Tips for Landlords: Getting Your Property Tenant Ready

News at Howard Independent Estate Agents | 16/11/2022

Whether you are an experienced or first-time landlord, there’s plenty to consider when preparing your property for the rental market. Luckily, the Howard team are here with a few useful pointers!

Top 5 Tips

1. Can you let the property?

Check for any restrictive covenants in the head lease, and your mortgage lender’s T&C’s first. Most providers usually give permission, but this is something to consider checking in plenty of time before letting your property. Also, depending on certain criteria you may need to apply to the council for an additional license.

2. Presentation and knowing your market

Presentation is everything. A clean, tidy, recently redecorated property (neutral colours are best) with good quality fittings and furnishings will generate maximum appeal. To help minimise void periods it needs to be priced correctly. You can research comparable properties recently let on our website (www.howard-homes.co.uk) to get an idea of the right market rate. Or better still, just call and speak to one of our experts!

3. Is the property ‘tenant ready’?

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 puts an obligation on landlords to provide and keep rental properties in good condition. The property must also meet current gas, electrical safety, smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and fire related regulations, and any certificates must be provided to the tenants. Landlords also have a duty of care to carry out a legionella risk assessment. Furnished or unfurnished? Consider the demand for either which can be affected by demographics and location. Going furnished? You will need to ensure that all soft furnishings meet fire safety regs.

4. Get an Energy Performance Certificate

Unless the property is exempt it will require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) which should be available to the tenants prior to viewing.

The required minimum energy efficiency rating for a rental property is currently ‘E’. However the new government energy performance bill proposes raising this to a C rating from 2025 for new tenancies, and from 2028 for all rental properties.

5. Ready to find a tenant? Choose the right agent

A good agent will have sound knowledge of the local market and rental values, will listen, and discuss your requirements and expectations, accompany viewings, and keep you updated on any feedback and offers.

They will reference check all tenants for your approval, provide accurate advice and legal paperwork relating to the tenancy.
They will have qualified team members, membership to a regulatory body like ARLA, and affiliation with a redress scheme, like the Property Ombudsman.
They should be readily available to help with any queries you may have and will have a proven track record with great testimonials on independent review sites like Google.

About us

Howard Independent Estate Agents is a local, independent business with unrivalled sales and lettings knowledge, and years of experience in the Bristol market. From our centrally located office on Whiteladies Road, we cover the whole of Bristol and the surrounding areas.

We are pleased to offer a range of competitive, flexible service packages designed to meet all your letting and management needs, to include Let Only, Rent Collection and Fully Managed.

Our Lettings team are passionate about doing a great job, with a wealth of expertise and industry recognised qualifications amongst them. We are fully insured, regulated by ARLA Propertymark, and affiliated with the Property Ombudsman.

When it comes to finding the right tenants, you can be sure we will always provide a personal service. We pride ourselves on excellent communication, so you will always be fully informed when it comes to the letting of your property.

Whatever your situation, property, or location, we are on hand to help. Just give one of our friendly team a call!