Updated February 2024

From the risk of falling foul of ever-increasing legislation to unrealistic expectations, there are a great many things for prospective landlords to take into account when renting out their property. The following pointers will all help smooth the path to a successful letting:

• First, do your research and choose a lettings agent who understands the type of property you own. Make sure they are ARLA Propertymark protected and follow a code of practice. Don’t think a large agent won’t let small property – it’s about quality, not size, and finding the right fit.

• To avoid unnecessary hitches, gather all your documentation together in one place, from your proof of ID and address to insurance documentation, mortgage consent, any head lease details and all safety certificates and service documentation. This will include paperwork such as passport or driving licence, utility bill or bank statement dated within the last three months and any guarantees for heating or appliances.
  
  
• How will the letting be managed? Do you want to look after the everyday detail yourself? If not, an agent’s managed service can take care of the property and tenants on a day-to-day basis. A good agent will be able to keep you up to date with all the associated legal requirements, including health and safety. It can be a complicated environment, you will need to understand all your responsibilities as landlord both legally and contractually. Ask them how they deal with their out-of-hours property management issues when they are closed.
  
  
• What’s included in the agreement? Are you happy to accept pets, for example? As part of the Renters Reform Bill, the Government is looking at making it mandatory that all landlords must consider a tenant’s request to keep a pet and must need a good reason to refuse. There would also be a change to the Tenant Fee Act so that any tenant could be requested to take out pet insurance as part of a landlord accepting a pet. So many tenants now have pets your property will appeal to a wider audience as well. To avoid any misunderstandings, the ground rules must be clear from the outset. Who would you like to be responsible for maintaining the garden or other amenities such as a swimming pool? This will also make a difference to how much rent you charge.

• Use an independent inventory clerk to prepare an inventory of the property and its condition and undertake check-in and check-out appointments, and remember you will need to allow for fair wear and tear depending on the length of tenancy, the number and age of the tenants and whether any pets have lived there. It would be unrealistic to expect the property to be left in exactly the same condition as it was at the start.
  
  
• Invest in your property and carry out repairs promptly. The rental market is competitive and tenants will expect high standards. Arrange any agreed work and safety testing before the tenancy starts and have the property cleaned and ready in time for tenants to move in and enjoy their new home. Cleaning issues often crop up at check-out if expectations are not handled well from the beginning; a spotless property cleaned to a professional standard on day one greatly reduces the likelihood of any disputes over cleanliness at the end.
  
  

Further information

Contact Savills Residential Lettings