Step by Step Guide To Renting a Property

Step 1: Arrange a valuation and choose an agent

It is important to get a range of opinions on the rental value of your property and to discuss your individual requirements so you get a feel for realistic prices and timescales.

Step 2: Instructing an agent

You with you will need to do the following:

  • Provide an Energy Performance Certificate or book one (we can arrange this for you)

  • Commission a Gas Safety Certificate if required (again we can arrange this for you)

In some cases you may have to confirm you have a valid HMO licence but we will discuss this at the valuation

Provide your agent with a set of keys, access codes and alarm numbers and any other relevant information about the property, such as parking spaces.

Decide on a rental level and an available date. We will offer advice on the level of rent we think is achievable but we are happy to take your instructions on the rental amount.

Step 3: Tenant finder or property management?

When you instruct an agent it is good to know what service you will require. The legal requirements don’t change but many tenants, especially our corporate clients, like to know who will be managing the property. Only you know what suits your situation best, but here are a few factors to consider:

Are you able to respond to tenants problems on evenings and weekends?
Our Property Management Department offers an out of hours service to respond to issues such as lockouts and emergencies.

Do you have a list of high quality well priced contractors to use when you have maintenance issues in your property?
We have a complete list of approved contractors which means our managed landlords benefit from being at the front of the queue and from the low cost service they provide.

How often are you going to re let the property?
As we charge a reduced fee for re-letting our managed properties it may be cost effective to take advantage of our management service rather than paying an agent’s full fee for every let.

Do you have experience dealing with Deposit Schemes and know the best way to deal with disputes?
We have a wealth of experience when it comes to handling tenants and the Deposit Schemes to ensure everyone is fairly treated.

Do you have time to check your property periodically to ensure no maintenance problems are developing and your tenants are upholding their end of the bargain?
As part of our management service we carry out periodic inspections and report any issues to you. In addition to this we produce an annual property health check for all of our fully managed stock.

Step 4: Presenting your property

Making sure your property is looking it’s best is the key to minimising void periods and maximising the rental return. When marketing your property prospective tenants will want to view photos before they even view the property, so making your property look it’s best for the photo day gives you the best chance of getting tenants through the door!

These are a few questions to ask yourself that could be the difference between a quick let and a worrying void:

  • Does the house look good from the outside?

  • Is the garden tidy or does it need attention?

  • Could anywhere benefit from a coat of a paint?

  • Are any rooms cluttered or cramped?

  • Are there any problems you have learnt to live with which will put tenants off? I.e. fix that broken door knob or blind that is hanging down

  • Do you have pets that give off bad odours? This can be a real issue, but a professional carpet clean, for example, can make all the difference.

Step 5: Viewings

Landlords vary, some love conducting viewings whilst others could’t imagine anything worse. As your agent, in all but the rarest of occasions, we will accompany all prospective tenants on viewings so you can choose to be there or just leave it to the professionals.

What we do need however is a set of keys, entry codes, alarm codes and any specific information about the property. For example, if you are taking half of the furniture we need to let the tenants know!

Step 6: Negotiating, referencing & moving In

Once a tenant puts an offer forward we will contact you to discuss the offer. Once accepted the following process begins:

We will request the following depending on the type of applicant:

  • Employment reference

  • Credit check

  • A guarantor

  • Proof of identity

  • First month’s rent

  • Deposit

Only after we have received satisfactory referencing will we sign the contract and the agreement becomes legally binding. For more information on the legal requirements see our Legal Requirements section.

Depending on the service you have requested we will either hand over all of the information to you to manage the property or to our Property Management Department who will arrange the preparation of an inventory and make an appointment for the check in.