For many, the prospect of letting out a property is an attractive approach to making some extra money, but without the skills of a professional lettings agent, this laid back attitude can result in a raft of problems.
Now Rick Flay, a leading /sheffield-estate-agents/lettings agent in Sheffield, is tackling the top ten letting problems put forward by real landlords.
Rick said: “In my experience, many of the problems encountered by landlords fall into ten main categories and once these problems have been tackled head on, there is no reason at all why with a professional lettings agent such as Belvoir, that you can’t reap the big business benefits.
“At Belvoir we offer a full end-to-end managed lettings service for both landlords and tenants, for any type of property, furnished or unfurnished. The first step for anyone considering letting out a property for the very first time is to contact us for an initial, no obligation meeting at which we can go through all of the options open to them.”
- As a landlord it is extremely difficult to find a suitable tenant. First impressions could indicate that someone will be the perfect tenant, but this may turn out to be another story! To avoid this, a landlord should enlist the help of a reputable letting agent such as Belvoir Sheffield to perform a thorough check of the tenant to ensure they are who they say they are. The letting agent should then seek to obtain character references and a thorough credit check.
- A common cause for concern with many landlords is neighbourhood disturbances. This can be nipped in the bud before it arises by including a clause in the tenant’s contract stating that is not acceptable to be a nuisance to the neighbours. If this clause is in the contract and a tenant still doesn’t adhere to the rules, a landlord has every right to evict them.
- No landlord likes to think of long void periods, but in some cases it can be difficult to find a tenant at all. By enlisting the help of a lettings agent such as Belvoir, the strain can be taken away from you.
- Tenants defaulting on rental payments. Legislation means that if a tenant does not pay rent, they may be evicted from the rental property. It’s usually ideal to give a warning of eviction before taking this action though and by seeking the advice of a letting professional you can make sure that every eventuality is covered and current legal processed are followed.
- The tenant may make the property smell. This problem could be caused through tenants who smoke or tenants who keep house pets that aren’t toilet trained. In both instances, clauses might be within the contract requiring that smoking is done outside and any pets that are kept are to be toilet trained to go outside. Some landlords prefer not allowing pets to be kept in the property at all.
- The tenant may refuse to pay monies owed to the landlord. Any issues concerning unpaid rent or fees will be adjudicated by one of the approved deposit schemes. If the matter can not be resolved and independent adjudication process may be required. Reputable lettings agents such as Belvoir can assist landlords in preparing for such a tribunal.
- Property management takes time. Despite popular belief, renting out a property takes a lot of time and effort. From the initial payment, to collecting rent and carrying out maintenance, the landlord is responsible for ensuring that the property is in good order and that the tenant is happy. Many landlords underestimate the time constraints on renting out a property in the first instance and then enlist the help of a lettings agent.
- Unreasonable tenant demands. Ensure that on move in day all tenants are sure of what is expected of both them and you to avoid confusion at a later date.
- The tenant leaves before the contract comes to an end. If this is the case, the tenant is then responsible for finding an appropriate replacement. If they fail to do this, the onus lies with the tenant and further action should be sought. A local lettings agent will be able to help you with this.
- The property is left in a bad state of repair after the tenancy has run out. Ensure that your lettings agent prepares an air tight inventory on move in day which records the state of the property before the tenant moves in. Any damage to the property can then be recorded and money can then be deducted from the tenant’s deposit.
Belvoir Lettings Agency in Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances
