Landlords finding tenants without an agent

allthingsmustpass

Do any of you landlords get tenants without using an agent? How do you find tenants in that case? And do you find managing the property without them to be a pain?

It seems to me that both tenants and landlords always complain about what an expensive waste of space agents are, so I am wondering why there aren't more efforts to get in touch with one another direct?

G_M

Yes - lots of us find them without agents.

And even more use an agent to help find a tenant but then manage the property without one.

Personally I would only advise a LL to use an agent tomanage a property if

* the LL is abroad
* the LL is new and has no idea what's involved( and then to choose an agent VERY carefully)
* if the LL has no time/interest or lives far away

allthingsmustpass

How do you find tenants?

G_M

Are you a LL seeking a tenant?

A tenant seeking an agent-less landlord?

Or a Ph.D student writing a dissertation?

chucknorris

allthingsmustpass wrote: »

How do you find tenants?

I advertise on Zoopla and Rightmove, alongside the letting agents (via a 3rd part that charges for this service).

Old_Git

First tenant I put an ad in the paper and got no response .I thought about getting an agent ,then thought what would an agent do ,put a sign up .So I printed my own sign put in on the window ,within 3 hours I had a tenant .They stayed 7 years .
Second tenant was a brother in law off the first tenant but he didn't stay long .
Third tenant I used an agent and said no DHSS .
The tenant lost his job last month and is claiming benefits.
His rent is up to date so we will see how that goes.

dimbo61

I use manchester student homes for finding groups of students!
we also use Easyroomate, Spareroom and Homesforstudents!
We have used Letting Agents to find tenants BUT we have good local trades people to do repairs as and when they happen.
Being on call 24/7 can be a pain but that is part of running a business.
use a good accountant and get things right from day ONE:
IE Gas Safety checks, electrical certificate, PAT testing etc

allthingsmustpass

How do you get the agreements drawn up and the inventory done?

G_M

allthingsmustpass wrote: »

How do you get the agreements drawn up and the inventory done?

Ah - you're a landlord!

Join a landlords association.

And read:

[FONT=&quot]New Landlords[/FONT][FONT=&quot] (information for new or prospective landlords)

[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Letting Agents [/FONT][FONT=&quot](Tips for selecting, and tips for sacking them)[/FONT]

Owain_Moneysaver

- sign in the window ('free' vistaprint lawn sign)
- walk round local university sticking flyers on the noticeboards
- local council intranet small ads page

tbs624

As G_M suggests, join a national LL association ( or a local affiliated one).

You may also want to have a look at Tessa Shepperson's LandlordLaw website. Membership gives you full access but there is also much free content.

Membership fees for either can be set down on your tax return as can the fees for LL-relevant courses, offered by both the LL assocs and LLlaw.

Do the research on *all* areas of becoming a LL, in advance of getting your first T in place - that way you can avoid some of the pitfalls of property letting. See G_M's excellent post for newbie LLs, elsewhere on the HBR&S Board.