At a time when we are all feeling the squeeze from the cost of living rise, many of us are looking where we can make efficiencies but while the savings from energy, food and banking are all front of mind, the service you get from your letting agent is often not.
This is an area, that for obvious reasons, I find of interest. A rental property is often one of the most valuable assets we own yet I see time and time again that landlords are not reducing their risk as much as they could. A good agent – and I always say an ARLA Propertymark member – can help with that as efficiencies can be made from working with the right agent for you.
A significant outcome is the timely and regular receipt of rent which all good agents can manage for you so whether you are looking to move with tenants in place or will be looking for new tenants, your agent should manage this in your best interests
Another is by having regular inspections carried out at your property as this can make the difference between having a property that is well maintained or not. From regular checks, any repairs are identified as early as possible before they become complex and costly to rectify.
A further – and critical – main appeal of working with a good agent is keeping up to date with legislative changes to ensure you stay the right side of the law. Hefty fines and other sentences can be imposed for non-compliance, and these can always be avoided with the right advice.
There may be a feeling of trepidation when it comes to switching any of the services we use and we all know horror stories with insurance, energy supply or banks but with agents it is pretty straightforward.
I suggest you talk to your current agent first, because if you have any issues, and they are a reputable set up, they should look to resolve these with you. If this is unsuccessful, then visit and speak to other agents in your local area, get a feel for whether you can work well with them.
If you are then looking to switch and have given the required notice from your contract, your newly appointed agent will do most of the work to make the changeover as seamless as possible. This ensures that all legal requirements remain covered as well as the practical aspects of keys, existing certificates etc and importantly keeping your tenants up to date with changes that involve them.
At Pennington most of our landlords opt for our fully managed service, giving them peace of mind that everything is taken care of but we also appreciate that individuals have different needs and budgets, so we offer a range of services to suit. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like any further information.
