To all Landlords!

2011Fairy

What is the benefit of renting to a tenant through an agent?
Surely the tenant has to pay a load of fees as well as the landlord?
If you were approched by a tenant directly would you consider them?
If they produced wageslips bank statements and emplyers refs along with prev rental refs!?

Jowo_2

It's not just the upfront screening that's a faff for landlords, some simply don't want to interface with their tenants and prefer the barrier of the agent, some will live far away or work long hours or have some kind of other major commitments that mean they can't attend to repairs or visit the property for inspections and tenant check-in/check-out, others are put off because of the myriad of regulations and complex housing law which means they hope (sometimes wrongly) that the agent will have full knowledge of landlord's obligations and tenants rights.

So landlords use agents because they are time or knowledge poor, it's not about the money (agents fees are tax deductible anyway).

And it may be a waste of time you approaching the landlord directly because if you've seen a property advertised through an agent, chances are that the landlord has signed a contract for the agent to market/manage the property and the tenancy, and agreeing to cut them out is a breach of contract that can cost them dearly.

Good agents will have relationships or service contracts with local reliable tradesmen for repairs whereas a private landlord can struggle, like other residential householders, to get a good plumber at short notice, for example.

summerday

Agents do the hard work of references and credit checks etc, but if you can get all the same details together then definitely go straight to the landlord.

G_M

2011Fairy wrote: »

What is the benefit of renting to a tenant through an agent? LL may be an amateur and not know LL/tenant law - agent should (but does not always!). LL may not have time/inclination. Agent has access to prospective tenants through constant advertising
Surely the tenant has to pay a load of fees as well as the landlord? Usually yes. But see above.
If you were approched by a tenant directly would you consider them? Irrelevant what I would do! Some LLs would deal direct, some would not.
If they produced wageslips bank statements and emplyers refs along with prev rental refs!?

If I was signing up a tenant direct (as I usually do) I would reference and credit check just as an agent would.

Geenie

I have friends who use LA's because they let properties in London, and don't want to be hassled with the running of the places, and the checks needed. The money they get means it is worth them doing it this way.

I have never used LA's because I live right next to places I let and want to be hands on with the business. Belonging to a LL Association means there are ways of getting credit checks and referencing is done via phone or mail.

You have to assess your experience and desire for a hassle free life, as letting can be quite demanding. But if you take the job seriously, let a good home in the first place and carefully vet any tenants and don't just take the first out of desperation, but apply a level head, then you should be OK.

The only problem tenants I and OH have ever had were inherited by an incompetant previous manager paid to do better.

Good luck OP and be a good and informed LL whatever path you choose.

G_M

Ah! Just realised the purpose of your post.

Well, going direct to a landlord might help as some landlords either don't know what they are doing or are inefficient.

But the profesional ones (and most landlords who find and manage tenants themselves rather than through an agent tend to be professional) will credit check you and soon find your 3 CCJs. If you've tried to hide the CCJs they'll also be unlikely to return the deposit they took before paying to do the credit check.

Whether going via an agent or direct to a LL, far better to 'fess up and declare your CCJs upfront.

Try offering to pay 6 months rent in advance, or if you can't then offer a guarantor if you have family willing to do this.