by Christopher Browne

Yes, in short, it really does in the ever-expanding world of letting and vetting.

Investment properties need to be tailor-made to their tenants however. So here's the Property Secrets guide to the best bets for buying-to-let.

We'll start with that one-storey wonder, the bungalow. You may own one and several of my friends do. They are compact, easy-to-clean and usually have large barbecue-friendly gardens. But they have large foundations, waste valuable building space and the Government doesn't make them anymore.

The most popular one-storey home is the apartment. Flats save space and are easier to maintain than buildings of two storeys or more. They also make ideal bases for tenants wanting uncomplicated, gardening-free lifestyles.