First time landlord - referencing agency recommendations?

machofairy

I am renting out for the first time.
Can anyone recommend a reliable agency that will do all the referencing for me and draft out the tenancy agreement?

Also, is it the norm for potential tenants to pay for this?

thanks

Generali

If you're using a lettings agency, they'll do the referencing and charge the tenants for the pleasure.

dippydora_2

Hi Machofairy, tread very carefully, I have l let my home out for the first time this year and it has been a nightmare, References mean nothing.... credit checks mean nothing... - my clients had a clean references and clean credit check ,they now owe me 6 months back rent (and the first 6 months were either late or only partly-paid and I have forked out over a thousand pounds in solicitors fees to evict them and claim money back, I am still waiting for them to leave, (hopefully inthe next 3-4 weeks), by which time they will owe me well over £5000 they have had a CCJ against them ordering them to pay me back £50 per week and guess what the first two payments haven't materialized and I have been told by my solicitor that I probably won't see that money again as my client is now going to be rehoused by the council and going to be claiming housing benefit.

My advice to you is....
* Do not give a tenancy agreement that is over 6 months if possible

*If the property was ever your home or you may want to live in it in the future, give a letter to the tenant before signing their tenancy agreement and also get a clause in your agreement stating the same thing, this will enable you to get you clients out with 2 months notice (section 21) and a judge would have to evict them as it is mandatory not at the discretion of the judge. (who tend to be sympathetic towards tenants)
*Get more than one person's name on the tenancy if possible,then you both tenants are equally liable for the rent arrears (if someone disappears as one of my tenants has)

* Try and get a Guarantor

* Do still get a credit and reference check done, but just be aware that,this does not guarantee anything!

Sorry to sound pessimistic, butI have learnt the hard way this year and will stick to these rules myself next time

good luck

catlover1_2

Not all tenents are bad ... I was at the first property I rented for 6 years, my ex landlord is now a personal friend of mine ( didn't know her before I rented it was initally through an agency but after a year it was direct) and I have never given any problems to any landlord.

I actually make improvements (with the landloard agreement obviously) the last property I repainted all the walls when I moved in and agin after 2 1/2 years in the property I also paid for 1/2 of a new kitchen.

I am now in another property ( I moved only because of my horse) and as I am very busy I have a window cleaner, gardener and cleaning service come in regularly not all tenents are bad people.

xx

dippydora_2

Your are quite right catlover1, I apologize... not all tenants are bad
(just mine!):A

I was going to add this to my original post, but forgot in my haste to post a reply I myself am a tenant, I am renting where I am now in Scotland and renting out my own home out in Hampshire to allow us to work here for 18 months, so I am in the position of being both landlord and tenant, and unhappily am paying both my mortgage and rent,whilst my tenant lives in my home for free.
I know tenants can be good ( I am a great tenant )and have been a very lenient landlord, hence the reason my tenants have got away so long with not paying their rent, my home is in excellent order and my tenants have just had an agenda right from the start unfortunatley.
I just want to warn Machofairy about the best way to protect himself, be fair to your tenants by all means, but you have to cover yourself also as some unscrupulous people (these include landlords) will stitch you up big time!!!

BobProperty

catlover1 wrote: »

....I am now in another property ( I moved only because of my horse) .....

That "No pets" clause caught up with you in the end, then?

catlover1_2

BobProperty wrote: »

That "No pets" clause caught up with you in the end, then?

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: yeah he was a bit big to fit up the stairs .....