And why are we trying to get ‘back’ to normal? Everyone has experienced some form of change over the last few months, whether it’s a change in job role, change of work place or a...

The government is implementing new electrical safety standards from 1st July 2020 to improve the safety in all residential let properties. This will affect all landlords.

My first time writing a blog, so here it goes! So who saw the lockdown coming? I certainly didn’t when I decided to set up as an independent letting agent, SJM Properties. With the help of my...