Don’t take advantage of good tenants when it comes to deposits

When it comes to rented property, the tenant always feels as though they need to prove themselves all of the time; prove themselves to be good tenants who will pay the rent and look after the place.

But the landlord needs to return the favour and make the tenant’s stay in the property as pleasant as possible. After all, word gets around and if you make life difficult, you might find yourself struggling to find replacement tenants in the future.

So be reasonable when you’re letting your property out. If your tenant is no trouble, pays rent on time and looks after the place then don’t try and take deposit money from them for a few marks on the wall. There is always bound to be wear and tear but don’t take advantage of your good tenants because you mind find that what goes around, comes around.

Choosing a letting agent

Having a property to rent out doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the time to rent it out. This is a very complicated job that requires a lot of organisation.

So what a lot of landlords choose to do is to employ letting agents to do it for them. But be careful when you’re choosing your letting agent. You don’t want just anyone taking control of your beloved property.

Firstly, look at how the letting agents present themselves. Image isn’t everything, but it gives you a good idea of how professional they are.

Look at the services offered by the letting agent. There are lots of different packages to choose from so choose the right one for you.

Also research their reputation. The best way to find the best letting agent, is by looking at what others think.

By choosing the right letting agent, you will have a much more pleasant experience when it comes to renting out your property.

Your responsibilities as a landlord

If you let out your property, you are responsible for certain things. Of course, the tenants have a responsibility to look after the property and pay the rent as well as bills and council tax but here is a list of your responsibilities:

• You are responsible for the repairs to the structure and exterior of the property.
• You are responsible for the repairs to the heating and hot water.
• You are responsible for the safety of gas, electrical appliances, as well as fire safety.
• You are responsible for protecting the tenant’s deposit.

These are the main things that you need to take responsibility for and if you do, you should enjoy a pleasant tenancy agreement with your tenant.

Don’t be frightened of letting out your property

Some people are put off from the idea of letting their property because they don’t like to think of strangers coming into the building and taking over. Some property owners are worried that their property may get damaged and made to look scruffy after all the hard work they’ve put into it.

But the truth is that if you approach it in the right way, this will not happen. You could approach a letting agent to let your property through. By doing this, you can ensure that they carry out the relevant checks on any potential tenants and they will also deal with the deposit so that the costs of repairing any damage can be covered.

Spruce Up Your Home

If you are thinking of letting a property and planning on filling it with designer items and furniture, then now is the best time to buy. Due to the current recession, shops are putting on sales and offering items at bargain prices, just to make a sale and a little bit of money. A number of high street stores are offering items of furniture at almost half the original price.

A friend of mine bought a number of designer radiators the other week and managed to get them at a discounted price due to the store having a closing down sale. They look great and were a complete bargain!

Make sure that before you go shopping you take a look around the house to see what items you could do with being replaced. It may be useful to make a little list so you don’t forget. You may realise that the office chairs you have been using could really do with being thrown in the skip or the headboard on your bed needs updating. Now is the best time to take a trip to the shops to bag a bargain.

If you are planning on letting for the first time, then now is the time to invest in time such as washing machines and sofas for the future.

Tps for finishing touches before letting property

Right, so we assume you have managed to attain a property, you might have done some work to the property to make it more presentable or to increase the return value and now you are wondering what to do next. Before you push your property straight on to the market, here are some finish touch tips to ensure you get the most from your investment.

Double Check Your Work

If you have had to perform any significant building or interior work, double check everything to make sure you haven’t missed anything. For example if you repainted, try to ensure you have painted every nook and cranny, including behind radiators and other fixtures.

Clean and Tidy

Clean every single part of the house. This can be tiresome and should be done properly, so if there are any doubts in your mind about your cleaning abilities, consider hiring some professional cleaners. In cities this can be quite cheap due to high levels of competition so you should definitely utilise the services house and carpet cleaners in London or Manchester.

Empty the Property

Leave any furniture or appliances you plan to let as part of the contract but try to move any of your own items to a different location, otherwise the property can look more cluttered and messy than is necessary.

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