Building up a property portfolio can deliver lucrative returns. The Telegraph shows how parts of the UK have the potential to deliver a yield of about 10 per cent or even more.

However, those returns are only possible if you protect your property. Houses are expensive assets and need to be looked after properly if you want to maximise your rental income and ensure that it retains its re-sale value should you wish to cash in in the long run.

So, what do you need to know in order to protect your property asset?

Insurance is vital

You need to be prepared for all eventualities. If one of your properties is flooded or if it’s damaged by a tenant, then you’ll need to pay to get it repaired. That’s where a good insurance policy comes in. Landlords should look through the sorts of things covered by an insurance policy and get the package that best suits their needs. This gives you the peace of mind that your asset is covered and can even cover you if your tenant doesn’t pay their rent, for example.

Regular inspections

Insurance will cover you in the case of an emergency, but you shouldn’t really leave it until something goes wrong to be up to speed on the state of your property. The law states that, provided you give 24 hours’ notice – you have the right to check up on any property that you own. It’s well worth doing this so you can keep an eye on the condition of the building and any of the fixtures and fittings you own. If you pay for an estate agent to do this for you then that doesn’t mean you should just wash your hands with this – make sure you know what they’re doing and the results of any inspections carried out. Make sure you act on any findings too – a good landlord should always be prepared to invest in their property asset in order to keep it in the right condition.

Communications

It’s good to talk and it pays to have a decent relationship with your tenant. They are the people who can play a direct role in protecting your asset in the short term. Make sure they know how to contact you and encourage them to take responsibility for any issues they might come across. You can help to foster a good working relationship by showing them that you care and are prepared to fix any problems promptly. You don’t need to be best friends, clearly, but it is important that both parties are able to deal with each other cordially when required.

With proper insurance, a proactive approach to looking after your property and a professional relationship with your tenant or agent you’ll have the solid foundations that you need in place to protect your property asset and help to make sure it earns you plenty of money in the short, medium and long term.