New Landlord - Advice Please - Moving to Australia

dancingfairy

Whilst hopefully you will find a good tenant, don't forget to remove anything sentimental or valuable ( just in case).
As you already own the property will you be leaving current furniture ? Obviously you have to weigh up leaving nicer furniture and hopefully higher rent vs the chance of it being wrecked.
I hope it works out well but do move anything irreplaceable.
Df

Octaben

I also use openrent, had 5 interested tenants within less than 24 hours, first people who viewed took the place and have been there a year......even making improvements to the property at their own expense

theartfullodger

teddysmum wrote: »

The tv licence is the responsibility of the tenant, who may not have/need a tv.

Not if the landlord supplies TV. See
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ47

I'm a landlord - is it my responsibility to provide a TV Licence?

If you let your property and you provide a TV for tenants to use, it's your responsibility to make sure that the address has a valid TV Licence.

If you do want to cover the occupants of the property to watch TV at the property, you can buy a TV Licence in your own name.

Ultimately if your property is unlicensed and you provide a TV, both you and your tenants can be held responsible and either of you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000 (this fine varies in Guernsey and Jersey)

movinghelp

Thanks all. Yes on furniture we will leave some bits but nothing we are extremely attached to.

movinghelp

So I'm not having much luck. Property went up on all the sites last Sun (Gumtree, SpareRoom) and Mon (Zoopla et al) and on RM on Tue. I've had about 6 agents contact me via Gumtree, 2 potential tenants on SpareRoom (one of whom timings don't work out, other is viewing Mon) and just 1 through OpenRent who said they had already found another property.. I reduced the price by 5% mid week.

My 5 day free listing has ended on Zoopla and RM will end tomorrow. Not sure whether to extend for £24 bearing in mind lack of interest so far and the fact I need a tenant to be able to move in 2 months time.

Was expecting things to move a bit quicker bearing in mind the location of the property but it may be the price is putting people off although its in keeping with the market.

Marsh & Parsons understandably are putting pressure on to go with them but as I've said before I just don't think their costs are worth it. Even without management 10% + VAT means I could advertise direct at a further 5% off and be better off and that's if they get full asking price.

tom9980

You are looking at this wrong you have timescales to juggle and a move abroad, reduce the price and get it let! Stop trying to maximise your income not getting it let before you go will make things a lot harder!

booksurr

as said above, sort out your priorities, greed is your problem:
- maximise income and expect to wait
- let for sufficient to only cover costs and expect it gone quickly

movinghelp

I'm not trying to be greedy at all, I've never let so am doing it at the price I was advised.

[Deleted User]

Have you compared the rent to that for similiar rentals in the area? Is the property well presented (if not a lower price might be better).

A few LL's on here say that they rent at slightly below market rent to help them get a tenant whose likely to stay longer.

As well as doing the checks you've talked about, I'd be asking to visit their present property (to discuss contracts or whatever) to make sure they don't trash a place. Bear in mind a LL who wants to get rid of a tenant can give a good reference to make sure they move out of their property. A tenant can have a bad paying record, but not have any CCJ's which is all a credit check will find. I'd be asking to see bank statements as well. Remember how much your property cost.

When you hear the tenant horror stories from LL's, they usually could have been prevented with thorough checks.

booksurr

movinghelp wrote: »

I'm not trying to be greedy at all, I've never let so am doing it at the price I was advised.

yet you are already complaining that there has been no result after 5 days?

if you underpriced you would not have to wait

you have deliberately chosen to price at market rate so you will have to wait

not rocket science