When deciding whether you’re going to use a letting agent as a tenant or a landlord, it shouldn’t be a difficult decision. It’s estimated that only 20% of all homes in England are privately rented.* This shows how many tenants and landlords choose to use and work with letting agents. We are here to demonstrate the countless advantages you would receive when using a letting agent as a landlord or a tenant.

Benefits of using a letting agent as a landlord

When becoming a landlord, you can face a lot of responsibilities and challenges. You are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of all your properties, inside and out. These responsibilities then begin to consume all your free time, and being a landlord can become more of a burden than you thought.

Hiring a letting agent would create less responsibility for you as a landlord, meaning you’re not required to manage your tenants. This will cause fewer problems and allow you to maintain a healthy relationship with your tenants, as the letting agent will act as the middleman.

Fast turnover between tenants
When trying to discover new tenants for a property, it can be very difficult for a private landlord. Tenants usually go to letting agents to find rental properties on the market. So, to prevent your property from having vacant spaces between tenants, using a letting agent can guarantee more exposure to the public, ensuring your property is filled quickly.

Required regulations
Letting agents are great at establishing a checklist for letting out your property, ensuring you meet all the required regulations and specifications.

These include:

• Gas safety certificate
• Electrical safety certificate
• Energy performance certificate
• Proof of tenancy deposit protection
• Fire safety measures
• HMO licence
• Landlord insurance

After your property has been filled with new tenants, you may think that your letting agent is no longer necessary, but this is where they can become the most beneficial. Letting agents look after your tenants and remaining the middleman keeps the relationship professional.

The only downfall of a letting agent is that they undoubtedly charge a monthly fee. The typical cost can be up to 15% of the total monthly rent.

Benefits of using a letting agent as a tenant

When trying to discover and rent a property in the UK, it can sometimes become one of the most complicated situations, especially if you rent through an independent landlord. We are here to ensure you recognise the simplicity of renting through a letting agent instead of an independent landlord.

Renting through a letting agent will ensure you are choosing the property you desire to rent and not choosing a property because of the better landlord. It allows an element of professionalism in renting a property as they maintain a professional relationship throughout the process.

Stress-free renting

Renting through a letting agent guarantees you will receive high standards and conditions for the rental property, as the letting agent wants to keep a positive reputation within the rental sector. The letting agent also ensures that everything is legally in order. Allowing you to rent stress-free. Agents in England are not required to be registered, so we always recommend looking for agents who are part of NALS (the national approved letting scheme). Agents being registered with the NALS ensures that they are part of the client money protection scheme, ensuring your deposit and monthly rent payments are kept safe and recorded.

We highly recommend using a letting agent as a landlord and a tenant. It simplifies both ends of the relationship and creates a smoother process for both.

Whether you're a tenant or a landlord get in touch with us today and discover how to rent the right way

The longer, lighter, and warmer days of spring are perfect for preparing your home for summer. Whether you are moving, improving, or want to make the most of your home, there are lots of things you can do that, more often than not, add value to your home. With a 22%* uplift in the number of homes listed for sale compared to the beginning of last year, the market is moving to sunnier climbs.

Have a good spring clean

A great place to start and perhaps not the most exciting aspect of preparing your home for summer, a good deep clean is well worth the effort. De-cluttering will allow you to take in your home’s features and spaces, which may help inspire a few changes. Cleaning your home allows you to reconnect with it. As you store away accumulated unnecessary items, clean out closets, and dust those hard-to-reach places, you will more easily discover any blemishes or maintenance issues that need attention. If you don’t have hired help or loved ones to help you, play some tunes to energise you.

Take some pictures

Your phone is perfect for creating a to-do list. Take pictures of all those little issues that need addressing. Start at the front, then work your way around every room in the house to the garden. Add notes or record ideas you may have. For example, is the guttering in need of cleaning? Does the front of your home need painting? Are there scuff marks or patches of paintwork that need touching up? From grouting in your bathroom to weeds sneaking up between the patio, leave no stone uncovered. If your home looks a picture, it will be a nicer place to live and more appealing to buyers.

Improve your home’s outdoor spaces 

Whether you are adding a hot tub, a heated pool, a play area for the dogs, or simply painting the shed to make it look a few years younger, your garden and outdoor areas take centre stage during the summer. Adding new plants and making space for daffodils, cleaning the barbecue, or weeding will add vibrancy to your garden. If you are starting from scratch or making small improvements, defining your seating, dining, working, and entertaining areas will have a big impact. With wooden decking, stones, free-standing structures, grass, trees, and an eternal array of ideas, deciding what to do can be the hardest part.

Swap out winter themes for summer 

It’s unlikely you'll need the fire during the summer months, although the UK weather is uncertain. Instead of logs, add flowers to your hearth. Swap brightly coloured throws to replace wintry themes. Allow more sunlight to enter your rooms by replacing curtains and keep cool with thermal blinds. Rearranging your furniture and perhaps scaling back a bit will create more space. Bring the scent of summer to your home with candles, herbs, and plants. Adorning your hallway with seasonal flowers will set the tone from the moment you enter your home, and planting pots at the front will give you a summery welcome.

Capture the essence of summer  

Think about cooling and ventilation. Is it worth installing air conditioning or adding fans? Create spaces that capture those magical moments of summer. Strategically place your furniture outside and inside to capture the sunset and a special place in the shade for when it becomes too hot. Eggshell chairs and hammocks are ideal for this. Decide where you are putting the ice bucket, designate a place for sun cream, plan your barbeque area, and wash any soft furnishings for outdoor dining or sunbathing. Make your own outdoor pizza oven, build a bar, or hire a landscape gardener and start building the dream from scratch.