If you’re planning to sell a rental property this year, you’re not alone. According to new research, up to a fifth of landlords are planning to sell at least one investment over the next 12 months.

The rental landscape has become increasingly challenging for landlords in recent years, as profits continue to be squeezed by rising interest rates, greater legislation and faltering property prices. Selling one rental is fairly straightforward, but what are your options if you’re keen to sell multiple rental properties? Danny Luke from Quick Move Now gives us his top tips.

1. Consider carefully whether to sell your portfolio as a whole or split it

There are pros and cons to both options. Splitting your portfolio is likely to help you maximise how much you achieve from the sale of the properties, but it will also be more time consuming and could mean that the whole sale process takes considerably longer. Selling the portfolio as a whole should be quicker and less labour intensive, but is also likely to result in a smaller profit as your audience of potential buyers will be limited to large scale investors.

2. Decide whether to sell your properties vacant or with tenants in situ

If you’re happy to sell to another investor, selling with a tenant in situ can benefit both you and your buyer. You’ll receive rental income until the day the sale completes, and your buyer will start making a return on the property from day one.

Selling to an investor is likely to result in a lower sale price, as there will be less competition for the property from fewer buyers, but it does avoid any expensive vacant periods.

If you’re keen to achieve the highest price possible for your property, selling it vacant will give you the best chance as it will open up your pool of potential buyers to owner-occupiers as well as the investment market.

3. Explore different ways to sell

Selling on the open market via an estate agent is the most common way to sell, but there are other options. Property auctions, investor sales agencies and cash property buying firms are all worth exploring if you’re keen for a quick sale or would like to sell multiple properties together.