By the Sleak Property Services team ·
Blackpool's terraces are popular with landlords and investors for good reason. They're affordable to buy, tenant demand is steady and a tired one can be completely transformed. But it's easy to spend money in the wrong places. A designer kitchen won't earn much extra rent if the house is damp and cold.
Here's how we'd prioritise the budget on a typical terrace renovation for letting.
Start with the building, not the finishes
Before anything cosmetic, deal with the things that cause problems later: damp, leaks, rotten timber, failing pointing or render, and blocked gutters. Older terraces near the coast take a lot of weather, and moisture will ruin new plaster and decoration within a year if it isn't sorted first.
Ventilation matters too. A lot of condensation and mould complaints in rentals come down to a bathroom or kitchen without a working extractor fan, which is a small cost compared with redecorating every year.
Get the safety and compliance work done early
Electrics, heating and fire safety are far easier to sort while walls are open and floors are up. An electrician's report will tell you whether the wiring needs work, and you'll need a valid EPC to let the property. The minimum energy rating for most private lets in England is currently E, and the government plans to raise it, so insulation and heating upgrades are worth thinking about now rather than later.
If the property is in one of Blackpool's selective licensing areas, check the council's standards before you finalise the layout.
Kitchens and bathrooms: durable, not designer
Tenants want a clean, modern kitchen and bathroom that work. They don't need handleless units or stone worktops. Spend on the things that last: decent hinges and drawer runners, a hard-wearing worktop, a good shower with a proper screen and well-sealed tiling. Pick a kitchen range you'll still be able to buy doors for, so one damaged door doesn't mean a whole new kitchen.
Walls, floors and decoration
Smooth, well-finished walls make a property feel new, which is why replastering is often worth it in an older terrace. Paint in a light neutral colour with a durable, wipeable finish. For floors, luxury vinyl or a good laminate in the kitchen, bathroom and hallway, with carpet in the bedrooms, is a sensible mix that's easy to repair a section at a time.
Don't forget the outside
The front of a terrace is small, but it's the first thing a viewer sees. A clean frontage, a tidy yard and a back gate that shuts properly make a real difference to how quickly a property lets, and to how well tenants look after it.
Plan it as one project
The biggest savings on a renovation come from planning. When one team manages the order of work, there's less waiting between trades, materials arrive when they're needed and nothing gets damaged by the next job. We manage renovations from first quote to the day the property is ready to let, and we'll tell you up front what your budget will and won't stretch to.
Common questions
Do you work with investors on buy-to-let projects?
Yes. We take properties from purchase condition to ready to let, and we're happy to look at a property before you buy and give you an idea of what the work involves.
Can you work to a fixed budget?
Yes. Tell us the figure and we'll scope the work to it, starting with the things that protect the building and your rent.