So then landlords, where do you get your tenants?

CB1979_2

how many of you use letting agents and how many do it all privately?
if you do it privately, where do you advertise?

only place i know of is Gumtree.com & the letting agents.

cheers

Chris

nrsql

Local papers?

RHemmings

nrsql wrote:

Local papers?

Looking at the original question, I was thinking that there must be lots of places to advertise, but few where potential tenants would be likely to look. As in houses for sale, the traditional estate agents have the market pretty well sewn up because people know there are lots of properties there. And with rightmove and similar they've extended that dominance onto the internet.

But I think the advice of the local paper is a good one. Firstly because people do look there, even in the "small" ads. And secondly because you can advertise for a few days, and see if you get a bite. And then if there's nothing doing, switch to other methods quickly before you have a lengthy void.

gallygirl

If you let 'council' houses you'll be overwhelmed by using small ads only.
Before I bought first btl (when I was still hoping someone would talk me out of it) I put an ad in paper before even putting an offer in, to gauge interest - 19 calls then answer phone was full!! First tenant stayed 5 yrs then passed tenancy to son (who I had to evict but we don't talk about that).

1 house filled by word off mouth from another tenant.

Even with dearer houses small ads work - - last time advertised had 6 calls, let 4 view, all wanted it, then tenant decided to stay after all .

Glitterari

I found the place I'm going to move into in the local newspaper with a private landlord.

I was looking for a private landlord mainly because my situation was a little 'odd' and didn't want to be discriminated against because of it and felt I would be if I went through a letting agent and also worried that I wouldn't find out I was unsuitable until i'd paid non-returnable money for credit checks and the like.

(for your info, I'm a postgrad student looking for my own place to rent and unsure how good or bad my credit rating is. Although it is definitely better than what it was, I've still had trouble trying to obtain credit e.g. 0% credit cards)

silvercar

I let mine through an agent, just outside the local area. He found a suitable tenant within days.

The tenant said she'd found the property through a website.

musey

All my tenants come by word of mouth. Before this I used the local paper on Thurs, Fri & sat and I was on a council list of landlords that met a certain criteria for the condition of their properties which still nets me 5 or 6 calls min a week.

garichd

Gumtree is good
another place for private lettings.

https://www.adtrader.co.uk
https://www.torent.co.uk

TAG

I found my rented accomodation through a letting agency. I was moving out of marital home with 3 kids. Had to claim HB, which is a no no to 99% of letting agents. They just won't entertain it where I live.
This particular one was a family run business and really wasn't keen to let me have the tenancy because of HB claim. But, my dad stood as guarantor for me and up fronted 3 months rent in advance. Which just covered how long it took for HB to be sorted.

I stayed there 3 years and when I eventually moved I even got my full deposit back. I'd spent a week cleaning the place from top to bottom and replaced a few bits that weren't in as good a condition as when I'd moved in. Even got a compliment on the final inspection about how clean etc I'd left it.

I have to say though that if I found myself in that situation again I'd go back to that letting agency or go through the papers and get a private landlord.

Sadly if you have to claim HB you tend to be seen as someone who won't pay their rent. But it's not always the case. Especially I'd say a single mum with children. I wouldn't have wanted to keep moving from pillar to post with 3 kids in tow.

inmypocketnottheirs

Use an agent just to get you a tenant then take over the vetting and management (use https://www.letsure.co.uk for references and tenant insurance). I paid. I paid £250 + VAT to get a tenant via a local agent who is listed on rightmove.co.uk plus their own extensive advertising. Found a tenant in 3 weeks.

ginger_nuts

I got a poster printed with flat details .I put it up in the flat window I had a tenant in 3 hours .Tenant is still there 18 months later .