There are some independent letting agents who only deal with letting and property management, and there are other agents attached to an estate agent. Many agents do not advertise their properties to the general public, preferring to supply lists of available properties only to those registered on their mailing lists.

It is advisable to contact a letting agency as far ahead of the move as possible. They can arrange or advise on short term leasing to provide immediate accommodation while a long term alternative is sought. It is best to contact a letting agent at the outset of your first visit to the area so that they can advise you on types of property and locations and arrange some appointments to view. You can waste a great deal of time on a short visit fruitlessly exploring an area without local knowledge of the property market.

Rent is often negotiable depending upon the supply and demand situation at the time of renting.

How to rent a property

Once you have found a property, you will then need to sign the lease. Most agents have a standard lease or tenancy agreement. Most leases will be for a period of six months or longer with the option to renew.

Prior to moving in you will be asked to pay a deposit which will be returned to you at the end of the letting period less any deductions for damages or replacement items. Payment of rent is usually one month in advance and you will normally be invoiced ten days ahead of the rent becoming due or asked to pay by standing order.

The letting agent will produce an inventory of all the property's contents. At the end of the lease the inventory will be checked either on the final day of tenancy or the day after moving out. The agent will set a cost, for your approval, of any replacement items, repairs or cleaning necessary. When you have approved these costs the amount will be deducted from your deposit and the remaining amount returned to you.

During the tenancy it is usual for the property to be inspected every three months. A report of the inspection will be sent to the owner. If any problems arise during the tenancy requiring maintenance work or repairs, you should contact the managing agent immediately who will arrange for the necessary work to be carried out. In most cases the managing agent is the agent through whom you found the property. If this is not the case, the owner of the property will either deal with these problems him/herself or provide you with the name of the person to contact under such circumstances.

Back to top

	©Profile Locations