- Do your groundwork
Before you give us your property to market and look for potential tenants, if you haven’t done so already, you first need to research the local area thoroughly.
If your property is near a good local school, college or university this can be helpful in deciding what type of tenants your property will appeal to, for example, families, students or working professionals.
It is also a good idea to find out how much similar properties in the area are currently renting for, as this can act as a benchmark for your own chosen monthly rental price. At Huddersfield Sales & Lettings we aim to achieve the best rental income for our landlords whilst taking into consideration all of the relevant factors.
- Take out insurance
Although landlord insurance isn’t a legal requirement for renting out a property, we do highly recommend it as it covers everything from accidental damage to structural issues caused by hazards such as fire, snow or strong winds.
You may also want to take out rent guarantee insurance which protects you if your tenant fails to pay their rent. It can also cover the cost of any legal fees if you need to evict a tenant.
Your tenants are responsible for taking out their own content insurance to cover their belongings, you are not required to do this as a landlord.
- Find reliable tenants
One of the easiest ways to find good tenants is through word of mouth; speaking to your family, friends and work colleagues to see if they are aware of anyone who is looking to rent a property is always a great start. As a letting agent, we advertise for tenants on a variety of reputable websites.
To attract the best possible tenants, at Huddersfield Sales & Lettings we ensure your listing describes the property in full and includes good quality photographs as well as advertising your property at a competitive market rate.
We always check a potential tenant’s rental history and credit score, as well as perform a criminal background check to ensure we have the most preferable tenant for the property.
- Create a tenancy agreement
Once we have found your tenants, we now need to draw up a written tenancy agreement which details all the terms and conditions of the tenancy and gives you as the landlord, and your tenants’ rights.
This is extremely important as it will ensure the protection of your property, set out the obligations of your tenants and help prevent any future disputes.
- Place the deposit in a TDP scheme
Landlords are now legally required to place their tenant’s deposit in a government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme. This was created to stop rogue landlords from refusing to give back their tenants’ deposits after they have moved out.
At Huddersfield Sales & Lettings we ensure the tenant’s deposit is placed within a protection scheme within 14 days of receiving it as per the guidelines. We also have to inform your tenants of which scheme you have chosen within 30 days and provide them with the necessary paperwork.
- Ensure your property is energy efficient
You should also strive to improve your property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), to reach the minimum energy efficiency standard (effective April 2020).
Ways in which you can make your property more energy efficient include:
- Upgrading your boiler
- Sealing windows and doors
- Installing double glazing
- Installing loft and wall cavity insulation
- Using energy efficient lightbulbs
- Installing smart meters
Since April 2016, tenants have the right to ask their landlords to make their properties more energy efficient, and furthermore, as a landlord, you are legally required to make adequate improvements.
- Maintain a good relationship with your tenants
Arguably one of the most important aspects of becoming a good landlord is ensuring that you are able to build and maintain a healthy relationship with your tenants and as your representative we strive to achieve this relationship on your behalf. Effective communication, on both sides, is crucial if you want to avoid any problems or disputes so we ensure tenants have a number of ways to contact us.
We aim to try and respond as quickly as possible to any requests from your tenants and listen to any concerns that they may have. Once we find reliable tenants who pay their rent on time and look after your property, we don’t want to lose them!
If you are considering letting your property in Huddersfield call our team at Huddersfield Sales & Lettings on 01484937777 for friendly help and advice on all rental aspects.
