If you are thinking of renting your property for the first time, you might be wondering what you need to do to get it ‘rent ready’, with this in mind, here are our top tips for getting your property in the best shape for your new tenants and beyond.
Do Your Homework
Before you go ahead and put your home on the market for rent, you will need to do some homework. How much are properties currently being rented for in your area? What kind of tenant is your property suitable for? Will your rent your property furnished or unfurnished? Start by answering these questions so you can plan and set your rent rates accordingly.
Ensure the Property is Safe
The most important aspect of renting your property and your biggest responsibility as a landlord is making sure your property is safe for prospective tenants. Have you carried out electric and gas safety checks by a registered professional? Are there smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed and working? There are approximately 145 pieces of legislation regarding safety in rental properties – check these out in detail.
Clean and Tidy
The next step to renting out your property is making sure it is clean, tidy and attractive to prospective tenants. Clean out any rubbish around the property, inside and out. If you have a garden, mow the lawn or pull weeds. Do you need to paint inside or outside? If you are renting furnished; are all appliances safe, clean and in good working order? It’s a good idea to make an inventory of contents and the current state of the property at this point.
Find Suitable Tenants!
This is where your hard work pays off and it’s time to find some tenants for your property! If you would like to take care of this yourself, you could put an advert in the local paper and online or mention to friends and family you are looking to rent out your home. If you don’t want to do all of this yourself, you could approach an agency who will find, vet and manage your tenants for you.
If you would like some advice or help to get your property ready for the rental market, we can help. Call us on 0115 8969800 or get in touch here.
Learn more about our landlord services and fees, or receive a valuation request on your rental property today.