Preparing your property
When preparing your property to let, your standards need to be high if you want to attract the right tenant. Slapdash work and a poorly maintained interior will reduce your chances of finding a tenant and achieving the optimum rent.
Preparing your property to let isn't complicated, but it does take time and money to get right.
Safety first
The safety of your tenant is paramount. Accidents from faulty equipment or services in your property will be costly to remedy and could even result in legal action if someone is badly hurt. Here are the main safety considerations:
- Gas safety – Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must arrange to have all gas appliances, pipework, fittings and flues checked every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Electrical equipment – You aren't required by law to get your electrical supply and appliances checked. However, there are lots of regulations covering electrics and you do have a duty of care to your tenant. It's good practice to arrange for a portable appliance test (PAT) for all the electrical appliances in your property before you let it.
- Furniture and furnishings – To minimise the risk of fire, the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 set out requirements for soft furnishings, such as cushions, beds, sofas and pillows. It's illegal to provide furnishings that don't comply.
- Smoke alarms – All properties built after 1991 must be fitted with mains-powered smoke alarms. For older houses, the rules are less clear-cut, so the best advice we can give is to get them fitted without question. Smoke alarms are cheap and are easy to fit – and they save lives and your property!
Presentation
Try not to impose a highly personal style on a property you want to let. Keep the decor simple; neutral colour schemes and furnishings are unlikely to offend other people's tastes, and will help you let your property quickly.
Really think about the property you're trying to let, the likely rental value and the type of tenant you think will be interested prior to decorating and furnishing. If you're in doubt, speak to your Winkworth letting agent who will give you good advice on the best approach.
Good, usable outside space comes at a premium, especially in major towns and cities, and it can greatly increase your rental yield, so make the most of it. Don't go over the top though - your tenant is unlikely to want to spend too much time maintaining the garden, so simple lawns, decked areas, or patios and potted plants are good options. If ongoing maintenance is an issue, it might be an idea to include the services of a gardener in the rent.
Other things to think about
The list of things you could or must do before you let your property is endless. As well as the essential stuff above, here's a reminder of other things to consider:
- If the property is to be let furnished, you must ensure that it's 100% habitable and the tenant has everything they need from the outset.
- There's little difference in rental value for furnished or unfurnished property, so try to be flexible, to get as many potential tenants through the door as possible.
- If you're letting the property unfurnished, you must still ensure the property has working, safety-checked appliances, including a fridge, freezer, washing machine, oven and hob. In London, all rental properties should have window fittings such as curtains or blinds.
- Get enough sets of keys cut for the agent and future tenants.
- Ensure all minor DIY jobs are finished.
- Supply important day-to-day items such as a vacuum cleaner, mop and bucket, brush and pan, and iron.
- Hire a professional cleaner before your tenant moves in.
- Defrost the fridge and freezer.
- Bleed the radiators.
- Leave instruction manuals for all appliances and take copies for yourself and the managing agent (if you have one).
Your Winkworth letting agent may recommend other things when they assess your property. Don't be offended or resent the extra work - they're looking out for you and want you to get the best rental yield possible.
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