Investing in property has long been considered a fundamental path to creating wealth, with many people preferring the tangibility of "bricks and mortar" to investing in shares, or more topically, pensions.
But, as with all investments, there are risks associated with owning residential property, many of them unique.
These risks shouldn't be a deterrent to the potential or existing property investor.
The implementation of a number of basic measures will minimise potential problems and ensure the property provides ongoing rental income and long-term capital growth.
Property investors should consider: Buying specific landlord insurance on the property provides cover for risks specific to an investment property, such as malicious damage and loss of rental income (depending of the level of coverage purchased).
Carefully screening and selecting potential tenants.
Exercise caution with applicants who can't provide rental references or don't have a solid rental track record.
Using a letting agent to manage your property.
While there is a cost associated with using the services of a letting agent, they can take much of the day-to-day pressure of managing the property off your shoulders.
Conducting regular inspections of your property to ensure that any problems either with the tenant or the building itself are quickly identified and addressed.
Undertaking regular property maintenance.
Neglected or rundown buildings are more likely to result in injury to tenants and jeopardise opportunities for strong capital growth.
Landlord insurance, in particular, is one of the easiest ways to safeguard your asset and ensure your investment property adds to your wealth, rather than being a necessary evil and drain on your pocket.
Normal home and contents insurance for is not sufficient for an investment property, whether the owner lives in the property or not.
Landlord insurance is necessary for investors who want to protect against malicious damage.
Unfortunately, we've all heard the horror stories of the "tenants from hell" who have done everything from growing hydroponic marijuana crops in the airing cupboard, to stockpiling rubbish in bedrooms or running taps until the property floods.
In addition to the costly damage they cause, time and again it is this type of tenant that will leave you high and dry with outstanding rent.
This means you are out of pocket on two fronts - with a hefty clean-up bill and the possibility of a significant period of time before the property can be restored and let to new tenants.
Many investors negatively gear and borrow extensively to buy their investment property and are therefore very reliant on a regular flow of rental income to meet loan repayments.
If tenants default on their rental payments or the property is vacant for long periods of time, this can cause an enormous amount of financial stress and can turn what is meant to be a wealth building exercise into a sudden drain on your finances.
Depending on the level of cover selected, landlord insurance can protect against tenants defaulting on payments as well as damage to the property.
Alternatively, accidents - such as spilt red wine on a cream carpet or scratched floorboards when moving furniture - can happen in any home, even with the most careful of tenants.
Alternatively, your reliable tenant may lose their job and suddenly find themselves weeks behind in their rent.
In many instances, the deposit paid at the outset of the tenancy is not enough to cover the rental income that has been lost or pay any repairs damage may have caused, whether malicious or accidental.
A unsavory thought, but one Landlords neglect to consider, is that Landlord insurance also provides public liability cover where injury or death may be caused to tenants or their guests in your property.
In an increasingly litigious society, with claims for hundreds of thousands of pounds not unusual, this could be essential.
Purchasing landlord insurance provides peace of mind, safeguards your investment and ensures that your residential property is the asset you hoped it would be.