What to prepare before renting

Being prepared is key for any rental situation. An expert lettings agent will be able to guide and advise you whether it is your first time letting or renting, or you haven’t done so in a while. 

At Robert Watts, our lettings team are always on hand to ensure you are in the best position. From letting you know when and what documents are needed to informing you about any updates, we are fully qualified to help you with your journey. 

It can be daunting for some which is why it is important to us we make the process as straightforward as possible for landlords and tenants. 

What does a landlord need to prepare?

Inform your mortgage lender

If your property has a standard residential mortgage you will need to get permission from your mortgage lender to let your property. 

Ensure the property is ready to rent

Make sure your property is presentable, clean and tidy. You want to get it ready for viewing with all repairs and refurbishment completed.

External checks:

• Repair cracks and holes in walls
• Clean or paint the doors, window frames and walls
• Tidy the garden and mend broken fences
• Clean the drains and gutters

Internal checks:

• Create more space by removing unnecessary clutter and fitting effective storage solutions throughout
• Fix any cracks in the walls, broken tiles or locks, replace any light bulbs and carry out all other minor repairs
• Make sure your property is presented at its best to attract a suitably high calibre of tenant
• Free from damage and damp

Arrange insurance

Make sure you are fully covered with landlords insurance. Whether you are letting your property furnished or not, you want to protect your investment. It is also likely your mortgage lender will require you to have landlords insurance.

Gas safety, EPC and Electrical safety

All of these must be carried out by a professional and you will be legally required to produce the certificates for letting. 

At Robert Watts, we provide a lettings service tailored to your needs and can help with the preparation of your property and arranging your safety certificates. 

How can a tenant prepare? 

Organise your finances

By sorting out your finances, you’ll have a much better understanding of what your budget is and the other monthly outgoings you have. 

Let your agent know your requirements

To find the right property, think about what your requirements are. Are you looking to be closer to work or have shops nearby as you do not drive? These will affect the search. 

Have documents ready 

When renting a property you will be asked for documents including proof of income, proof of identity and references. 

We take great care in finding the right property for our tenants and proactively handle any queries or maintenance requests through our convenient, online system. 

How can Robert Watts help? 

We are a team of professional agents who have helped many landlords find the right tenants and tenants find the right property. Whether it is your first time embarking on this property journey or it has been a while, we can take you through each step of the process.

Looking to let a property? Book a free property valuation to find out what your property is worth. We use our local expertise to provide a reliable and detailed valuation.

We would be happy to answer any questions or tell you more about how we can help, please visit a branch or get in touch.

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