Letting Agents – how to choose the right one?
Whatever side of the rental fence you’re on, landlord or tenant, you’ll find yourself researching local or national letting agents. But which one is the right one for you? With so many agents on the market it can be hard to know which ones to trust. Or still, which ones if any have your best interest at heart (and yes, they do exist).
Why use a Letting Agent as a tenant?
If you’re a tenant looking to rent a property, the chances are the landlord will have used a letting agency. Most non-commercial landlords find using letting agents to manage the rental of their property easy and stress free. Tenants often find that dealing with agents and not the landlord often ensures processes are strictly followed. Also, when dealing with general maintenance issues, letting agents have go-to trades they can call on at short notice. Letting agents will also process your deposit in the DPS (Deposit Protection Scheme) so your deposit is safely guarded.
Why use letting agents as a landlord?
If you’re a landlord, the benefits of using a letting agent are predominantly to free up your time. Dealing with tenants can be time consuming and stressful, by using a letting agent not only do you free up your time, but you’ll likely achieve a greater ROI. Letting agents will ensure all payments are made promptly and manage maintenance issues speedily. If required, they can also source new tenants quickly. One thing to consider when securing a letting agent is to see if they are registered with an industry body or trade association. Also speak to other people about the agent’s reputation, if they’re good people will likely recommend. It’s also worth finding out how much they know about the local market. Sometimes, national agencies might be cheaper, but they don’t have the same level of local presence and knowledge.
So, whether you’re a tenant or landlord, it’s worth looking around and finding the right letting agents for you. Often, the more local the better.
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