Lettings

This week’s lettings article looks at how to recognise a good letting agent. How can you spot a top letting agent from a master of mediocrity? Read on to find out. Landlords use letting agents for all sorts of reasons. Some need help navigating red tape and lettings legislation, while others want a third party to deal with inspections, inventories and disputes. And some just want peace of...

Tenants can enjoy a carefree summer at home or abroad by bearing in mind a few issues relating to their rental property. This week’s lettings article looks at the issues that tenants need to be aware of in the summer months. At last summer is here, so what are your plans? Have you booked an exciting getaway in an exotic location? Or is the aim to kick back and relax on home turf? Whatever...

Is renting the best option for you? In this week’s lettings article, we look at the advantages of renting a property over buying. The pitfalls of renting are always shouted about too expensive, dodgy landlords, broken appliances and so on and so on. But what about the positives? With rental reforms on the horizon and changes to eviction rules in full swing, let’s explore why being a tenant is...

If you’re a landlord about to settle a new tenant into a property, there’s one phrase that should be your guiding mantra: “Start as you mean to go on”. Because what you do in the early stages of a tenancy will help define what unfolds over the next weeks, months and possibly years. Get things right, and you’ll build the foundations of a long and successful tenant-landlord relationship (the...

In this lettings article, we examine who should do what in the garden of a rental property. Garden maintenance can be a thorny issue between tenants and landlords, so here’s a useful guide to help avoid confusion. Now that spring is here, there are lots of tasks to be done in the garden, such as watering, weeding and mowing. But if the garden is part of a rental property, who is responsible for...

After a four-year wait and lots of speculation, a wide-ranging plan to overhaul the rental sector was finally presented to Parliament this week. The Renters’ Reform Bill includes changes to eviction laws, the creation of a Private Rental Ombudsman to resolve disputes and measures to speed up the existing court process. The bill will now be scrutinised by MPs and members of the House of Lords, so...

This lettings piece looks at how to combat condensation and mould. How can landlords and tenants combat condensation and mould? Read on to find out. Condensation and mould The two are often bundled together because if you’ve got condensation, there’s a good chance it won’t be long before you’re battling mould. Condensation can be caused by warm air hitting cold surfaces or by lots of...

What should a landlord be prioritising? In this week’s lettings article, we look at five areas landlords need to prioritise to improve their management of a property and a tenant’s experience. As a landlord in 2023, it’s fair to say there are a lot of challenges on the horizon. From changes to rental rules, tax upheaval, mortgage mayhem… it’s all going on. But the first thing to...

Why squirrels aren’t cute… In this week’s lettings article, we explore the rise in squirrel infestations and how to prevent them. What’s cute, has a bushy tail and could cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to a rental property? Unfortunately, as sweet as they may seem, squirrels and their nests can be a nightmare for landlords and tenants. Once those little grey beasts make...

Why are landlords increasing rent? In this week’s lettings article, we explore some reasons behind rent increases and the costs landlords are facing. You can’t open a newspaper (or app) without seeing something about the UK rental market. Whether it’s the increase in demand for property, changes to rent rules or landlords selling up – rentals are getting a lot of attention. And one matter...