A letting agent has penned a new guide for landlords that has already topped Amazon book charts.

David Adams, MD of Chester-based agency Cavendish, wrote The Landlord’s Playbook based on his 20 years working in the pr8vate rented sector, advising landlords on how to maximise the value of their property portfolios.

“I’ve met a lot of landlords and lettings agents, many of whom face the same opportunities and challenges,” explains Adams.

“The book is an attempt to empty my head of everything I’ve learnt into something tangible and provide solutions which I hope they will find useful - whatever stage of the journey they are on.”

However, he is also seeing a new breed of landlords, fuelled by Instagram and Tik Tok. “They are more about property investment, building portfolios and looking for exit strategies at the right time,” he says. “They are typically in their 20s or 30s and maybe moved out of London to Cheshire and North Wales.”

Navigating politics

The book is divided into three sections: Navigating Politics, Building a Legacy, and Adopting the Right Character.

Legacy looks at how someone structures their business, along with exit strategies, maximising value and potential inheritance within a family, while Adams addresses the issue of character and shares his take on the importance of having the time to take a helicopter view - working on rather than in, your business.

“There are many examples where landlords try to take on too much and forget that they are property investors in which the end goal is building a successful and profitable property portfolio,” he adds.

The book was number one in the finance and mortgage category on Amazon and number two in property guides within days of it going on sale, says Adams, who is also chairman of the Chester Association of Property Professionals.

The Landlord’s Playbook is available to buy on Amazon.