A Lewisham property investor has just released a book on how to make it in buy-to-let. He tells KERRY ANN EUSTICE how he became successful ...

In the 1980s David Lawrenson from Lewisham was a project manager for an insurance firm. He didn't really like his job and quite fancied a career change.

Now David is a successful property investor, landlord and writer. He lends his property expertise to the media, writing articles for many lettings and landlord websites as well as The Independent and The Evening Standard.

David's first book Successful Property Letting How to Make Money in Buy-to-Let, was recently released onto the bookshelves of mainstream bookshops such as Waterstones and WHSmiths.

"It's great seeing the book in shops," David said. "I had such fun writing it."

He spent seven months writing the book, balancing his time between a mixture of writing articles for the press and still acting as a landlord one day a week.

Although David once planned to write a book on tsunanmis, before being told by his publisher no-one had heard of them, David has always been interested in property. "I wasn't cut out to be a corporate wage slave. I was interested in property and land and would always read a lot about these topics."

In the late 80s, and again in the early 90s, he invested in his local area, which he advises is an ideal start-off project. "It is important to remember it can take five to 10 years to see a return on your investment. So it's easier to invest locally, like I did in south-east London, as you can keep your eye on your investment, you know the land already and save time researching areas you don't know."

He recognises the south east can be a place investors struggle to be confident about but believes taking a risk can be worth it. "These days in our area you can break even on rental income. The average rent prices for the area just about exceeds a landlord's overall costs."

David thinks the Government is not building enough new properties for a society of smaller families with large immigration levels, factors which drive demand for rental properties and provide more opportunity for buy-to-let investors.

Over the past 20years he has picked up a lot of knowledge, sometimes in unusual and compromising situations.

David once tidied the garden of a neighbouring property, so it did not reflect badly on his own. He found it was better to compromise than cause friction with formal complaints. This strategy paid off, as the owner gave him money for his efforts.

David puts his suceess down to good communication, written and verbal. "I've learned to be clear about what I'm offering tenants," he admits.

"I once returned to a property, post-tenant, to find the wardrobes and beds falling to pieces when I sat on them. "

After that David amended the contracts to stop tenants dismantling furniture and he always checks. This highlights David's point Stories like this give a personal touch to his book and by telling humourous anecdotes, including his dislike for showers, David encourages readers to trust his experience and enjoy the advice too.

David wishes his book had been available to him. In fact, he says it was a tenant from hell which inspired him to write on lettings in the first place.

He said: "The book is based on personal experience and the people I have met. I hope it will prevent other people from making the mistakes I did."

For the future though, David has ideas for a book on investing in Europe, which is the next region he has designs on for his property portfolio. This plan fits in nicely with David's love of travel. But lets just hope none of his tenants get a leaky shower while he is away.

Signed copies of David's book are available from Ottickers in Greenwich.